Luke Chimuka
The Power List 2020 – Africa
Professor of Environmental Analytical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Reason for pursuing analytical science: My undergraduate lecturers, especially those who taught analytical chemistry in my third and fourth years.
Greatest inspiration: My PhD supervisor Jan Åke Jönsson from Lund University, Sweden. He was an expert in fundamentals of analytical techniques, and this helped me to think outside the box in my research.
Future of the field: I hope to develop and commercialize a product for the market, or make marked improvements to existing techniques.
Misconceptions of science in Africa: This is perhaps not a misconception, but scientists are lowly paid in Africa when compared with other professions, especially in the private sector.
Advice to younger self: Always think outside the box. Never accept the status quo.
