The University of the Western Cape (UWC) proudly celebrates Professor Priscilla Baker, Senior Professor of Chemistry, for receiving yet another prestigious honour in 2025 — affirming her status as a leading voice in science and innovation.
Prof Baker has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa (RSSA). It is one of the country’s highest recognitions for scientific excellence. The RSSA Fellowship is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated sustained, impactful contributions to research and scholarship in their field. This honour reflects Prof Baker’s decades-long commitment to advancing analytical electrochemistry and interdisciplinary science across South Africa and the continent.
Prof Priscilla Baker. Image: UWCIn the same year, Prof Baker was named the 2025 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Laureate for Africa and the Arab States — a global award that celebrates exceptional women scientists whose work is transforming the world. She joined an elite group of five international laureates selected for their groundbreaking research and leadership.
Prof Baker holds a National Research Foundation (NRF) B-rating and serves as the SARChI Chair for Analytical Systems and Processes for Priority and Emerging Contaminants (ASPPEC). She co-directs the SensorLab Research Centre and leads the Electrochemical Sensors Node of the Nano-Micro Manufacturing Facility at UWC. Her research focuses on developing integrated electrochemical systems for early detection of environmental and biomedical contaminants.
With more than 160 peer-reviewed publications, an H-index of 39, and more than 4 900 citations, Prof Baker’s influence spans academia, industry and policy. She has supervised more than 50 postgraduate students – many of whom now hold prominent positions globally.
Her leadership extends beyond the lab: she has served in key roles within the International Society of Electrochemistry and the South African Chemical Institute, and continues to advocate for science communication and equity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
These dual honours — one national, one international — reflect Prof Baker’s enduring impact and UWC’s commitment to excellence, transformation, and global relevance in science.
We salute Prof Baker for her brilliance, integrity, and trailblazing contributions to the scientific community.
Prof David Holgate
Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences
