Doctoral student’s triumph at national FameLab competition a first for SU

​Luther Chipembere, a doctoral student in Agricultural Economics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Stellenbosch University (SU), achieved a remarkable feat when he was recently crowned the FameLab South Africa 2025 champion. With this accomplishment, Chipembere became the first SU participant to win this prestigious award. He was announced the winner at an event in Pretoria hosted by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement & Jive Media Africa.

Considered to be one of the biggest science communication and public speaking competitions in the world, FameLab, which is also a development initiative, creates a platform for young emerging scientists to speak to public audiences about their work.

Chipembere, who is also an administrator at the African Doctoral Academy at the Centre for Capacity Development in Africa at SU International, said becoming the national FameLab champion is both humbling and affirming. "It shows that research can matter to people beyond the walls of research institutions and that ideas about food and technology have value in society. For me, it is encouragement to keep connecting science with the people it is meant to serve."

He added that it's an honour to have represented SU at FameLab SA. "Being the first from SU to win the national title makes the achievement historic, but also a responsibility to open doors for others who will follow. More than personal pride, it feels like a collective milestone shaped by mentors, colleagues, and supporters."

Chipembere's doctoral study applies AI and strategic foresight to global challenges, including food insecurity, generating insights that inform policy and practice. "Zero Hunger is a globally shared ambition that recognises the role of food in safeguarding human dignity. My research is centred on this understanding and contributes by using AI-driven analytics to monitor food production and detect early warning signs of stress within food systems."

Using satellite imagery, climate data and household food survey data, Chipembere develops machine learning models that can forecast crop yields before harvest, generating early signals of stress within food systems. These signals create time for farmers to adapt, for governments to cushion shocks and support resilience, and for communities to protect vulnerable households. In this way, his work transforms data into foresight and helps bring us closer to the reality of Zero Hunger - the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030.

When asked why scientists should communicate their research to the public, Chipembere says science fulfils its purpose when it is understood and used. "Communicating with the public builds trust, makes knowledge accessible, and invites people into conversations that affect their lives. It is about meeting people where they are and using communication to guide them to where they need to be."

Chipembere will proceed to represent South Africa at the international FameLab competition in November at CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, Switzerland.

• Photo (supplied by Jive Media): Luther Chipembere at the national FameLab competition.
  

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