IPSF 2026

Professor Samson Olaniyi

Professor Samson Olaniyi is a professor in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Nigeria. He obtained a First-Class Bachelor degree honors (B.Tech.) in Pure and Applied Mathematics from LAUTECH. His M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics were obtained from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is a recipient of some distinguished awards and scholarships including, LAUTECH prize for the best graduating student in the Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal government scholarship, Oyo state government scholarship for postgraduate students, Nigerian TETFUND grant for PhD program. He specializes in mathematical modelling and biomathematics with publications in several top-tier journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. His scholarly contributions are of great impact to the global body of knowledge with over 1600 citations and 27 H-index in Google Scholar. Dr. Olaniyi has been listed among the world's top 2 percent scientists by the Stanford-Elsevier ranking since 2024 till date.

Doctor Vusani Muswa Maphiri

Doctor Vusani Muswa Maphiri is a researcher in nanomaterials and electrochemical energy storage, with a strong focus on supercapacitors, porous carbon materials, and sustainable electrode design. He holds a PhD in Physics and specializes in polymer- and biomass-derived carbon nanostructures, incorporating heteroatom and metal doping strategies, as well as conductive polymer-carbon composites. His research integrates materials synthesis, advanced structural and spectroscopic characterization, and electrochemical evaluation to develop high-performance and scalable energy storage devices. Dr. Maphiri has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and actively collaborates with international research groups across Africa and Asia. He supervises postgraduate students in nanomaterials and energy research and contributes to academic development through teaching and mentorship. He also serves as a guest editor for an MDPI Symmetry special issue focused on supercapacitor materials, symmetry-driven design, and performance optimization.

Professor Martins Osaigbovo Omorogie

Professor Martins Osaigbovo Omorogie is an professor at Redeemer’s University, Ede, Nigeria, and a W2 Professor equivalent (W2PE)/experienced researcher of the Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Friedrich von Siemens Stiftungen, Germany, and Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany. From 2010-2025, he was a doctoral scholar, postdoctoral fellow, Commonwealth postdoctoral fellow, visiting scientist, and W2PE at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Vaal University of Technology, South Africa; The World Academy of Sciences, Italy; Swansea University, UK, and TUM, Germany, respectively. The synthesis and adsorptive/photocatalytic applications of sustainable functional materials for the cleanup of emerging contaminants in water/wastewater are his research focus.

Professor Jeanne Kriek

Professor Jeanne Kriek is a professor in the Department of Physics at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a recognised leader in science and STEM education. She previously served as a professor in the Institute for Science and Technology Education at UNISA and holds a National Research Foundation (NRF) B3 rating. She has published extensively in national and international journals and has supervised more than 35 master’s and doctoral students to completion, while continuing to mentor postgraduate researchers.

Her research spans educational technology in physics and broader STEM education, with a sustained focus on innovative, technology-enhanced pedagogies. Her current work explores the integration of robotics in STEM education. Her keynote will highlight how robotics can serve as a transformative pathway for strengthening conceptual understanding and advancing sustainable, interdisciplinary STEM education in a rapidly changing world.

Professor Kakoma Luneta

Professor Kakoma Luneta is a professor of Mathematics Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, where he has been a faculty member since January 2005. Dr Luneta holds a PhD in Mathematics Teacher Education from the University of Witwatersrand and Masters in Mathematics Teacher Education from the University of Sussex in England.

His research interest is in Mathematics Teachers Education at Secondary and Elementary school; Mathematics/numeric cognition and Professional Development and Mentorship of Mathematics Teachers. He has taught mathematics and physics in various Northern and Southern African countries, the UK and the US. He has supervised to completion several masters and doctoral students from Sub Sahara Africa, Greece and South Korea. He as published four books, over 30 book chapters and article in accredited journals. Dr Luneta was recently appointed a visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge Centre for Neurosciencein Education (CNE) and was once a Visiting Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of British Columbia in Canada and a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University in the US.

Professor Fanyana Moses Mtunzi

Professor Fanyana Moses Mtunzi is a professor of Chemistry and Manager of the Institute for Chemical and Biotechnology (ICBT) at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), South Africa. He holds a PhD in Chemistry and has extensive experience in environmental chemistry, medicinal plant research, nanotechnology, and water treatment technologies.

His research focuses on the development of innovative materials and analytical methods for environmental remediation and sustainable resource management. Professor Mtunzi has published widely in international journals, supervised numerous postgraduate students, and secured research funding from both industry and government agencies. As a research leader, he is committed to advancing scientific innovation, postgraduate training, and collaborative research that addresses societal and environmental challenges