Two scientists from Stellenbosch University (SU) have been inaugurated as members of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). 

Dr Phila Msimang and Dr Noreth Muller-Kluits are among 10 new members to be named at the recent annual Awards Ceremony held on 29 October. 

SAYAS members are young scientists below the age of 40, have PhDs and are deemed “excellent in their fields of expertise”. 

Msimang is a senior lecturer in Philosophy and a member of the Azanian Philosophical Society and the International Philosophy of Biology Circle. He holds an MA from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a PhD from Macquarie University in Australia.

“I would have not received this award if not for the support of my faculty and the support of the Head of the Department of Philosophy and the Unit for Bioethics, Dr Susan Hall, who nominated me . This award is quite encouraging in its recognition of the interdisciplinary and socially directed work that I have been able to be a part of with my collaborators to whom I also extend my thanks.”

Dr Noreth Muller-Kluits holds a PhD in Social Work from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. She has recently been appointed as a postdoctoral research fellow within SU’s Early Intervention and Child Mental Health Public Square, a position she will start on 1 December 2025. Her research combines lived and professional experience, focusing on support for persons with disabilities and their families in different contexts.

Muller-Kluits says she attributes this recognition from SAYAS to the mentors who have made a “tremendous impact” on her career trajectory this far. Nominated by Dr Berna Gerber, co-lead of the Early Intervention and Child Mental Health Public Square, she says she considers this a continued platform and responsibility to ensure research contributes to social impact. 

Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies, congratulated the two scientists, saying that the recognition reinforces SU’s commitment to developing the next generation of scientific leaders. 

SAYAS endeavours to advance the visibility and impact of young scientists in South Africa. Its mission is to foster dialogue, drive innovation, and promote science-based solutions to contemporary societal challenges. It also seeks to build scientific capacity by mentoring and inspiring the next generation of researchers, while creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration at both national and international levels.