The International Year of Chemistry and South Africa

Piet Steyn (Chemistry) holds a Ph.D. from the University of South Africa and spent most of his research career at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. He recently retired as senior director for research at Stellenbosch University, where he is now professor emeritus of chemistry. He has been a visiting fellow at Bristol University, and served as president of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry from 2002 to 2003. His research interests lie in the isolation, analysis and synthesis of mycotoxins and other toxic and medicinal substances from plants.