Two young science learners at Protea Heights Academy (PHA) in Brackenfell jetted off to the USA last week to compete in the world’s largest pre-college science competition.
Audrey Hunn and Sarah Hackland, both in Grade 9, were joined by five of the finest young scientists in the country to represent South Africa at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Atlanta, Georgia, that is taking place this week.
Here learners will showcase their scientific brilliance following their achievements in the 2021 Virtual Eskom Expo International Science Fair.
They will compete alongside 1 748 learners from more than 75 countries for nearly R126 million in prizes, including bursaries and various gadgets.
The selected projects that were entered in the competition, range from research into the aerodynamics of Formula 1 cars, to an efficient cost-effective diagnostic system that can autonomously detect respiratory diseases.
Audrey and Sarah investigated a comparison between two rocky shore ecosystems on different coastlines along the Southern African coast. Their current research is an important benchmark for future research, due to the long-term effects of global warming on the species’ diversity, abundance and composition at these sites.
As a school PHA started participating in science competitions in 2017 and the programme has grown exponentially since then, says principal Andrea Coetzer.
“Last year our learners did exceptionally well at the national level of the International Sciences Fair, where Sarah and Audrey received gold.
“We hope they enjoy this wonderful experience their outstanding hard work has brought them. We are all extremely proud of their exceptional achievement,” says Coetzer.
“Eskom, being the funder of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, which is the largest science fair in South Africa, is proud to be driving a national initiative that is cultivating young scientists. We are proud of these aspiring scientists who do not only have the opportunity to witness the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution but are becoming active participants as the development unfolds. I am confident that they will represent South Africa honourably and make the country and Eskom proud,” says Nthato Minyuku, Eskom Group executive for government and regulatory affairs.
