Supernova is super proud of these young science geniuses! In them we place much hope for the future of our beautiful country!
Nine
South African learners have returned from the prestigious Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held from 12 to 17
May in Phoenix, Arizona, USA clutching awards and prizes for their
outstanding projects.
These
learners did exceptionally well in the Eskom Expo for Young
Scientists International Science Fair in 2012 and were, therefore,
selected to represent South Africa at the largest science fair in the
world.
Each
year, more than seven million high school students from over 70
countries and regions compete in local and national science fairs
with the hope of reaching Intel ISEF. Only 1 500 of those hopefuls
are named finalists and given the opportunity to attend the science
fair, where they are able to share their ideas, showcase their
projects and compete for over US$ 4 million in awards and
scholarships.
Even
fewer walk away with awards, but this year South African learners:
Danielle Mallabone, Philippe Lothaller, Ben Langer, Danielle Jacobson
and Retselisitsoe Monyake were acknowledged for their scientific
projects.
Danielle
Jacobson, a budding scientist from Camps Bay High School, won a
special award of a Renewable Tuition Scholarship Award to the value
$50 000 from West Virginia University. This was for her investigation
into how bacteria and Nano fibre electrodes could be used to increase
the electrical output of microbial fuel cells.
She
looked at maximising the area of the electrode to make it viable for
commercial use in the future and the judges were so impressed that
they offered her a four-year scholarship to West Virginia University.
Jacobson
says: “I was sitting on the edge of my seat during the special
awards and when they announced my name I was so happy - It’s great
that I have done well for South Africa.”
Another
winner was Ben Langer from Herzlia High School in Cape Town. Langer
won the New American University Provost Scholarship, a comprehensive
scholarship to study for four years at Arizona State University. In
addition to this scholarship, Langer also won a one-time US$2 500
award to conduct research from the Office of Knowledge Enterprise
Development.
Langer
is a keen chemist and looked at ways to increases the thrust of
rocket fuel. He found that it was possible to add small accelerants
to rocket fuel to increase the thrust; ultimately increasing the
power to weight ratio.
Langer
also took home the fourth place award and US$500 in the chemistry
category at the Grand Awards Ceremony.
Another
prize winner was Phillipe Lothaller, a matric student at Rondebosch
Boys' High School. He won a cash prize of $7500 from the United
Airlines Foundation.
Lothaller
has always been fascinated by airplanes and after seeing the puff of
smoke that comes off airplane wheels after landing, he decided to
look into modifying airplane wheels to reduce wear and tear.
He
discovered that by attaching large scoops to the wheels, the amount
of friction created on landing was reduced and this, in turn, reduced
the wear and tear on the wheels.
Danielle
Mallabone, a Grade 11 learner from St Teresa’s High School in
Johannesburg, received a Special Award of US$1000 from the American
Intellectual Property Law Association for her innovative life-jacket
attachment.
Mallabone
was concerned by the number of deaths caused by hypothermia following
boating or plane accidents and so she decided to develop a
life-jacket attachment that prevents hypothermia by producing heat on
contact with water.
She
says: “I would definitely encourage other learners to enter the
Eskom Expo. I never thought I had an impressive project throughout
the regional and national finals, but you never know that someone
else might see value in your project.”
The
final prize was awarded to Retselisitsoe Monyake. Monyake, a 17 year
old student from Harmony High School in Virginia, also took home a
fourth place Grand Award and US$500 in the mathematical sciences
category at the Grand Awards Ceremony. Monyake had developed an
alternative proof of the Pappus Chain Theorem, using the method of
circle inversion.
He
said: “We have a problem with maths at our school and the problem
is the way people look at maths. I wanted to change their minds, my
proof is visual and it gives people another perspective on maths.”
A
key component of the “true South Africa” and one of our most
valuable resources is the vast number of bright young minds –
particularly in the scientific field – continuously emerging and
proposing innovative solutions to the challenges faced by our country
and the world at large.
It
is these bright young minds that the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
so values, recognises and rewards. Executive Director of the Eskom
Expo for Young Scientists, Parthy Chetty said: “For the past 15
years our team has always come back with an award. This is a
fantastic achievement and this shows that if we commit to this we can
achieve in international arenas. We believe the continued support of
Intel ISEF is imperative because maths and science cannot be
separated from future global growth. The competition encourages
millions of students to engage their skills for innovation and
develop promising solutions for global challenges.”
Minister
of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, who visited the learners at
the airport to wish them good luck for the competition, said: “I
was struck that you have found innovative ways to address some of our
societal challenges and I hope you gain knowledge, contacts and
culture enrichment.”
All
the learners remarked that one of the things they enjoyed most about
the trip was meeting like-minded peers from around the world and
engaging with them on a meaningful level. Jacobson said: “It is
mind blowing to see normal teenagers doing such amazing things and
the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is great for encouraging young
scientists. I didn’t think it would go anywhere but it has. It’s
been a lot of hard work but it’s rewarding hard work!”
The
group were all incredibly grateful to Eskom and Intel for affording
them this opportunity. Mallabone said: “I want to say a huge thank
you to all the sponsors, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Eskom
and Intel. It really has been a life-changing experience.”
Press release distributed by Grounded Media
