Dr Cobus van Breda is the Director of the Sciencefor- the-Future (S4F) unit and Manager of the Sci-Ed Science Education Centre at the University of the Free State (UFS). His work is aimed at strengthening mathematics and science education in South African schools. His initial research investigated effective ICTintegrated approaches to Physical Sciences curriculum implementation. This led to a focus on innovative and effective mathematics and science teaching and learning in the context of Teacher Professional Development (TPD).

The subsequent establishment of a Physical Sciences ICT Laboratory, the development of Family Math and Key Concepts in Science TPD initiatives, as well as the conceptualisation and establishment of the Sci-Ed Science Education Centre are cited as career-defining achievements and examples of research-led approaches in TPD. These initiatives create societal impact in the rural South African context through inclusion of teachers, learners and parents. It goes beyond academic activity by improving learner performance, strengthening teacher confidence, involving parents in children’s education and providing practical learning resources to under-resourced schools. The programme also follows a multi-year mentoring and support model, which makes the impact sustainable rather than one-off.

The initiatives were extended to nine other South African universities and, during 2026, impacted more than 120 000 project participants across all provinces. Apart from publishing and supervising PhD and Master’s students, Dr van Breda also contributed to national radio, television and keynote addresses at conferences. His commendable work extends beyond academic achievements, contributing to long-term human capital development.