Samiya Waza, a Grade 12 pupil from Umtata High School in Mthatha, has earned international recognition at the prestigious Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition (BYSCC) held in China.
Waza was awarded a Second Prize (the South African equivalent of a silver medal) for her innovative research project, “Med-Net: A Comprehensive and Robust Information Management System for Healthcare Facilities.”
Waza described the achievement as a humbling experience and a dream come true.
“To anyone starting their science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI) journey, believe in yourself, take risks, and never give up on your dreams. Your unique perspective and passion can change the world. Learn from failures, and push beyond your limits. You got this!” she said.
Her success formed part of Team South Africa’s impressive showing at the competition, where local pupils competed against some of the brightest young scientists from around the world.
Fellow Second Prize winner, Cady De Koker, a Grade 11 pupil from Northern Cape High School in Kimberley, was recognised for her project, “A Mathematician’s Guide to Neuroscience: Classifying and Diagnosing Brain Tumours Using Fractal-Analysis Morphometrics.”
De Koker said winning an award at the BYSCC was an honour and a privilege.
“I would have never imagined when I first started at Eskom Expo that one day I would be able to stand on an international stage and accept an award of such stature. I’m grateful for the opportunity that I’ve been provided. The highlight of the trip to China was being able to meet with such a diverse group of people, with such different perspectives on life with the same passion and curiosity for science and innovation,” she said.
Christopher Collier-Reed and Adam Gibbon, both Grade 12 pupils at Pinelands High School in Cape Town, were awarded the First Prize (South African equivalent of a Gold medal) for their group research project, “Flies to the rescue: Innovating food waste management using Black Soldier fly larvae”.
The 44th BYSCC, hosted at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, aimed to promote the advancement of youth scientific and technological endeavours. Participants also had the opportunity to explore iconic landmarks, including Olympic Park, the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the Museum of the Communist Party of China.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Eskom Development Foundation (Acting), Mologadi Motshele, said, “Congratulations to Team South Africa for making an incredible impact at the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition (BYSCC) in China. Eskom encourages young people to think innovatively and explore new ways to solve real-world problems. Promoting creativity within the STEMI fields allows the next generation of scientists and engineers to drive technological advancements and contribute to our country’s development.”
