Grade 11 St Stithians Boys’ College pupil, Brynn Cauldwell, was one of six to represent South Africa in Phoenix, Arizona, for the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
Cauldwell returned to South Africa last month with the United Technologies Corporation award, which came with 3 000 US dollars in shares of United Technologies Corporation common stock.
Resident of Randpark Ridge, Cauldwell presented his project on acid mine drainage, which refers to water in mines becoming acidic due to rocks in the mine changing the water’s power of hydrogen (pH) balance. Cauldwell determined that if rocks could make the water acidic, other rocks could do the opposite, with which he concluded that concrete is the best material at neutralising the water. This water could then be used to water crops in rural communities in South Africa.
The 17-year-old started his project as part of his school work. The top projects were then submitted at a district level, where he was selected to go to regionals, and then onto nationals. After the nationals were completed, Eskom selected the top eight projects, which were then sponsored to go to the ISEF.
Cauldwell chose acid mine drainage as his uncle is a keen geologist, who suggested he do a project about pH levels caused by different rocks. In his experiment, one of the rocks dropped the pH of the water so low, that he had created his own acid mine. Cauldwell then decided to try different rocks and waste materials to neutralise his ‘mine’, which then led to his project.
The young man thought the fair was amazing, having had the opportunity to meet people from different countries and see different cultures. “I am very proud at what I have managed to achieve at the Intel ISEF. The experience and all the people I got to meet was worth all the work I put in and winning an award was the cherry on top,” Cauldwell said.
Cauldwell plans to now do further research into the topic of acid mine drainage, especially looking into an affordable method of removing the heavy metals found in the water.
Details: St Stithians Boys’ College, 011 557 6000.
