Two siblings from Postmasburg have earned silver medals and renewable scholarships worth $20 000 each to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in America with their remarkable science projects.
Giancarlo (18) and Santiné (14) van der Merwe have achieved this extraordinary success at the 2023 Genius Olympiad in America, held in June.
The olympiad brought together exceptional young minds from around the globe to showcase their projects.
Giancarlo and Santiné presented their innovations to a panel of judges, resulting in their silver medals. Out of the 1 453 projects submitted to the olympiad from 31 states in America and 63 countries worldwide, only 726 finalists were selected to participate.
Giancarlo, currently in Gr. 12 with Curro Online, spearheaded an innovative carbon capture technology project aimed at reducing the detrimental impact of carbon dioxide emissions on our planet. His research resulted in the discovery of a cutting-edge technology that converts carbon dioxide into valuable carbon nanofibers and oxygen.
His sustainable method has the potential to revolutionise multiple industries and significantly mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases, contributing to the fulfilment of the United Nations Paris Agreement requirements.
His younger sister, Santiné, is a Gr. 9 learner, also with Curro Online.
Motivated by the eye-opening documentary Seaspiracy, Santiné embarked on a mission to address the critical issue of ghost nets in the ocean by designing a device capable of tracking fishing gear to prevent the loss of marine life. Her innovation and commitment to tackling this environmental challenge led her to advocate for increased international legislation to enforce the proper handling and tracking of fishing gear.
“Giancarlo and Santiné not only were selected as finalists, achieving more than 70% in the preliminary reviews, but remained in the top 30% of finalists, and top 15% of all submissions to the 2023 Genius Olympiad.
“Their success is a testament to their ingenuity, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world. Their achievements shine a bright light on Curro’s emerging scientific talent and serve as an inspiration to other learners,” says Faith Njau, executive head at Curro Online.
Giancarlo expressed his gratitude towards the Imbewu Science Foundation for affording him the opportunity to represent South Africa.
“Although I have already applied to study Mechatronic Engineering at the North-West University (NWU), I appreciate the value of the RIT scholarship and plan to utilise it for further studies abroad,” he says.
Santiné expressed her joy at the chance to explore New York and witness iconic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and Central Park.
“I made great friends with fellow participants from Italy, Saudi Arabia, and the Ukraine. Like my brother, my heart remains set on pursuing my studies in South Africa, but I will consider the RIT scholarship if I pursue further studies. When they called my name I was speechless, and happy that I was one step closer to making a difference and saving the ocean,” she says.
- The siblings were both awarded gold medals at the Imbewu Science Foundation’s 2022 South African Youth Engineering and Science Symposium (Sayess).
