A once-in-a-lifetime experience at Siemens Energy Hackathon
Siemens Energy Hackathon involves creative young people with fresh ideas and problem-solving mindsets in projects to help save the planet through innovative technologies.
Four Parktown High School for Girls Grade 11s took part in the inaugural Siemens Energy Hackathon at the Premier Hotel in Midrand.
According to Karen Field, a teacher at Parktown Girls, the Siemens Energy Hackathon was a beneficial and once-in-a-lifetime experience, which they went there unsure of what to expect and they were not disappointed.
She said after some presentations on electricity generation in South Africa, they were thrown into the deep end.
“We were told to come up with a solution to transition away from coal as a raw material in electricity generation in Mpumalanga Province while considering the effects, risks, and positive outcomes of the solution, in order to reduce carbon emissions,” Field said.
She added that the challenge required critical thinking and collaboration, and in-between the hard work, learners played games such as building a tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows, which they won by 4cm.
“Although we faced several snags, we were able to come up with a unique and well-thought-out solution, and we nervously presented our solution to the judges and our fellow competitors. We were awarded second place overall for the concept we came up with and the challenge highlighted the importance of teamwork and perseverance.”
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