SAYPT Juror and Moderator Team

SAYPT Organiser: Don Duffield

Don Duffield is an award-winning science educator, innovator, and international collaborator whose work spans the classroom, the laboratory, and the cosmos. As Co-ordinator of the Parklands College STAR Programme (Science, Technology, Astronomy, and Research), he has fostered a culture of scientific inquiry among learners in South Africa, connecting them to authentic research experiences such as high-altitude balloon experiments, rocketry projects, and International Space Station payload investigations in partnership with MaxIQ.Space, the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Rocketry Department (ASRI), and the Sakhikamva Foundation.

With 34 years of teaching experience, Don is a Senior Physical Science and Further Studies in Physics Teacher at Parklands College. He serves as Team Manager for the South African IYPT Team, having led teams to Warsaw (2019), Timișoara (2022), and Lund (2025), and represents South Africa on the IYPT Organising Committee.

A passionate communicator of science, Don believes learners thrive when challenged to explore, question, and create. His work brings together learners from diverse backgrounds for hands-on discovery, reflecting his commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and the transformative power of science education.

International Moderator: Dr Falk Ebert

Dr Falk Ebert is an applied mathematician by training and has been teaching high school and university Physics and Mathematics in Berlin since 2001. He leads one of the most successful German Young Physicists’ Tournament (GYPT) centres - one that has produced numerous members of Team Germany, many of whom have gone on to win Gold Medals at the IYPT.

Over and above teaching he is currently working part-time at a pupils' lab at the Free University of Berlin. A place that aims at providing workshops and scientific experience to groups of students from all over the region.

An accomplished scientist, Falk has also conducted environmental research aboard a polar research vessel deep within the Arctic Circle. A passionate advocate for science education, he has made a lasting impact not only in Germany but also through his support of Team South Africa and Team Sweden. We are honoured to have him serve as our International Moderator.

(Above photograph taken by Olga Jarugski, FU Berlin)

Local Moderator: Dr Alistair Douglas

Dr Douglas serves as an IYPT Team Leader and experienced IYPT Juror, having participated in the tournaments held in Warsaw (2019), Timișoara (2022), and Lund (2025). A professional experimental physicist by training, he is currently a Senior Physical Science and A-Level teacher at St John’s College in Johannesburg.

He obtained his PhD from the University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela University) and began his career as a scientist in the Physical Metallurgy Division at Mintek, where he conducted research on high-temperature alloys and nanomaterials. His area of expertise lies in transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and he has published several peer-reviewed papers in international journals.

After transitioning from research into scientific sales, Dr Douglas ultimately found his calling in education. He is deeply passionate about inspiring and nurturing students’ curiosity in science beyond the classroom, believing that such engagement is essential to addressing the complex challenges facing our world today. We are privileged to have him serve as both moderator and seasoned IYPT Juror.

Chief Juror and Organiser: Frank Smuts

Frank Smuts is a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town, specialising in nonlinear wave systems. As an aspiring researcher, he published conference and journal articles in medical and mathematical physics shortly after completing his undergraduate degree. He is also a capable orator, having been awarded best speaker prizes at the mathematics conferences of SAMS (South African Mathematics Society) in 2024 and SANUM (South African Numerical and Applied Mathematics interest group) in 2025. In the realm of computer science, he received a medal award for his contributions to computer graphics, and worked as an artificial intelligence consultant for the UCT Department of Health. In the present, he is a candidate fellow of the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust.

Over and above his academic pursuits, Frank is deeply committed to science communication and outreach programs. His involvement with IYPT started early; he was part of the first South African team to participate in the GYPT (German Young Physicists' Tournament) in 2017. Later on, he joined the South African IYPT management at IYPT 2022 (Timisoara, Romania) as team leader and IYPT 2025 (Lund, Sweden) as team leader and juror. He is presently coaching the South African team for IYPT 2026 (Zurich, Switzerland), where he will serve as team leader, juror and South African representative within the IYPT Organising Committee. In his role as mentor, he aids the team in all matters of experimentation, data analysis, theory and presentation.

Besides IYPT, Frank serves on the Cape Town regional committee for the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, has extensive tutoring and teaching experience at the undergraduate level, and runs the Mathematical Physics seminar series at the University of Cape Town.

Senior Juror: Jeanne-Claire Trickett

Jeanne-Claire Trickett is the Head of Physical Science at Herschel Girls’ School in Cape Town, where she teaches IEB Physics and Chemistry. With a background in geophysics and more than two decades of experience spanning academia, mining research, and education, she brings a wealth of technical and scientific expertise to our juror team.

Before moving into education, Jeanne-Claire founded and managed MeerCAT Geophysics, a consultancy serving the Southern African exploration industry, and worked with leading institutions such as the CSIR and Schlumberger. She holds an MSc (Engineering) in Geophysics from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Jeanne-Claire has also served as a STEP UP Ambassador for the American Physical Society, promoting inclusivity and diversity in physics education, and has presented several of her research papers at international conferences. We are privileged to have her on our juror team.

Senior Juror: Dr Susan Wilson

Susan Wilson is the Head of Physical Sciences at Redhill High School in Sandton, Johannesburg, where she teaches IEB Physical Sciences, Further Studies Physics, and Physics for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. Her extensive academic background began at the University of KwaZulu-Natal with an undergraduate degree in Computational Physics and an Honours degree in Physics.

Following this, Susan was selected for the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP) at the University of Cape Town, before completing a Master's thesis in Space Science at North-West University. She continued to doctorate level, earning a PhD with a thesis on the evolution of galaxy cluster scaling relations. Susan is passionate about fostering curiosity in students, encouraging them to investigate and understand the principles that govern the world around them. We are privileged to have her on our juror team.

Senior Juror: Sean Robert Morrow

Sean holds both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, specializing in Aeronautical Engineering. His passion for classical mechanics and fluid dynamics led his Masters research to focus on the complex physics of transient aerodynamics and ground effect, a specialization inspired by high-speed projects like the Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC). This rigorous academic work has provided a strong foundation in the principles of flight, thermodynamics, and high-speed fluid dynamics.

A dedicated science educator who presently teaches at St John's College in Johannesburg, Sean has valuable experience teaching Physical Science and Further Studies Physics at the high school level, as well as lecturing Engineering Thermodynamics and Engineering Design and Analysis at Wits University.

He expanded his connection to fundamental physics by representing South Africa at the International Teachers Week at CERN in August 2024, where he completed a comprehensive course on particle physics. He has also actively promoted STEM through his role as an education ambassador for the Bloodhound SSC Education Program and by helping the Wits University team win the best exhibit award at the Sasol Techno X science exhibition three years running.

Sean brings a highly analytical and experimental mindset to the SAYPT Juror Team, underscored by his recognized research achievements. His career highlights include winning Best Research Paper at the 32nd International Symposium on Shock Waves conference in Singapore, achieving Second Best Research Paper at the Aeronautical Society of South Africa's Annual Conference, and securing first place and Best Design at the Red Bull Gravity Challenge. As a new addition to the juror team, he looks forward to applying his academic rigour and practical engineering experience to the evaluation of the advanced physics and experimental projects. We are excited to have him onboard!

Senior Juror: Devon Crowther

Devon was part of the first team that participated in the German Young Physicists’ Tournament (GYPT) in 2017. He has a master’s degree in theoretical physics which focused on particle physics - specifically, on solitons within the Nambu–Jona-Lasinio model. He currently works at Munro Forensic Actuaries as a programmer and project developer.

Senior Juror: Jessica James

Jessica is currently pursuing her MSc in Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town. Her research focuses on oscillons in nonlinear field theories and combines analytical and computational techniques from both mathematics and physics. She is deeply passionate about mathematics and physics education and has extensive tutoring experience at high school, A-levels, and undergraduate level.

International Juror: Kristina Pahor

Kristina holds a Masters Degree in Educational Physics with her dissertation having focused on teaching nuclear reactor physics to high school children. She is currently an IB Physics Teacher in Ljubljana, Slovenia. A passionate physicist, teacher, skier and mountaineer, we are privileged to have her as an international juror on our team.

Local Juror: Enzo Afonso

GYPT (2018). Enzo is an Astronomy and Physics student at the University of Cape Town, as well as an independent researcher and astronomy intern. His current work focuses on the restoration and robotisation of the ROTSE-IIIc telescope at the H.E.S.S. site in Namibia and the development of machine learning tools to discover new planetary nebulae in archival infrared data. With a background in instrumentation, electronics, and data analysis, Enzo is passionate about sharing the excitement of scientific discovery and helping young people explore the universe through curiosity and creativity.

Local Juror: Juhi Sewchurran

IYPT Team South Africa Captain and Participant (IYPT 2019, Warsaw). Juhi is currently a final-year Applied Mathematics and Computer Science student at the University of South Africa. Since 2022, she has been tutoring matric Physics and Mathematics, driven by her passion for problem-solving and inspiring others to develop a love for STEM.

Local Juror: Franklin Human

Franklin is a passionate experimentalist with over 30 years of teaching experience across South Africa, the UK, and New Zealand. Currently teaching Natural Science, Physical Science, and Further Studies in Physics at Parklands College, he also brings expertise in Life Sciences and A-level Physics and Chemistry. Trained in experimental science at King’s College London, Franklin is exceptionally qualified to assess advanced experimental projects and has served for many years as an Eskom Expo Regional Judge and mentor to ISF candidates. We are privileged to have him on our team.

Local Juror: Seth Vogler

Seth Vogler was a member of the first South African team to participate in the German Young Physicists’ Tournament (GYPT) in 2017 and returned to compete again in 2018. He is an Applied Mathematics and Physics graduate from UNISA and is currently pursuing his Honours degree in Applied Mathematics, focusing his thesis on computational finance.

Curiosity-driven and interdisciplinary in his thinking, Seth enjoys reframing problems using methods from different fields to uncover fresh insights and innovative solutions. Professionally, he works as a SysOps Engineer, specialising in reliability, automation, and transforming complex systems into dependable, observable services.

As a judge, Seth brings the same analytical precision and builder’s mindset to his evaluations - seeking clear problem statements, robust methodology, reproducible results, and thoughtful communication. Above all, he values projects that bridge scientific curiosity with real-world impact.

Local Juror: Mthawelanga Nhuku

Mtha Nhuku or as he is affectionately known, "Mtha" was a member of Team South Africa at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT 2022) in Timișoara, Romania. As of 2025, Mtha is a second-year Mechatronic Engineering student at the University of Stellenbosch, where he combines academic excellence with leadership.

He is currently contracted to Eskom and serves as a tutor for first-year engineering mathematics across both semesters. In addition, Mtha holds a student leadership position at the university, demonstrating his commitment to supporting peers and contributing to the academic community. Mtha is passionate about encouraging and guiding the next generation of scientists and jurors. We are privileged to have him as one of our Local Jurors.

Local Juror: Jordyn Henning

Jordyn Henning was a member of Team South Africa at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT 2019) in Warsaw, Poland. Jordyn’s passion for physics remains strong, even as he has explored other fields. After initially studying physics at the University of Pretoria (Tuks) for a year, he moved to Cape Town in 2022 and pursued his passion for cooking at Silwood Culinary School, where he will graduate in 2025 as a fully qualified chef.

Looking ahead, Jordyn plans to continue his education at the University of Cape Town, studying business to enter the corporate side of the food industry, focusing on product development at companies such as Woolworths or Pick n Pay. Despite his time away from formal academia, Jordyn remains deeply connected to the IYPT community and is enthusiastic about contributing as a juror for upcoming tournaments, combining his enduring love of physics with his professional and academic experiences.

Local Juror: Declan Saul

Declan is a former participant in the Greek Young Physicists’ League (2024) and served as Team South Africa Captain at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT) 2025 in Lund, Sweden. In 2024, he received the Mayor’s Award for Innovation at the Cape Town Regional Science Expo.

He also led the Parklands College STAR Programme, where he oversaw the development and construction of payloads for two sounding rockets, two high-altitude balloon launches, and a vibrational analysis experiment deployed aboard the International Space Station.

Declan is currently a first-year Electrical Engineering student at the University of Cape Town.

RETURN TO THE HOME PAGE

Page updated

Report abuse