Six young scientists flew to Dallas, Texas, US, from OR Tambo International Airport last week to showcase their scientific brilliance on the global stage at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
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The youngsters won the opportunity to represent the country following their successful entries in the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) held last December.
This year’s Regeneron ISEF will be an in-person event where 1 700 global learners will compete for more than R165m in prizes, including bursaries and various gadgets.
South Africa will be represented by:
• Brandon de Greef, a Grade 12 learner at Crawford International Ruimsig in Johannesburg.
Brandon conducted a noteworthy research project titled Evaluation of powdered insulators for high voltage applications, which assessed the effectiveness of eco-friendly chemical compounds as insulators for high voltage applications.
The objective was to identify a compound with superior insulation capabilities that could potentially replace current high-voltage insulators.
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His project has the potential answer to replacing current high-voltage insulators.
• Keitumetse Sebatlelo, a Grade 11 learner at Carleton Jones High School in Merafong, Gauteng South.
Keitumetse’s research, Predicting the likelihood and severity of sinkholes occurring in Khutsong from underground water pipes, identified and analysed sinkholes in the region.
With about 2 500 sinkholes in South Africa, most in Gauteng, her study is a valuable contribution to mitigating the issue.
By investigating the factors contributing to sinkhole formation and severity, her research sheds light on the problem and provides insights for future efforts.
• Enzo Blignaut, a Grade 10 learner at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.
Enzo’s research on The impact of land use type and distance downstream on the general river health and water quality in the Eerste River, Western Cape, South Africa used the miniSASS (the development of a simplified method of biomonitoring based on the tried and tested South African Scoring System) technique to monitor the health and water quality of the river.
His study showed that agricultural practices and sewage spills significantly affected water quality.
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His research has practical applications in the management of the Eerste River, providing a deeper understanding of the factors influencing its health and water quality.
As a valuable contribution to environmental research, his project has implications for future studies in the field.
• Matthew Witbooy, a Grade 12 learner at Curro Durbanville in Stellenbosch.
Matthew’s research on Land use effects on soil quality in Philippi, Western Cape, South Africa showed a significant link between human activities and soil quality.
By comparing high- and low-activity areas in Philippi, Matthew demonstrated the potential health risks associated with soil contamination due to harmful bacteria from increased human activity.
The research highlighted the importance of adopting sustainable land use practices to minimise these risks.
• Tyla Shepstone, a Grade 10 learner at Somerset College in Stellenbosch.
Tyla’s research project, Smart system for hazardous gas and heat detection and an alert system for households
provided a cost-effective and reliable solution for the early detection of fires and gas.
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Her scalable fire and gas alarm system can detect heat and gas early and send alerts.
With the potential to save lives, Tyla’s innovative device is accessible to everyone due to its affordability and reliability.
It represents a significant contribution to home safety and has the potential to become a widely adopted solution for fire and gas detection.
• Yu Tang (Milo) Shan, a Grade 12 learner at St John’s College in Johannesburg.
Milo’s research project, Soil moisture artificially intelligent regression in domestic garden environment to conserve water, offered a groundbreaking method to predict soil moisture levels in domestic gardens.
Using the fourth industrial revolution’s latest technologies Milo’s optimised and cost-effective system aims to help gardeners conserve water and create more sustainable and environmentally-friendly gardening practices.
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Accurately predicting future soil moisture content, Milo’s work harnesses the power of technology to benefit the environment and society.
The Eskom development foundation’s chief executive officer, Sumaya Nassiep, congratulated the young scientists.
“The hard work, dedication and innovation which led to this remarkable achievement of our local learners getting the unique opportunity to showcase their skills and talent on an international stage is commendable.
“Other aspiring scientists are encouraged to take inspiration from these bright minds and develop an interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI).
“These fields are crucial in driving innovation, creating jobs, and boosting the economy. Eskom believes investing in education and the youth is vital to unlocking South Africa’s full potential.”
Regeneron ISEF 2023, the world’s largest pre-college science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition, takes place from May 14 to 19 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
All the ceremonies and major panels will be live-streamed via the Science for Society website at www.societyforscience.org/isef
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