By TANA “Lulu” MALINGA
IT’S only pupils who do STEM subjects that get to win big in October of every year.
At this year’s Eskom Expo International Science Fair, young scientists from Mzansi and across the globe won bursaries, cash prizes, laptops, tablets, and computers.
They also got the opportunity to work for a company of their choice that is in line with their field of study during school holidays.
The good news was announced at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.
The fair took place from 3 to 6 October.
The energy company awarded 23 full bursaries valued up to R450,000 each, and four Special Awards to the Best Female, Best Development, Best Energy and Best Innovation projects which were selected among entrants in the energy category.
The winners were:
Best Female: Grade 11 pupil Likitha Chundru from Bryanston High School in Joburg.
Chundru, who also won the Meiring Naudé Award for the most inspiring project, used a novel method to increase the germination and growth of non-legume plants using Rhizobium spp. Bacteria.
Best development project: The Eskom Award for the Best Development Project was won by a Grade 12 pupil Amogelang Mampane from Soshanguve Automotive School of Specialisation.
Mampane impressed the Judges with his technical knowledge of electric cars.
Best Innovation Project went to Keerthana Nair from Bryanston High School in Joburg.
Nair found a quick and easy way to detect tuberculosis in sputum. Her innovation will be most significant for early tuberculosis detection in areas with limited medical resources.
Best energy project won by Sithembile Hlehliso and Kabelo Sekoere from Senakangwedi High School in Bloemfontein. This Grade 12 team investigated ways to improve the efficiency of solar panels.
Eskom Development Foundation Acting CEO, Mologadi Motshele, congratulated the remarkable young scientists who have not only displayed exceptional talent but also a steadfast commitment to scientific inquiry and innovation.
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