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... the name is Forbes - Professor Andrew Forbes
Professor Andrew Forbes
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Dr Andrew Forbes (39) is not a shrink; he is just a scientist with a
passion for probing 'Light Amplification by Stimulating Emission of
Radiation', better known as lasers; but he certainly believes in the
power of positivity.
Defying the proverbial saying that success is 90% luck and 10% hard
work, Forbes thinks success is all about being positive and having some
talent. A positive attitude helps to achieve goals, attain success and
respect and Forbes has experienced it all and can attest to it.
Recently, he was appointed as chief scientist by the CSIR and the ink
had hardly dried when he signed his letter of appointment for the
position of Honorary Associate Professor at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), his Alma Mater. He also has an honorary
appointment at the University of Stellenbosch.
Forbes joined the CSIR about five years ago as a research group leader
of the Mathematical Optics and User Facility at the CSIR National Laser
Centre.
"I joined the CSIR because of the right environment and the right
attitude and supplemented this with the bit of talent that I have," he
quips. "I guess the UKZN appointed me as professor for the same reason
the CSIR made me a chief scientist recently."
He adds: "I am very happy with this career achievement. It is always
good to see people recognising what one has done and to continue doing
so."
Forbes says his appointment allows him to play a crucial role in the
Physics Department at UKZN. "Being a professor there will allow me to
have more say," he says, adding that the relationship the CSIR has with
this institution is positive and "has been very good from both sides. We
have set up several joint projects with them."
He publishes often and has been training and supervising a number of
students. Currently, Forbes is responsible for shaping and nurturing the
future of 12 young academics that he is supervising at Master's and PhD
levels.
The question of how one becomes a chief scientist or a professor
elicits the frank response of, "you must be recognised internationally
as a scientist".
For CSIR young researchers to be successful in their careers, he says
"The most important thing is to approach your work with positive
attitude."
Forbes received his PhD (1998) from the University of Natal and
subsequently spent several years working as an applied laser physicist,
first for the South African Atomic Energy Corporation and then later in
a private laser company where he was technical director. He is also a
member of the CSIR's Strategic Research Panel. Forbes sits on several
international conference committees, is a referee for all the major
optics journals and is chairman of the SPIE international conference on
Laser Beam Shaping, as well as the South African Institute of Physics
Laser Optics and Spectroscopy specialist group. He is a member of the
South African Institute of Physics Council, a senior member of SPIE.
He has published over 80 research papers, several book chapters and
editorials and is active in popularising science and science outreach.
In his short career at the CSIR, Forbes has bagged a number of accolades
including Best Researcher, Best Research Paper, Best Mentor and the
honour of having three papers in the CSIR Top Twenty.
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