Nine South African scientists-in-the-making rubbed shoulders with more than a thousand like-minded young scientists from around the world in Pittsburgh, USA for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
Intel’s Corporate Affairs Director, Parthy Chetty says: ‚Our own nine finalists, all between the ages of 15 and 19 from the Free State, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, have blown local judges away with their innovative projects earlier this year. And now they are off to share their solutions with the world.‚
Finalists were selected from a record 68 countries this year, and Chetty explains all of them have two things in common ‚ a curiosity for how the world works and a need to solve challenges the world or their community may be faced with.
‚When USD 3 million worth of total awards and scholarships are up for grabs learners respond with astonishing inventions, as we have seen at the South African leg of the competition,‚ he says.
‚Take the case of seventeen year old Winston Mtabela who realised during his research study that cyanide pollution as a result of mining activities in his hometown of Welkom in the Free State was essentially the reason for a waning plant growth in the area. Other projects included effective methods to sterilise bacterial-infected toothbrushes, the study of fossilisation in a calcium carbonate environment and an affordable alternative to prosthetic limbs,‚ Chetty explains.
‚For the past 15 years, Intel has been committed to the International Science and Engineering Fair because we believe in nurturing a passion for maths and science among young people. The future of innovation is in their hands, which will only benefit the global economy,‚ he says. ‚This is just one area we believe can help education in South Africa and abroad.‚
More about the projects:
Name of student
School
Region
Project title
Winston Mthabela
Harmony High School
Welkom, Free State
The effect of Cyanide pollution due to slimes dams on plant growth
Vivienne Dames
Victoria Girls’ High School
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Biodegradation of toxic dyes
Brandon Ramnath
Christian Brothers’ College
Boksburg, Gauteng
The development of an educational board game to improve the study techniques of High School students
Saul Bloch
Herzlia High School
Cape Town, Gauteng
Evaluation and training of proprioception in male subjects aged 13 ‚ 16 years
Megan Berger
Roedean School
Parktown, Gauteng
Bones 2 stones ‚ observation on processes of fossilisation in a Calcium carbonate environment
Chene Mostert
Ladysmith High School
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
An effective method to annihilate
Hearn Johnson
Hoerskool Drie Riviere
Drie Riviere, Gauteng
An affordable functional prosthetic hand
Sasha Holloway
Springfield Convent School
Cape Town, Western Cape
A study of the endogenous activity rhythms of the marine isopod Exosphaeroma truncatitelson
Byron McNally
St Patrick’s College, Christian Brothers College
Kimberley, Western Cape
Shock absorber kinetic energy recovery system
*