From Classrooms to KRISP DNA Labs

SCIENTIFIC ENGAGEMENT - KRISP Welcomes IkamvaYouth Learners to the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine

text: Paul Harris, photos: Paul Harris

On Friday, 23 May, KRISP had the honour of hosting 21 enthusiastic Grade 12 learners from KwaMathanda High School, part of the IkamvaYouth Science Track in Umlazi. This inspiring outreach day formed part of KRISP’s broader mission to create meaningful opportunities for young South Africans to engage with science and consider future careers in genomics and research.

The learners dove straight into a revision session covering key matric Life Sciences concepts—focusing on DNA and its role in genetics and biotechnology. Building on this foundation, they participated in a hands-on DNA extraction experiment using strawberries, offering a fun and accessible way to explore molecular biology in action.

In addition to the scientific exploration, learners received practical guidance on university applications, admissions processes, and possible career paths, thanks to the support of University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) academic staff. A tour of KRISP’s stateof-the-art genomics lab capped off the day, giving learners a behind-thescenes look at the powerful tools and

technologies driving health research in Africa.

“It was incredibly rewarding to be part of their learning journey and to spark curiosity about careers in science and research,” said Dr. Amsha Viraragavan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at KRISP.

For the learners, the experience was both educational and inspirational.

“Today was really inspiring and helped us to go over some important areas of our Life Sciences work,” said Zama Maphumulo, a matric student at KwaMathanda High School. “It was a wonderful experience and it has made me want to consider something to do with medicine or research here at UKZN.”

These outreach programmes are about more than just exposure—they’re about transformation.

“Days such as this are so important for our learners as they get an opportunity to network with professionals and see how different careers work in the real world,” said Luyanda Mnguni, Head of Tutors at the IkamvaYouth Umlazi Branch. “These outings help bridge the gap between the theory the students receive from their books and phones, and the practical real-life

application.”

The event also underscored the power of collaboration between institutions, non-profits, and national platforms in nurturing young scientific talent.

“We love these outreach days and hope that the experience and exposure will inspire the next generation of genomic scientists and researchers,” said Dr. Jennifer Giandhari, reflecting on the opportunity to work alongside organisations like IkamvaYouth.

KRISP extends heartfelt thanks to DIPLOMICS (Distributed Platform in Omics) for sponsoring this initiative and making it possible. Their commitment to science education is helping open doors for young people across the country.

“The long-term goal of DIPLOMICS with these outreach programmes is to bring together different education and industry stakeholders, and to help demonstrate to the students how science impacts their daily lives beyond the pages of a textbook,” said Mhlekazi Molatoli, Training Coordinator at DIPLOMICS.

“We hope to inspire and enable the next generation of South African scientists, who will tackle issues around disease, food security, and climate change.”

At KRISP, we believe that by inspiring curiosity today, we are investing in the solutions of tomorrow. Events like this are powerful reminders of the talent, potential, and passion that exists within our communities—just waiting for the right opportunity to shine.