Prof Neil Coville obtained his BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees at the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg, before proceeding to McGill University, Montreal, Canada in 1968 where he obtained his PhD degree (1973).
After post-doctoral work at Harvard University, USA, he returned to WITS in 1976. Prof Coville worked his way through the ranks in the School of Chemistry, from Lecturer to Chair of Inorganic Chemistry before becoming an Emeritus Professor.
He is still a Member of two DST-NRF Centres of Excellence (Catalysis; Strong Materials) and maintains an active research group. Prof Coville's research work is focussed on carbon chemistry – synthesis and applications - and this has led to many studies on the shaping and doping of carbons. The applications include the use of the carbons as catalysts supports (e.g. in Fischer-Tropsch catalysis) and for use in sensors and solar cells.
