Graeme College Grade 11 Joshua Danilatos is one of three South African learners who have returned home with outstanding results after representing the country at the 1923 International Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Fair (IMSEF) held in İzmir, Türkiye, from 1 to 6 June 2026.
Along with Joshua, the South African delegation included Connor Kinnes, a Grade 11 learner from Elkanah House High School in Cape Town and Rorisang Mohau Mohlobuli, a Grade 9 learner from Hoërskool Bloemfontein in the Free State. The delegation was led by Palesa Selepe, Eskom Expo Ekurhuleni Regional Science Fair Director.
• Joshua received First Place and a Gold medal in the Chemistry category for his project, “Catch-and-Release in a Warming Climate: Effects on Reflex Impairment and Stress in Rhabdosargus holubi”.
• Connor Kinnes received First Place and a Gold medal in the Engineering category and was awarded Best Project in Engineering for his project, “Project Pathfinder: Design and Optimisation of a Static Test Rocket Motor”.
• Rorisang Mohlobuli received Second Place and a Silver medal in the Mathematics category for his project, “Quantifying Goldbach: An Analysis of Prime Pairs”.
Reflecting on his achievement, Joshua (18) said receiving First Place in the Chemistry category made all the hard work worthwhile.
“It felt really great. I also felt really lucky and privileged to be able to experience it. It made all the hard work and long hours I invested in the project, worth it,” he said.
He described visiting the ancient city of Ephesus as the highlight of his trip, and enjoyed meeting fellow participants from around the world.
“I tasted many different cultural foods. I also enjoyed seeing the various countries’ traditional dances and how they are all unique and different.”
Danilatos encouraged aspiring young scientists to pursue projects that genuinely interest them.
“Just follow your passion and always work hard. If you are investigating a topic that interests you, it will be a lot easier and more enjoyable and won’t even feel like work. Always believe in yourself and your project and make the entire experience an enjoyable one.”
Connor (17) said winning both First Place in Engineering and the Best Project in Engineering Award was a rewarding culmination of years of effort. “Winning felt like a special moment where the countless hours of hard work paid off. It felt akin to attaining the mark you aimed and worked towards.” The young scientist cited the visit to Ephesus (believed to be the home of the Apostle John and the Virgin Mary) as the highlight of the trip to Türkiye, and valued the opportunity to learn about other cultures through food and cultural performances.
His advice to future participants was to remain committed to improving their projects. “Always keep investing in your project through continuous refinement. Though this may seem exhausting at the time, the long-term benefits of developing scientific skills will pay off later. Always believe that you have what it takes to succeed in your research efforts, even when times are tough.”
Rorisang said receiving recognition at an international competition was a proud moment.