Alumnae Prof. Eugénie Kayitesi and Dr. Tista Prasai Joshi elected TWAS Fellows

Prof. Eugénie Kayitesi and Dr. Tista Prasai Joshi have been elected TWAS Fellows, joining 87 scientists in the 2027 class chosen by the World Academy of Sciences. Congratulations to both of our alumnae on this recognition!

The Fellows, elected on 5 November 2026, include 29 women and 77 researchers from the global South. Dr. Prasai Joshi is one of 15 new Fellows from the 66 science- and technology-lagging countries identified by TWAS. The new Fellows will be inducted on 1 January 2027, bringing total TWAS membership to 1,510.

Associate Professor at the University of Pretoria, Prof. Kayitesi works to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa by reviving indigenous, underutilised plant-based foods. Her research shows these crops can become products of improved nutritional quality and offer viable alternatives to expensive imported staples. She has published more than 100 research papers and book chapters, and is a member of the African Academy of Sciences and the Pan-African Scientific Research Council. Dr. Kayitesi received the 2023 OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Award and the 2022 Rwanda Women in Science Award.

Senior Scientific Officer at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Dr. Prasai Joshi develops synthetic and natural adsorbents that remove pollutants from water, including arsenic and heavy metals. Her group’s technology suits full-scale use in Nepal, where water quality is deteriorating in urban areas. She also monitors faecal contamination and antibiotic-resistant pathogens in water, and her research has called for policy change on water and sanitation. She has received the 2019 OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Award, and the TWAS–Samira Omar Innovation for Sustainability Award.

From food systems to clean water, both researchers are building practical solutions where they are most needed. We are proud to celebrate this achievement and congratulate them on a well-deserved recognition.