Cady de Koker, a Gr.11 learner of the Northern Cape High School in Kimberley, arrived home with a second place after presenting her research project at the recent Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition (BYSCC) in China.
During the BYSCC, some of the brightest young scientist from around the world showcased their scientific projects.
She was one one of four learners from South Africa attending this science competition. Cady was joined by Christopher Collier-Reed and Adam Gibbon, both Gr.12 learners at the Pinelands High School in Cape Town, and Samiya Waza, a Gr.12 learner of the Umtata High School in Mthatha.
Christopher and Adam were awarded a first place for their group research project, “Flies to the rescue: Innovating food waste management using Black Soldier fly larvae”.
As Cady, Samiya was awarded a second place for her research titled “Med-Net: A Comprehensive and Robust Information Management System for Healthcare Facilities.”
Cady’s project was titled “A Mathematician’s Guide to Neuroscience: Classifying and Diagnosing Brain Tumours Using Fractal-Analysis Morphometrics.”
She says 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.
The 44th BYSCC, hosted at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, aimed to promote the advancement of youth scientific and technological endeavours. Its goals included nurturing the innovation and practical skills of young participants, enhancing their scientific and technological literacy, and inspiring the emergence of more young scientists.
The acting CEO of the Eskom Development Foundation, Mologadi Motshele, says Eskom encourages young people to think innovatively and to explore new ways to solve real-world problems. Promoting creativity within the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation (STEMI) fields allows the next generation of scientists and engineers to drive technological advancements and contribute to our country’s development.”
Registration to take part in Eskom Expo 2025 is still open. Learners in Gr.4 to Gr.12 and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students NC(V) Level 2 to NC(V) Level 4, can register their research projects by visiting exposcience.co.za
