Twelve-year-old Daniela van der Westhuizen, a bright and enthusiastic Grade 6 learner from Laerskool Walvisbaai in Walvis Bay, Namibia, is quickly becoming a name to watch in the world of young scientific talent.
With an avid curiosity and a deep love for discovery, Van der Westhuizen has proven that passion and hard work can take young scientists far beyond the classroom.
From an early age, Van der Westhuizen has been captivated by the natural world, especially gemstones, which she proudly collects. Their “beautiful colours, unique textures, dazzling appearances, and how they come in so many different sizes and values” are what sparked her fascination. This love for beauty and science has shaped her journey into research, experimentation, and innovation.
Van der Westhuizen’s science fair journey began at her school, where her research project, “Trash to Treasure”, quickly stood out. She went on to earn a Gold medal at the school-, regional-, and national levels, and was awarded Best Junior Scientist of the Year at Nationals, which was a remarkable achievement for such a young learner.
Her outstanding performance earned her an invitation from the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) to join the team to participate in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF), an opportunity she accepted with great excitement.
Reflecting on her experience, Van der Westhuizen said, “My experience was amazing! I learned so many new things and got inspired by all the different types of projects developed by my fellow participants. I also made lots of new friends, and everyone was so kind and welcoming. I truly felt like I belonged there. Our trips to the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre and the Wits-Anglo American Digital Dome were absolutely extraordinary!”
The young scientist was awarded the Top junior Soil Science Society of South Africa Award and a Silver medal at the Eskom Expo ISF.
Despite her success, Van der Westhuizen remained humble and genuinely surprised when she won the awards. “All the projects were incredible,” she said. “Everyone truly deserved recognition; their work was so amazing and inspiring.”
For Van der Westhuizen, the experience showed that young people are capable of extraordinary things when given the chance.
Her passion for science continues to be fuelled by a natural curiosity: a desire to understand how things work, to experiment, and to develop creative solutions to everyday problems. Projects like her potato peel experiment reflect her interest in exploring new ideas and discovering how science can make a real impact.
Van der Westhuizen also shared advice for other budding young scientists: “Don’t wait until you feel ‘smart enough,’ and don’t worry about being perfect. Just be curious, creative, and brave enough to try. Sometimes your experiments won’t work, and that’s okay, it means you’re learning, not failing,” she said.
She believes that curiosity, effort, and resilience are far more important than perfection. “At the end of the day, you either win or learn, and both are amazing,” she said.
With her infectious enthusiasm and growing list of achievements, Van der Westhuizen is proof that the future of science is in capable, imaginative hands. As she continues to learn and explore, she stands as an inspiration to young innovators across Namibia, South Africa, and beyond.
Registration to take part in Eskom Expo in 2026 is open. Learners and teachers can register by clicking here.
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