A total of 11 learners from the Northern Cape will take part in this year’s Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF).
This annual ISF will be held physically for the first time in two years where the country’s top young researchers and innovators will have the opportunity to showcase their scientific brilliance.
A total of 253 learners from 35 regions in South Africa will compete alongside 17 international learners from Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Turkey and Zimbabwe from Wednesday, 7 December, to Friday, 9 December, at the Birchwood Hotel’s OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.
These 270 bright young minds have earned a spot at the Eskom Expo ISF after beating the competition at a series of regional finals, and they will be poised to showcase their innovative projects to a panel of judges and industry experts in the hope of bagging one of the top prizes.
Eskom stated that the research conducted by young scientists this year will provide insight into what interests the youth today, what is important to them, and their approach to solving problems.
The research areas include issues that affect their daily lives, such as sport, their communities, improving the lives of people, issues that affect their schooling, broader societal issues involving human interactions, and research addressing some of the crises we face nationally and globally.
Northern Cape learners who will be taking part are:
- Santiné van der Merwe, Curro Kathu
- Lazanri Swart, Curro Kathu
- Giancarlo van der Merwe, Curro Kathu
- Janke Hoorn, Carnarvon High School
- Jowan Wait, Calvinia Primary School
- Marshal Bezuidenhoudt, Boesmanland High School, Pofadder
- Ella Marsden, St Patrick’s CBC, Kimberley
- Diya Nair, St Patrick’s CBC, Kimberley
- Jaco-Erik van der Merwe, De Aar High School
- Antoné Menne, De Aar High School
- Ayanda Ngesi, Emang Mmogo Comprehensive School, Kimberley.
Several organisations have contributed to this year’s prizes.
Prizes up for grabs include full-time and partial bursaries, cash prizes, the opportunity to attend the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar during Nobel Week, laptops, tablet computers, work-based exposure during school holidays, along with licenses to use Robot Simulation software and eLearning.
Eskom will be sponsoring 27 full-time bursaries for recipients to study Engineering at a South African university of their choice.
These bursaries will be awarded to the learners provided they meet the required criteria when they receive their matric results.
