UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Nelson Boniface Appointed Associate Editor of the Journal of African Earth Sciences
By Renancy Remmy, CMU
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has attained another notable milestone in international academic leadership following the appointment of Prof. Nelson Boniface, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Research as an Associate Editor of the Journal of African Earth Sciences, a leading peer-reviewed journal published by Elsevier.
The appointment places Prof. Boniface, an Associate Professor of Geology at the School of Mines and Geosciences, among a distinguished editorial team of 31 editors and editorial board members drawn from 20 countries and regions worldwide, reflecting the journal’s global reach and scholarly standing.
Congratulating Prof. Boniface, an Associate Professor of Geology at the School of Mines and Geosciences, on the appointment, UDSM Vice Chancellor Prof. William A. L. Anangisye described the recognition as a reflection of both individual excellence and the University’s growing international standing.
“This appointment is a source of pride for the University of Dar es Salaam and a clear testament to the calibre of our academic leadership. Prof. Boniface’s scholarly contributions and research leadership continue to elevate UDSM’s reputation as a leading research-intensive university and a contributor to global scientific knowledge”, said Prof. Anangisye.
He added that the appointment reinforces the University’s strategic commitment to research excellence, innovation, and international engagement. “It is a recognition of his outstanding academic credentials, extensive research contributions, and leadership in advancing geoscientific knowledge relevant to Africa and beyond”.
The Journal of African Earth Sciences is guided by three Editors-in-Chief: Dr Damien Delvaux of the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium; Dr. Zakaria Hamimi of Benha University, Faculty of Science, Banha, Egypt; and Dr Read Mapeo of the University of Botswana, Gaborone. Together, they provide strategic editorial leadership to ensure scientific rigor, relevance, and global impact.
As an Associate Editor, Prof. Boniface will play a key role in coordinating the peer-review process, guiding editorial decisions, and shaping the publication of high-quality research on Africa’s geology, tectonics, mineral resources, environmental systems, and earth-science-related challenges.
Tanzanian geoscientist and academic leader
Prof. Boniface is a Tanzanian geoscientist and academic leader currently serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at UDSM. He holds a Dr. rer. nat. in Mineralogy from the University of Kiel, Germany, and is internationally recognised for his research on the petrology, geochemistry, and tectonic evolution of Proterozoic mobile belts and carbonatite complexes in Tanzania.
His scholarly work, published in leading journals such as the Journal of African Earth Sciences, Precambrian Research, Gondwana Research, Journal of Petrology, and Mineralium Deposita, has significantly advanced understanding of continental collision processes, crustal evolution, and rare earth element mineralisation in East Africa.
Beyond academic publishing, Prof. Boniface has played a central role in major international geoscience and capacity-building initiatives.
Through the World Bank–supported Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources Project (SMMRP) and collaboration with Beak Consultants GmbH, he contributed to the development of Tanzania’s Geological and Mineral Information System (GMIS).
GMIS has transformed national access to geoscientific and mineral data. Under the Netherlands-funded NICHE-TZA-260 Project, he supported curriculum development and laboratory strengthening that enhanced regional capacity in applied geology and geoscience training.
Prof. Boniface continues to collaborate with researchers from Utrecht, Tohoku, Akita, Oslo, Columbia, and Western Brittany Universities, generating influential insights into East African tectonics and mineralisation.
As a mentor and academic leader, he has supervised numerous MSc and PhD candidates and contributed to research governance, innovation systems, and higher education policy in Tanzania.
His leadership extends beyond UDSM through service to national institutions, including the Tanzania Commission for Universities (TCU) and the Geological Survey of Tanzania, positioning him as a prominent voice in geoscience, research innovation, and academic excellence both nationally and across Africa.
Reacting to the appointment, Prof. Nelson Boniface expressed appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing African scholarship.
“I am deeply honoured by this appointment and grateful to the University of Dar es Salaam for its continued support. This role provides an important opportunity to strengthen African representation in global scientific publishing and to promote high-quality research that addresses the continent’s geological, environmental, and resource-related challenges”, Prof. Boniface said.
The University of Dar es Salaam congratulates Prof. Nelson Boniface on this prestigious appointment, which further strengthens the institution’s global research profile and underscores Tanzania’s growing influence in earth sciences scholarship.