WSU PHD CANDIDATE REPRESENTS SOUTH AFRICA AT GLOBAL YOUNG SCIENTIST SUMMIT

WSU’s Physiological Sciences PhD candidate, Edna Matjuda, earned the prestigious honour of being among seven South African doctoral students who were selected to attend the Global Young Scientist Summit (GYSS) in Singapore on 5 – 9 January 2025.

The GYSS is a renowned platform that gathers emerging scientists, researchers, and innovators to engage with world-leading scientists that include Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, Millennium Technology Prize winners, and Turing Award recipients.

Matjuda, whose research focuses on genetic predisposition and cardiometabolic health with the potential to improve human health, was thrilled to represent not only WSU, but also South Africa on such a prominent international stage.

“There were 7 doctoral students and 3 postdoctoral scientists from South Africa. I was excited to be recognised among great minds on such a prominent platform. I am grateful to Prof Nkeh-Chungag for the nomination. I would not have achieved the scientific merit to qualify to be nominated into this programme without the support of the entire cardiometabolic team, I am grateful to them,” said Matjuda.

She said going to the summit she was looking forward to networking with young scientists from other disciplines and sharing ideas for future collaborations. In addition to networking, she was also expecting to gain insight and inspiration from the groundbreaking research of Nobel Laureates.

“There was a lot to take home from this programme. However, the highlight for me was the exposure to cutting-edge research presentations that left me with fresh inspiration and an expanded vision for future research in my field. The bonus was being interviewed by the deputy prime minister of Singapore, Honourable Heng Swee Keat who is also the Chairman of the National Research Foundation,” she said.

Matjuda said she met with researchers from other institutions and discussed potential collaborations around genetic predisposition and cardiometabolic health.

“I think these connections open doors for joint research and knowledge that inspire new approaches to research. Exposure to networking platforms  such as this summit may help in understanding critical global challenges such as healthcare, climate change, and technology,” said Matjuda.

She added that such connections can help South Africa shift the focus from a treating approach to a much-needed preventative approach considering the high burden of disease in the country.

“I realised that international collaborations help one to think out of the box. As a young scientist, I plan to draw from this inspiration in my career by developing innovative solutions that other global young scientists will contribute to addressing challenges in the science community,” said Matjuda.

In conclusion, Matjuda said the GYSS is one of the platforms that WSU should always make use of every year and that the university can increase its support for student exchange programmes in all fields and international conferences.

By Anita Roji