Four South African learners will represent the country at the Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM (IRIS) Global Symposium in India from January 27-31, 2026, showcasing projects that tackle water quality, environmental remediation and accessible technology. The delegation will be led by Dr Krishnie Naidoo, Eskom Expo Academic Director.
The four were selected as top achievers at the October 2025 edition of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF), a national platform that identifies promising school research for further development and international exposure.
Why this matters
The delegation’s work intersects directly with some of South Africa’s most urgent public-policy priorities: access to safe water, rehabilitation of mining-affected land, and inclusive technologies for people with disabilities. Their participation at IRIS comes as the country continues to align its basic education and skills pipeline with the objectives of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which guarantees the rights to basic education, human dignity and an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being. It also reflects ongoing efforts to build a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent base that can inform future energy, water and environmental policy decisions.
Eskom Expo, supported by the national power utility Eskom as part of its broader mandate within South Africa’s electricity system, identifies and nurtures learners whose research has the potential to influence how communities, municipalities and businesses respond to challenges such as pollution, infrastructure gaps and climate resilience.
Key details
– Event: IRIS Global Symposium (India)
– Dates: January 27-31, 2026
– Delegation leader: Dr Krishnie Naidoo (Eskom Expo Academic Director)
– Selection basis: Top achievers at the October 2025 ISF
Projects and participants
| Learners | Research projects |
| Melokuhle Khuzwayo and Simesihle Khuzwayo from King Bhekuzulu High School in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal | Project name: “Double Trouble, Double Solution: Neutralising acids and plastics with nature’s help” Project summary: In this study, it was found that banana peel and yeast extracts can reduce water acidity and remove visible microplastics as effectively, and in specific instances, better than traditional chemical treatments. These findings highlight a practical and affordable way for communities with limited resources to improve water quality using natural materials. |
| Jivesh Ramnath from Hoërskool Richardsbaai in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal | Project name: “JØ7 Vireo: Development of a low-cost AI-powered navigation device for the blind and visually impaired” Project summary: This innovation enables blind and visually impaired persons to perceive their environment through real-time object identification and distance awareness. This research highlights the potential for affordable and scalable AI-driven mobility devices with key emphases on hardware optimisation, model performance and user interaction. |
| Nkanteko Moyane from Daleview Secondary School, Gauteng | Project name: “ECOHARVEST: Integrated Phytoremediation for contaminated soil and mining wastewater” Project summary: This study showed that phytoremediation works. Hyper-accumulator plants effectively removed more heavy metals compared to ordinary plants. The addition of cow dung significantly improved results. Heavy metal levels dropped by up to 63.5%, proving that polluted soil and water can be treated naturally. The findings point to a promising way to restore mining-affected land, protect the environment and support safer food production. |
Problems the projects address
The Khuzwayo team’s project focuses on community-level water treatment using readily available materials. According to their summary, banana peel and yeast extracts reduced acidity and removed visible microplastics in test water, suggesting a low-cost approach where conventional chemical treatments are impractical. In rural and peri-urban areas where municipal treatment systems are under strain, such low-tech methods could complement formal water services and inform local resilience strategies.
Jivesh Ramnath’s prototype centers on mobility and situational awareness for blind and visually impaired users. The project description cites real-time object identification and distance awareness-features that, if refined, are pertinent to assistive technologies that help users navigate unfamiliar environments. As governments and public institutions work to improve the accessibility of transport hubs, campuses and civic buildings, locally developed devices like this could support more affordable compliance with accessibility standards.
Nkanteko Moyane’s study applies phytoremediation-using plants to absorb contaminants-to mining-affected soil and water. The project summary reports reductions in heavy metals of up to 63.5% and improved performance when cow dung was added, indicating a potential route for remediating polluted sites with natural methods. Given South Africa’s extensive legacy of mining and ongoing regulatory focus on mine closure and land rehabilitation, the research points to techniques that could be scaled or adapted in support of long-term environmental and agricultural planning.
Global platform, local impact
At the IRIS Global Symposium, the learners will present alongside peers from other countries, exposing their work to international judges, researchers and potential collaborators. For South African policymakers and education authorities, such platforms function as an early signal of the country’s emerging science and innovation capacity, showcasing how school-level research can begin to respond to national development priorities.
Official statement
Eskom is proud to support the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. Investing in young scientists strengthens South Africa’s future, developing leaders who will drive technological advancement, sustainability, and social impact on both a national and global scale. We wish our learners all the best as they take South Africa’s scientific talent to the world stage.
– Ms Mologadi Motshele, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Eskom Development Foundation
Download images of the learners here: https://we.tl/t-ikN0GfgnhG
Entry information for prospective participants
Registration for the Eskom Expo is currently open to school learners in Grades 4-12 and to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students at NC(V) Levels 2-4. Projects can be registered via www.exposcience.co.za. Aspiring participants are encouraged to develop projects that respond to real-world community or environmental needs, as successful entries may later progress to regional, national and, as in this case, international stages where young researchers contribute to broader policy and innovation conversations.
