Nicolaas Steenkamp, a Grade 10 learner at Hoërskool Stellenbosch, is one of South Africa’s young scientists who again demonstrated excellence on the global stage, achieving outstanding results at the International Festival of Engineering Science and Technology in Tunisia (IFEST²).
He was one of three learners who flew the country’s flag at the science fair from Monday 23 to Sunday 29 March, and the only one to be awarded a gold medal for his project.
His fellow budding scientists Nathan Moolman from Leeuwenhof Akademie and Diya Zacaria from The High School for Girls Potchefstroom earned a silver and bronze medal respectively.
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The learners reflected on their achievements as both fulfilling and affirming, highlighting that the recognition received at the competition was a demonstration of their hard work and dedication. They also emphasised the value of engaging with fellow participants from across the globe, gaining new perspectives and experiencing diverse cultures.
“Winning an award at IFEST² was incredibly rewarding, as it shows that all the hard work that I invested into the project has paid off,” Steenkamp said.
“It reassured me that what I was doing was interesting not just to me, but also meaningful to others. The highlight of IFEST² was going to the different heritage sites in Tunisia and learning about the rich history of Tunisia. It was incredibly fascinating visiting the Amphitheatre of El Jem and the Bardo Museum. Culture night was also very memorable, as it highlighted the diversity in our world and the differences between cultures. I was pleasantly surprised to realise just how diverse South Africa is in comparison to some other countries.”
The participants were selected based on the scientific merit, relevance and innovation demonstrated in their research projects at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF) in October last year.
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