Learners of the Moemedi Secondary School in Bloemfontein had a unique experience. They were exposed to an authentic engineering environment. This took place during this year’s South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) Aqualibrium competition held in Johannesburg on 9 May.
They were among the participants of 14 schools, from the various provinces, in this national challenge. These learners are: Retshepile Masithela, Kabelo Rampipi and Siphokazi Tsoko.
The competition aims to foster the future generation of engineers. It raises awareness about equitable water distribution. As a skills development competition, it places learners into the actual space of civil engineers. This enables them to unleash their creativity and problem-solving abilities.
In addition to technical skill, the event fosters and demonstrates the strength of teamwork, ingenuity and critical thinking under pressure.
In just two hours, participants have to design and build a working water distribution network using the materials provided. They must then evenly distribute exactly three litres of water into three containers.
To finish their systems with the fewest number of penalty points, participants had to resemble engineers. They needed to use mathematical skills to succeed as a team.
“It is incredibly motivating to see these learners approach challenging engineering problems with such enthusiasm.
“Aqualibrium is not just a competition, it is a starting point. It sparks curiosity. It builds confidence. Learners get a glimpse into the incredible world of civil engineering,” said Memory Scheepers, project manager of Saice.
