The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) extends it best wishes to exceptional 2025 cohort of young South African scientists who will represent the country at the 8th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting on Economic Sciences (#LINOecon), to be held in Lindau, Germany, from 26 to 30 August 2025.
These outstanding individuals were chosen through a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process conducted by ASSAf, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), and the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. The gathering will bring together around 400 carefully selected young scientists from across the globe to engage in dialogue with Nobel Laureates.
This year’s meeting will feature 20 Nobel Laureates in Economic Sciences and participants from more than 60 countries, including South Africa. The programme will include panel discussions on urgent global issues such as the stability of financial systems, climate change, and the role of institutions in economic development. Young scientists will also present their research in the Next Gen Science Sessions.
The 2025 theme draws inspiration from the 2024 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences, awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson. Their pioneering research on inclusive and extractive institutions has reshaped our understanding of how history and governance influence economic growth and long-term prosperity.
As the official partner of the Lindau Foundation, and with support from DSTI, ASSAf is honoured to annually nominate outstanding early-career researchers to participate in this prestigious international forum. The Lindau Meetings provide a unique platform for young scientists to interact with Nobel Laureates, exchange ideas on frontier research, explore career development opportunities, and tackle the world’s most pressing economic challenges.
ASSAf and DSTI warmly congratulate the following rising stars on their selection for this extraordinary opportunity to learn from and contribute to the global scientific community:
Dr Unathi Thango
Dr Thango is an early-career researcher with a focus on lean manufacturing, quality management, and organisational efficiency in the public sector. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Management Studies from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
Ms Nyemwererai Blessing Matshaka
Ms Matshaka is a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Pretoria. Her research focuses on macroeconomic policy in an unequal society, with a particular interest in monetary and fiscal policy, inequality, and innovation.
Dr Ifeoma Anthonia Iwegbunam
Dr Iwegbunam graduated with a PhD in Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. She is currently a research fellow, and her fields of interest include monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and public finance.
Ms Letshego Mancoe
Ms Mancoe is a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Pretoria. Her research explores the dynamics of intergenerational mobility, focusing on how socio-economic and cultural factors influence educational outcomes across generations in Africa.