Essay Competition 2026

Congratulations to the winners of our National School Science Essay Competition for 2026, generously sponsored by the Claude Leon Foundation. The Society salutes all the learners from across the country who entered and thanks the teachers who encouraged and supported them.

TOPIC 1:
‘Is a return to nuclear power due to the spiralling energy requirements of the artificial intelligence boom the way to go? Discuss the pros and cons.’

1st Prize:
Saskia Pelzer
Grade 11, St Mary’s DSG, Kloof

2nd Prize:
Swapnika Kasireddy
Grade 9, Redhill School, Gauteng

Shared 3rd Prize:
Puneet Nagendrakumar
Grade 11, Parklands College, Cape Town Larissa Louw
Grade 12, Rhenish Girls’ High School, Stellenbosch

Merit Prizes:
Prince Nxazonke
Grade 12, Tembisa West Secondary School, Gauteng

Ilyas Ravat
Grade 6, Blairgowrie Primary School, Johannesburg

TOPIC 2:
‘How could disaster responses due to increasing incidents of natural disasters as a result of climate change be effectively organised?’

1st Prize:
Olivia Hagen
Grade 12, Rhenish Girls’ High School, Stellenbosch

2nd Prize:
Emmanuel Ajayi
Grade 12, Curro Hillcrest High School, Durban

3rd Prize:
Joshua Mafunda
Grade 10, Bishops Diocesan College, Cape Town

Merit Prizes:
Amber Brooks
Grade 11, Rocklands High School, Cape Town
Elihle Shasha Grade 11, Wynberg Girls’ High, Cape Town

TOPIC 3:
‘How could health crises due to foodborne-illnesses, infectious disease outbreaks, the decline in vaccination rates and biosecurity threats be addressed?’

1st Prize:
Fatema Kassam
Grade 11, Houtbay International School, Cape Town

2nd Prize: Dean Weich Grade 10, Bishops Diocesan College, Cape Town

3rd Prize:
Genevieve Meier
Grade 11, International School of Cape Town (ISCT), Cape Town

Merit Prizes:
Taneelia Naicker
Grade 7, Curro Grantleigh Primary School, Richards Bay

Aran Maharaj
Grade 10, Bishops Diocesan College, Cape Town

Essay Competition 2026

Congratulations to the winners of our National School Science Essay Competition for 2026, generously sponsored by the Claude Leon Foundation. The Society salutes all the learners from across the country who entered and thanks the teachers who encouraged and supported them.

TOPIC 1: ‘Is a return to nuclear power due to the spiralling energy requirements of the artificial intelligence boom the way to go? Discuss the pros and cons.’

TOPIC 2: ‘How could disaster responses due to increasing incidents of natural disasters as a result of climate change be effectively organised?’

TOPIC 3: ‘How could health crises due to foodborne-illnesses, infectious disease outbreaks, the decline in vaccination rates and biosecurity threats be addressed?’

TOPIC 1:
‘Is a return to nuclear power due to the spiralling energy requirements of the artificial intelligence boom the way to go? Discuss the pros and cons.’

TOPIC 2:
‘How could disaster responses due to increasing incidents of natural disasters as a result of climate change be effectively organised?’

TOPIC 3:
‘How could health crises due to foodborne-illnesses, infectious disease outbreaks, the decline in vaccination rates and biosecurity threats be addressed?’