The Royal Society of South Africa celebrated their awards ceremony at the University of Pretoria ’s Future Africa campus on 12 November. The President of the Society, Prof. Stephanie Burton , inducted 15 new Fellows to the Society, including Prof. Dave Berger . In addition to the induction of new Fellows the event included the awarding of the 2021 and 2022 John F.W. Hershel medals to Prof. Quarraisha Abdool Karim , Associate Scientific Director of CAPRISA and Prof. Nigel Bennett of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Zoology and Entomology respectively. Prof. Burton also announced the 2023 Hershel medal will be awarded to Prof. Brenda Wingfield . The Royal Society of South Africa is a learned society composed of eminent South African scientists and academics.