Patel, who got her PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand, is currently a professor of social development studies and director of the Centre for Social Development in Africa, which she founded in 2002 at the same institution.
These annual awards recognize the work of those women who are involved in full-time research leading to a master's or doctoral degree in areas in which the participation of women is traditionally low.
Patel undertook pioneering work in the social welfare field for a post-apartheid country as the first democratic elections dawned in South Africa in 1994 after the release of Nelson Mandela.
A year before the elections, Patel published her book 'Restructuring Soci al Welfare Options for South Africa', which eventually informed social welfare legislation adopted by the new democratic parliament three years later.
Patel was appointed director-general of the department of social welfare in 2005, where she led a team tasked with transforming the country's welfare system from the racially segregated and unequal system of the apartheid era.
A second book in 2005, 'Social Welfare and Social Development in South Africa', has been part of international writings seeking alternatives in the global south to reduce poverty, build human capacity and promote engagement of communities.
The Women in Science Awards this year went to women involved in fields as diverse as agricultural research, biostatistics, and traditional medicine.
At the same event, Tata Africa Scholarships were awarded to six women.
"If we are to realize our vision for South Africa to become a knowledge-based economy, where production and services are based on knowledge-intensive activities that contribute to an accelerated pace of technological and scientific advancement, it is vital that many more of our young people enrol for higher degrees and attain high-level skills," said minister of science and technology Naledi Pandor, who handed over the awards.
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