The 45th Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) held a Special Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening, 9 October 2025, at Emperor's Palace, with top young scientists from the KwaZulu-Natal and Free State Provinces scooping millions of rands worth of bursaries for the 2026 academic year and their future studies.
Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube, attended the 2025 Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) Grand Awards Ceremony where she had the opportunity to engage with young scientists, competing in various categories that include Agricultural Sciences, Animal Sciences, Biomedical and Medical Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Sciences and Software Development, Earth Sciences, Energy, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy and Space Sciences, Plant Sciences, and Social Sciences.
The 2025 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists (ISF) was set to be a global celebration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation (STEMI), where hundreds of bright minds showcased their research projects. The opening ceremony of the ISF saw 319 young scientists from South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, India, and Russia showcasing their analytical and critical skills in their solutions-based projects presented before the judges during the Expo.
As part of the competition, the young scientists tackled a wide range of topics, reflecting both personal and societal challenges. They are not only addressing issues that matter to them personally, but they are also working on solutions with the potential to make a meaningful impact in their schools, communities, and beyond. Earlier this week, young scientists explored the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre on guided tours where they engaged with cutting-edge science, technology, and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) exhibitions. They also experienced the wonder of the newly restored Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, adding an exciting dimension to their Expo journey.
This event brings together many like-minded organisations to promote and support our future young scientists and engineers. Some of the sponsors, such as the University of Pretoria, Babcock, Siemens Energy and Eskom are generously sponsoring 12 full bursaries for learners to pursue engineering degrees at a South African University of their choice, contingent on meeting the required criteria upon receiving their matric results. Various partial bursaries are also up for grabs. These bursaries have a total value of over R8 million. Massive monetary prizes up to R100,000 cash are also up for grabs, along with laptops and tablet computers.
Eskom Development Foundation (ESDEF) CEO (Acting), Ms Mologadi Motshele, said: “The Eskom Expo is not about short-term results, it is about long-term transformation. ESDEF's CSR Education and Training programmes, in particular, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, are designed to ensure that learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, with a special focus on girls, are nurtured and given space to thrive in STEMI, towards the achievement of the goals of the Science Engagement Strategy of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI)”.
The Eskom Expo Executive Director, Mr Parthy Chetty, said: “The 2025 ISF ignites a celebration of curiosity, courage, and innovation. As young scientists from across the globe gather to showcase their brilliance, we applaud their dedication to solving real-world challenges and shaping a better tomorrow”.
In her keynote address, Minister Gwarube, stated that over the past few years, the DBE has embarked on a strategic reorientation of the education system, one that aligns learning outcomes with the skills and competencies required for the 21st Century and beyond. “This reorientation is not merely administrative or procedural. It is philosophical. It is about shifting our collective mindset from schooling for compliance to schooling for capability. It is about ensuring that every learner, regardless of where they are born, can become a problem-solver, an innovator, and a contributor to South Africa’s development. At the heart of this transformation is our Curriculum Reform Agenda, which prioritises competency-based education, the integration of coding and robotics, and the strengthening of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) learning from the Foundation Phase. We are rethinking what we teach and how we teach, to prepare learners for a world shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, and technological disruption.”