Students to represent South Africa at global soil-science competition

by Mafumane Tlhapi

A team of North-West University (NWU) students will represent South Africa at the 5th International Soil Judging Competition, scheduled for June 2026 in Nanjing, China. This will place the institution on a global platform for soil science training and research.

The team, led by NWU lecturer and research scientist Angelique Daniell from the School of Geo- and Spatial Sciences, includes Wehan Voges, Heike Steinberg, Botha du Plessis and Sebastian Burger, who will compete against teams from 23 countries.

Angelique says the selection of an all-NWU team reflects the strength of the training of the university in applied soil science. “For the NWU, this represents the ability to develop students to a level where they can compete against international programmes in field-based soil science.”

The competition forms part of a global platform linked to the World Congress of Soil Science, where students are assessed on their ability to classify, interpret and evaluate soils under field conditions using international systems such as the World Reference Base and the USDA Soil Taxonomy.

Participation in the competition is expected to extend beyond the event itself. Angelique says the team will bring back knowledge and skills that will be integrated into teaching and learning at the NWU. “The intention is to transfer these skills into undergraduate and postgraduate training, incorporate updated international standards and promote peer-to-peer learning among students,” she says.

She adds that this approach will ensure that the impact of the competition benefits the broader academic programme. “This creates a multiplier effect where the knowledge gained does not remain within the team but contributes to soil science training at the NWU and in South Africa.”

At a national level, the participation of the team places responsibility on the university to represent South African soil science on an international stage. It also provides an opportunity to raise the visibility of local expertise in the global scientific community.

The initiative aligns with the role of the NWU in developing science, technology, engineering and mathematics capacity. Soil science plays a role in agriculture, environmental management and sustainability, areas linked to national development priorities.

Angelique says the competition will expose students to global practices and research networks. “It positions our students in the international scientific community and strengthens the contribution of the NWU to producing graduates who can respond to environmental challenges.”

The university is exploring ways to share the team’s journey through its communication platforms as the students prepare to represent both the NWU and South Africa on the international stage.