Trailblazers Thomas Machingaidze (17) from St George’s College and Gigi Dara Nyambirai (18) of Peterhouse Girls School brought pride to Zimbabwe by winning awards at the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), held in Columbus, Ohio, USA.
These two bright young minds were among an elite group of high school students from across the globe who convened in Ohio from May 10–16 to take part in the world’s biggest international STEM competition for secondary school students. This year’s event also marked the 75th anniversary of ISEF.
Over 1,700 students from 70 different countries participated in the fair, presenting groundbreaking science and innovation projects on an international stage.
Back in April last year, Thomas made history by becoming the first Zimbabwean to secure a place in a degree programme at the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences in Florida, where he will train to become an astronaut.
Adding to his accolades, Thomas recently earned the Cambridge International Exams top award in Computer Science for the second consecutive year—despite sitting for the exams 18 months earlier than expected.
According to his computer science teacher, Tawanda Nyahwa, Thomas has always stood out for his analytical abilities, coding skills, and overall excellence in the subject.
Rising Star: Thomas Machingaidze
“His deep grasp of computer science concepts made him stand out as early as Form 2, when he began the IGCSE syllabus and started consistently scoring As through to A Level,” said Nyahwa.
“What’s even more admirable is his humility and willingness to learn. Thomas’ drive and openness to growth are what make him such an extraordinary student. He’s living proof that belief in oneself can break any barrier,” Nyahwa added.
Both Thomas and Gigi were awarded US$400 each, as well as full scholarships to King Fahd University in Saudi Arabia, in recognition of their innovative project submissions. Their entries were reviewed by over 1,000 global science professionals.
In total, three students from Zimbabwe were ranked among the top 40 finalists in the 2025 ISEF. This kind of talent shows why the private sector must step in to help nurture and support the country’s future innovators.
Zimbabwe’s representatives at ISEF included Thomas, whose invention was an AI-powered portable eye screening tool for early diagnosis of pediatric eye conditions in under-resourced regions.
Gigi entered with her project, “Reboot and Recover: The Bacteriophage Initiative”, which explored how biomimicry could revolutionize cybersecurity by mimicking nature’s own defenders. Meanwhile, Adriana Tadiswa Musonda Chulu (18) of Arundel School showcased her work on nanotechnology to purify polluted lake water.
All three students had previously earned awards at the Zimbabwe National Science Fair, earning their places at the global event.
ISEF’s outreach and equity efforts aim to give every young person a fair shot at a future in STEM fields.
Organized by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and the Society for Science, the ISEF 2025 edition honoured some of the brightest young minds from around the world—recognizing not just their academic excellence, but their leadership and innovation.
The finalists were chosen from an initial pool of nearly 2,500 project submissions, with just 300 students ultimately earning top honors—a testament to the event’s high standards.
Each year, numerous scientific bodies award scholarships, internships, prizes, and other support to student finalists across diverse disciplines, helping them move one step closer to careers in science and technology.
