FameLab South Africa Final 2023
South Africa’s most talented young science communicators will gather in Pretoria later in September, hoping to be crowned this year’s national FameLab champion.
The winner will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champion, phytochemist Nehemiah Latolla of Nelson Mandela University, who went on to win the international FameLab final in the UK.
Throughout 2023, young scientists around the country have been competing with peers at their research institutions in FameLab heats. The competition challenges participants to communicate their work to a mainstream audience in less than three minutes – and the programme organisers, Jive Media Africa, train them how to do just that.
Talks must be fun, engaging, accessible and free of jargon. Entrants are judged on content, clarity and charisma, and the aim is to give the next generation of scientists and researchers invaluable communication skills so they can clearly and imaginatively explain their work to the general public.
To round off its 11th year in South Africa, 16 winners from FameLab heats will gather shortly for the semi-final. The top 10 will meet once more at the National Research Foundation on September 21, when they will entertain judges and guests as they compete for the national title, the chance to represent South Africa in the international final, and a R5,000 prize.
The 16 semi-finalists are:
Adeshina Odugbemi from the University of the Western Cape, whose PhD research in bioinformatics is using machine learning to bolster the fight against diabetes.
The aim of Adeshina’s research is to develop predictive models that help biochemists like him find chemical substances that can stop dangerous rises in blood sugar. In turn, this would lower diabetics’ chances of experiencing complications and enhance their wellbeing.
“I’m enthusiastic about engaging in science communication to demystify my research,” he says. “It’s the bridge that allows my research to connect with a broader and diverse audience. By sharing my work, I can ignite curiosity in my research area and stimulate conversations that might lead to solutions for the intricate issues of diabetes.”
He encourages young people to “embrace your curiosity and don’t be afraid to explore. Science is like an endless adventure where you get to unravel the mysteries of the world. It might feel challenging at times, but every obstacle is a chance to learn and grow. Your contributions, no matter how small, can make a big impact.”
Adijat Jimoh from the University of Cape Town, whose PhD studies after working as a research officer at the National Biotechnology Development Agency in Nigeria are focused on pregnant women living with HIV.
“Specifically, my research aims to characterise the vaginal viruses and bacteria in the female reproductive tract as well as uncover the bacterial-viral dynamics,” says Adijat.
“While there is so much prior knowledge about the bacterial community within the vaginal environment and its association with adverse birth outcomes, the vaginal viral community remains unexplored in women living with HIV.”
Adijat hopes her work will lay the foundation for the development of vaginal microbiome-based therapies that will reduce infant morbidity and improve foetal health outcomes.
Amos Rakgoale from the University of Limpopo, who entered FameLab after his work at a science centre and as a judge at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists convinced him that South Africans are missing out on the potential of science.
With degrees in aquaculture and biological sciences, Amos is working towards a postgraduate diploma in science communication, and says he “grasped the FameLab opportunity by the horns” because of his desire to share important and relevant scientific knowledge with the broader community.
He has previously studied the use of hormones to improve the productivity of fish farms, something that could help to address malnutrition and food security.
“Communicating this work also imparts correct information to policymakers and the broader community in order to counteract myths, misinformation and disinformation about science and its application,” he says.
Ayesha Osman from the University of South Africa, who is studying for a PhD while lecturing engineering students.
Ayesha’s research aims to use titanium, copper and gold to develop an antibacterial alloy for use in dental applications, and she says it has the potential to affect millions of people who need dental implants.
“The success of this project could reduce the pain and suffering associated with the inflammation caused by dental bacterial biofilm adhesion, which eventually leads to failed oral fixtures,” she says.
Ayesha says she can’t bear the thought of her work ending up on a dusty shelf. “One way to avoid this is to share my work as it progresses. Ultimately, the goal is for the research to be successfully implemented and used to improve lives.”
Carla Horn from North-West University, whose MSc in nursing sciences is looking at how the healthcare system can prepare itself to deliver effective patient care and save lives in the event of disasters.
Carla is one of only a handful of disaster-preparedness researchers in South Africa and says her studies at NWU’s Potchefstroom campus could have an impact on every citizen. “Disaster can strike at any time, and when it does people will flood into hospitals, just as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she says.
She believes communication is the key to ensuring all hospitals are ready to handle disasters. “By presenting solutions to ensure disaster readiness and preparedness in a fun, creative and mainstream way, every community is assured of receiving this important message.”
Carla says she is a born performer. “I’m such a talkative, energetic and eccentric human being. I love entertaining people. I frequently sing and dance for my patients. Whatever there is to be done, I do it with a smile and a theme song,” she says.
Jessica More from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, who hopes her studies for a master of medicine in laboratory science (MMedSci) degree will help to stem tuberculosis, one of the world’s biggest killers.
Jessica’s work at the Africa Health Research Institute is focused on identifying gene expression profiles in TB. “It is exciting as it uses modern technology to image and quantify genes inside cells in lung tissue and locate exactly where the activity is taking place,” she says.
“This research can assist in possibly developing targeted treatments complementary to currently available TB treatment.”
Jessica says she hopes to use her science communication skills to write articles and develop a social media presence. “It is necessary to communicate ground breaking or novel technologies with a broader audience for everyone to keep up to date with scientific innovation,” she says.
Jason Pillay from the University of Pretoria, who fell in love with statistics during his undergraduate studies in applied mathematics.
“I am in my final master’s year in statistics, specialising in computational and methodological statistics, and I could not be happier,” he says. “My research grows the toolkit needed by many other researchers and professionals focusing on solving real-world problems.”
For example, his work could help scientists to map connections between different regions of the human brain more cheaply and quickly.
Who knows, maybe Jason’s work could make it easier to learn languages, and in doing that he could even help himself. “In trying to find a niche in high school that would set me apart from the rest, I stumbled upon an Instagram reel of two actors speaking a language I never heard of,” he says.
“It left me determined to find out what the language was. After asking my friend for help I decided to learn Turkish from that day on and I have not given up yet.”
Collen Nepfumbada from the University of South Africa, who is studying for a PhD in analytical chemistry and specialising in developing technologies for environmental monitoring.
“The innovations derived from basic and applied research provide enormous benefits to society. In addition, research and development is critical to tackling the climate crisis,” he says.
Collen is passionate about the benefits of science. “Everything we know about the universe, from how trees reproduce to what an atom is made up of, is the result of scientific research,” he says.
“Human progress throughout history has largely rested on advances in science. That’s why it is in the interests of governments, companies and wider society to promote science as a subject at schools; it ensures the next wave of progress in all of the fields that affect our daily lives.
“And science communication to society is crucial because it informs people about the benefits, risks and other costs of their decisions, allowing them to make sound choices.”
Goratileone Oepeng from the University of Pretoria, whose MSc studies in entomology are looking at how the pheromones honeybees use to communicate affect their reproductive development.
Goratileone says knowing how pheromones released by developing bee larvae within a colony alter their behaviour and physiology could help us to understand how the workers of a honeybee colony become reproductively active.
“This communication pathway could be used to restore reproductive hegemony of wild honeybee species that pollinate almost over 60% of flowers worldwide,” he says.
Goratileone, who describes himself as “a product of reading and science fairs”, says he looks forward to using his new skills in mainstream scientific communication to share his findings with beekeepers, many of whom “are not well versed in scientific terms”.
Kate Da Silva from the University of the Witwatersrand, whose PhD studies are focused on the development of an innovative potential treatment for liver tissue trauma.
If she succeeds, Kate says lives will be saved and patients will recover lost bodily functions and regain their independence. “The goal is to improve the lives of patients who are affected by new liver damage issues and assist patients, especially those with a low income, to continue to work and support their families,” she says.
Kate’s master’s dissertation won Wits’ “most prestigious postgraduate degree” award in 2020, and her PhD studies are furthering her pioneering work in 3D-printing a matrix to assist in liver-tissue regeneration.
“I would highly recommend that the youth pursue a career in science as it is an extremely rewarding field, particularly when you have the potential to change so many lives,” she says.
“I have learnt that research and innovation are only as successful as what is understood by the general public. The only way to achieve this is to communicate in an effective and understandable manner so that the public is involved.”
Nombali Gumede from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, who is working on a clinical trial with an antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption.
Many people with HIV struggle to adhere to ART, and Nombali says the opportunity to have an injection periodically, instead of taking a daily pill, will ease the burden of their disease.
“Scientists are people who do marvellous work in finding solutions for most of our social ills, but we live in isolation,” she says, which is why she is keen to use her skills to communicate her work with the people of her community of KwaMashu, where the HIV infection rate is high.
In breaks from her studies towards an MSc in virology, Nombali enjoys reality TV, especially the Real Housewives shows. “I love that kind of drama,” she says.
Caleb Swanepoel from the University of Cape Town, whose work aims to improve phage therapy to treat antibiotic-resistant infections.
Caleb, who is in the second year of his MSc studies, says the worldwide growth of antibiotic resistance has sparked new interest in phages, which are viruses that target and infect bacteria.
“My research is at the cutting edge of new research into the safety and efficacy of phage therapy and could be used to develop better phage therapies to help the millions of people around the world who suffer from antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections,” he says.
Caleb says science that isn’t communicated can end up being useless. “Science must be made known before it can be made useful.” That’s why he’s grateful for the FameLab training he received.
“Science communication skills are something that are useful no matter where you are or who you are talking to. I plan to use my science communication skills to improve presentations at conferences, as well as to help me write better, whether that is for a journal article or for my thesis.”
Sonja du Toit from the University of Pretoria, who has a doctorate in applied mathematics and is finishing a second post-doctoral research study that aims to improve models for how earthquakes and wind will affect the motion of high-rise buildings.
Sonja says understanding the likely effect of earthquakes and wind on tall buildings is particularly important in densely populated cities, where numerous lives could be at risk if structures are unsafe.
“There is not enough exposure for the range of career and research possibilities resulting from applied mathematics,” she says. “Communicating my research to a broader community gives me the opportunity to bring them into my world and impact them in some way.
“The world is evolving at a greater pace than ever, requiring answers to problems that we’ve never heard about. Science opens the door to possibility and sets us on a journey of exploration. Science is the vehicle taking us into the future.”
Taskeen Hasrod from Wits University, who is using machine learning to predict the levels of valuable by-products that can be extracted from mining wastewater.
Taskeen, who is studying for an MSc in chemistry, says her research could lead to sustainable wastewater treatment technologies that will reduce pollution from acid mine drainage, conserve water and produce an economic benefit.
“My research is exciting since it combines AI with chemistry in order to solve problems in a much more efficient and accurate manner,” she says.
“I learnt how to communicate my research without the use of scientific jargon, which is incredibly important since the general public deserves to be able to understand research and learn why it is important.”
Kaylan Reddy from Stellenbosch University, whose deep connection to plants since childhood – “they’ve been essential in my diet, spirituality, medicine and living environment”, he says – has become an academic fixation on an indigenous plant historically known as a mood enhancer.
Now studying for a PhD in botany, Kaylan says his research into sceletium “seeks to harness its potential for anxiety and depression relief” and forms a bridge between traditional medicine and the global market.
“Through my science I am able to support claims made by indigenous communities (Khoi, San and Khoekhoen) who have used some of these medicinal plants for millennia.”
Taking part in FameLab has honed his ability to craft compelling narratives, says Kaylan. “Moreover, I've discovered the importance of non-verbal communication, using gestures, tone and body language to enhance my message’s impact. Additionally, I've learned the power of relatability and storytelling, connecting science to everyday life experiences to foster better understanding and interest among diverse audiences.”
Tshepiso Tlouamma from the University of Limpopo, whose master’s studies in soil science aim to help small-scale farmers improve the fertility of their land by using indigenous agricultural methods rather than by applying fertilizers.
“My research is exciting because it combines indigenous knowledge with scientific knowledge to come up with solutions,” he says.
“Science is the pursuit of knowledge, and approaches to gathering that knowledge are culturally relative. Together, indigenous and modern knowledge can contribute towards agricultural growth.”
Tshepiso says it’s important to share his knowledge with rural communities in Limpopo to help them grapple with the challenges they might be facing, and “to encourage them to be innovative and creative towards their science journey”.
About FameLab
Cheltenham Festivals held the first FameLab in 2005. Since then it has grown globally and so far more than 40,000 scientists and engineers have taken part.
In South Africa, FameLab is delivered by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (https://www.saasta.ac.za), a business unit of the National Research Foundation, and research communication specialists Jive Media Africa (https://jivemedia.co.za).
FameLab entrants must be aged 21 to 35 and registered, studying or working in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Science and research organisations can host a local heat as part of the FameLab competition.
