A geologist from Mintek, Ms Tshiamo Legoale, will be jetting off to the UK to represent South Africa at the International FameLab competition at the Cheltenham Science Festival from 5 to 8 June, after earning her spot as the national winner of the FameLab South Africa competition on 19 April 2017.

She captivated the audience with her riveting three minute talk on phytomining; how we can harvest gold from wheat crops grown on mine dumps. The bubbly and energetic Ms Legoale and the first runner-up, Ms Nanji Sheni, also a researcher at Mintek, are both breaking stereotypes of women in the mining industry.

Ms Legoale, who joined Mintek in 2012, is an MSc Environmental Management student at the University of the Free State (UFS) and holds a BSc degree in Geology (UFS) and a certificate in Mineral Resource Management from Wits University. She competed against nine other finalists, selected from over 200 young researchers who participated in FameLab heats across the country between December and March.

Although the judges’ announcement of the winner came as no surprise to the audience - following the thunderous applause on conclusion of her talk - she humbly commented that, “I am very grateful for the opportunity that Famelab has given me and am excited that I am going overseas. But most importantly I am very humbled that my science has been recognised as being entertaining, important and relevant to society today”.

She hopes her phytomining idea can assist impoverished communities with building a business case to beneficiate geological ore bodies, which are found in areas rich in natural mineral resources. “So this is one technological innovation that we plan to transfer to the communities that can use it. Hopefully in future this can help employ a few people – it will be fields of gold to harvest,” she said.

FameLab 2017 participants presented inspiring stories about boundary-breaking innovation and game-changing research such as using mathematics to find cures to complex diseases; cigarettes being given new lives as water filters, and ultra-strong ceramic materials paving the way for space travel. A generation of young scientists from across the continent is truly changing the world.

FameLab in South Africa is made possible by a partnership between the British Council, the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement and Jive Media Africa. Anisa Khan, Newton Fund and Higher Education Programme Manager at the British Council commented that, “the British Council is committed to creating opportunities for youth worldwide and through our work in science we hope to provide a platform for taking African science to the world and to support the co-creation of knowledge through new science and research partnerships with the United Kingdom”.

Michael Ellis, Science Communication Manager at SAASTA commented that, “FameLab South Africa is an effective channel for developing local science communication talent and SAASTA is proud to partner in making this possible. FameLab is inspiring young scientists to talk about their science and to make their voices heard. Our hope is that these young scientists will continue to do so throughout their research careers”.

Professor Adam Habib, Vice Chancellor and Principal of Wits University and host of the FameLab semi-finals, commented that it is important for Africans to participate in the global knowledge economy and to develop the high level research and scarce skills required to foster inclusive development on the continent. “More importantly, we need to share our research stories in the public sphere and use our science-based evidence to influence policies that will ultimately benefit humanity.”

“It has been such a privilege to work with so many passionate scientists throughout the FameLab competition. We continue to experience the immense power of FameLab for finding new voices for science. We encourage all of our incredible research and science institutions to join us in the next cycle of FameLab South Africa,” added Mr Robert Inglis, Jive Media Director.

Should your institution wish to get involved in FameLab 2018, submit an expression of interest form available on the British Council, JiveMedia Africa or SAASTA websites or contact Anisa Khan at the British Council at famelab@britishcouncil.org.za