Hendrik C Swart is a B1 NRF rated researcher (Internationally acclaimed researchers) and currently a senior professor in the Department of Physics at the University of the Free State. He brought luminescence materials to South Africa in the beginning of 1996 after a highly productive sabbatical spent in the lab of Paul Holloway, Florida University, Gainesville. This laid the foundation for his subsequent research at the UFS and was one of the most exhilarating times of his academic career. Since than he has led research in the area of the degradation of phosphors for field emission displays, as well as developing materials for nano solid state lighting