IN CONVERSATIOPN WITH Ms Benedicta Tshabalala and Jeffery Kgopane

Benedicta Tshabalala is a passionate primary school educator at John Mitchell Primary School and STEM mentor who is committed to nurturing scientific curiosity from an early age. She has guided learners to participate in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists through the Johannesburg Inner City District Expo at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, encouraging young innovators to develop research projects that address real-world challenges. Her work focuses on inspiring the next generation of scientists and demonstrating that scientific thinking begins in the classroom. Jeffery Kgopane is a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of the Witwatersrand and an Eskom Expo for Young Scientists alumnus. He represented the Capricorn Region at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair in both 2023 and 2024, where he showcased his research as a young scientist. Today, he continues to give back to the programme as the Project Display and Safety Approval Coordinator for the Eskom Expo Johannesburg Committee, helping ensure projects meet exhibition and safety standards while mentoring the next generation of young innovators. His journey from participant to organiser offers a unique perspective on how science fairs develop future scientists, engineers, and researchers.