"Time disposition and quality of runoff, base flow, and groundwater accrual, not to mention the quantity and quality of water reaching users downstream."

"Cloud seeding, again, is an example of an intervention with potential for both harm and good."

"Our water resources are also highly variable and sensitive as regards quality."

"The many hydrological processes are intricately interrelated."

"With the result that a change in any one has a chain reaction on others, often with far-reaching consequences."

"Interacting powerfully with other substances."

"As you all well know, it is because South Africa's water supplies are at best undependable, and at worst grossly inadequate."

"That our planet's water resources, dating back to its creation, are substantially fixed but are both highly mobile and subject to constant changes in form between the gaseous form."

"Even common practices such as burning large expanses of veld or ploughing them and planting mielies alter the quantity."

"What of the work for which the HRI was intended."

"It was clearly the view of the "founding fathers."

"They could have been anticipated by the foreknowledge whose acquisition is the task of the hydrological researcher."

"The Interdepartmental Commission which, to counter the growing fragmentation of hydrological research, recommended the establishment of a central, unifying division of hydrological research that hydrology was, and should be nurtured as, a HOLISTIC science."

"The Tugela-Vaal and Orange-Fish being two major examples."

"Later came bold and imaginative schemes in yet another sphere, that of large-scale transfer of surplus water from some catchments to make good deficiencies in others."

"A major scheme by any standards, which was undertaken primarily to give employment to many of those hit by the great depression of the early '30's."

"That the entire scheme was completed without provision of drainage canals for the return flow was certainly an oversight."

"When the need arose to start thinking of desalinating and reusing water, Dr Stander of the CSIR earned world recognition."

"It seems to me that during the first 60 years of this century we relied more on the vision, initiative and drive of gifted individuals."

"I use lasers to optically manipulate cells … my goal is to translate my research from petri dishes to human testing."

"In another sphere the late Prof. CL Wicht put forest hydrology on the world map with his catchment experiments at Jonkershoek on the effects of afforestation and forest management on stream flow."

"I am concerned about the brain drain of African scientists out of South Africa."

"Small wonder therefore that South Africa has a long and creditable history of water research and development."

"We are using laser technology or laser-based technology for drug delivery."

"Which he was a pioneer in the statistical design and evaluation of controlled catchment Experiments."

"I have dwelt on the events which led to the founding of the Hydrological Research Institute."

"At the risk of being trite, let me repeat what is well-known but tends to be overlooked."

"I recall hearing vivid accounts by the late Dr M S du Toit, an eminent soil scientist who later became Secretary for Agriculture."

"They are infinitely more precious than our much vaunted gold for they are vital not only to all sectors of our economy."

"The corporate style of management via a plethora of committees, which is so prevalent today."

"We can also look back with admiration on the construction, largely by manual labour, of the Vaal-Hartz Irrigation Scheme."

"This is a view I still uphold."

"I would also like to see more South African and African plants being commercialised nationally by a completely local supply chain – from researchers, manufacturers and formulators to the promotion of indigenous knowledge systems and traditional knowledge holders."

"Over the past 18 months, we have been working to identify natural preservatives in indigenous biological resources that can be used in the preservation of cosmeceutical products."

"I am therefore extremely proud to be able to work with the other members of the board to ensure that the Climate Centre continues to drive its mission forward in an energized and sustained way."

"We already know a lot about human history from archaeology and anthropology, but recently genetics has provided a wonderful boost to the field."

"There's no room for mediocrity here. Excellence is what I've aspired towards in my own work and excellence is what this institute is about."

"I accepted the nomination because I believe the seventh assessment cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a critical one and that my more than 30 years of experience at the science-policy-practice interface put me in a good position to positively contribute to the leadership of the organisation, helping it to innovate and respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities of the cycle."

"People said that suddenly changing fields was either reckless or brave, but I found that my chemistry and maths background really set me up well for moving into biology."

"I believe we are at a key moment in the history of our species when we are grappling with the consequences of an unjust and inequitable development path that has left many vulnerable human and natural communities at risk."

"we could actually look and say: ‘We see a Neanderthal version of the gene and we can measure its effect on phenotype in many people—how often they get sunburned, what color their hair is, and what color their eyes are."

"It was the ground-breaking start of molecular biology, so I really felt the need to capitalise on that."

"We are already a third of the way through the United Nations’ ‘decade of action,’ focused on accelerating sustainable solutions to the world’s biggest challenges."

"No, I don’t miss being in the lab. For me, the exciting part of science is working out what the question is, and how to answer it. I am very privileged - I get to ask questions, and have a wonderful team who generates data to answer them."

"do whatever you want to get your mind off it, talk to your friends, rage, cry a little, whatever works for you."

"African scientists have to be resilient - it’s a tough career anywhere, but especially in Africa where we face many additional challenges. But it’s essential that we African scientists use our skills and determination to do good research that is relevant to our communities."

"I believe that curiosity, integrity and generosity are the key attributes for good scientists. You need to be addicted to asking and answering questions! In doing this, we get to discover new things, either small details or big leaps in knowledge, on a daily basis - which is incredibly wonderful."

"In terms of the health of a person, this is really a difficult thing to study because there are endless combinations, and trying to understand what is relevant and important is not so easy."

"Because when I started, so little was known about the human genome. It was unthinkable that we could look at a person’s DNA and make a diagnosis for a disease or perform a prenatal diagnosis where we could diagnose babies in utero to see if they inherited a genetic disease from their parents. I feel that I have been so fortunate in my career to have experienced all these changes and to work in a field that has its heyday right now."

"My life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is a privilege to do for it whatsoever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no 'brief candle' to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment; and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."