Posted by Dr Serena Coetzee on 13 May 2009, 15:04 (last modified on 3 Jun 2009, 09:46)

Prof Derrick Kourie from the Department of Computer Science recently received an award from the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT) for his long-term contribution as editor in chief of SAICSIT's South African Computer Journal (SACJ). He edited the journal for 20 years. The award of appreciation was handed over to him at SAICSIT's recent annual general meeting.

When Prof Kourie became editor, the journal carried the Latin title "Questiones Informaticae (QI)", and Derrick Kourie was instrumental in the evolution of the journal from "QI" to "SACJ". His first editorial message appeared in QI Vol.6/No.4, on pages 137-138, in April 1989. In the same issue he also published a scientific article on the notion of "Refinement", which is still an important topic in the field of Formal Software Engineering today.

Prof Kourie leads the FASTAR and Espresso research groups in the department.