First year BSc student Sibella Murray has been selected by the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)  to attend the 2026 LIYSF (London International Youth Science Forum) taking place from 19 July to 1 August 2026 in London, United Kingdom (UK). 

She is one of only eight (out of the 22 students) of the 2026 NSTF Brilliants Programme who have been selected for this honour.

Sibella, who is studying for a BSc-degree in Biodiversity and Ecology at Stellenbosch University (SU), says she is excited about the opportunity: “I am eager  to engage with other young aspiring scientists from across the globe who come from vastly different cultural, educational and scientific backgrounds, yet share a common curiosity about how the world works and how science can be used to address global challenges.

“I think there is so much value in being exposed to viewpoints that differ from your own, especially when tackling complex problems that do not have simplesolutions,” says this alumnus of Durbanville High School.

Sibella is also an avid wildlife photographer and started her own photography business with her mother’s old camera when she was only twelve years old.

“My fascination with the natural world started long before I picked up a camera. I remember childhood afternoons spent observing insects, learning the names of trees and admiring the complexity and intelligence of other living organisms. While many people see nature simply as beautiful, I was always fascinated by the intricacy behind it, the relationships between species, the adaptations organisms have developed, about animal intelligence and behavior,” she explains.

In 2025, Sibella was elected to participate in the STEM MentHer programme, an initiative aimed at encouraging young women to pursue careers in academia and research. She was mentored by Prof. Nox Makunga, a medicinal botanist in the Department of Botany and Zoology at SU.

“The mentorship allowed me to see research as something far more than what I read in textbooks and articles. Prof. Makunga helped me better understand how scientific research generates new knowledge and have tangible positive impacts on society. The experience reinforced my conviction that biodiversity and ecology was the right path for me.”

She hopes one day to change the way people think about nature – through her research and photography: “So often, the natural world is viewed purely as a resource that can be used or exploited. I would like to help foster a broader appreciation of nature as a complex, interwoven tapestry of relationships that has intrinsic value beyond its benefit to humans,” she concludes.

Prof. Bertie Fielding, Dean of the Faculty of Science, says the faculty is very proud of Sibella’s achievement: “Her selection speaks to her curiosity, commitment and potential, and it is encouraging to see a first-year Faculty of Science student already engaging with science on an international platform.”