Two pupils from schools in the Bolander’s distribution area form part of a group of six South African scientists who are currently in Dallas, Texas, in the USA, to compete in the 2023 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).
Their selection to the SA team comes after their successful entries in the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) held in December last year.
According to information supplied by Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, this year’s Regeneron ISEF will be a fully in-person event where 1 700 pupils from around the world will compete for more than R165 million in prizes, including bursaries and various gadgets.
Paul Roos Gymnasium pupil Enzo Blignaut, forms part of the group that will represent SA at the ISEF. The Grade 10 pupil will showcase his 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”.
His study shows that agricultural practices and sewage spills significantly affect water quality. Enzo’s research has practical applications in the management of the Eerste River, providing a deeper understanding of the factors influencing its health and water quality.
Tyla Shepstone, in Grade 10 at Somerset College, will present her research project relating to the early detection of fires and gas.
Her research project entitled, “Smart system for hazardous gas and heat detection and an alert system for households”, provides a cost-effective and reliable solution for early detection of fires and gas.
Her scalable fire and gas alarm system can detect heat and gas early and send out 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.
The Regeneron ISEF 2023, is the world’s largest pre-college Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition, taking place from Sunday May 14 to Friday May 19.
Eskom Development Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Sumaya Nassiep, congratulated the young scientists who are competing at the Regeneron ISEF and said: “The hard work, dedication and innovation, which has led to this remarkable achievement of our local learners being provided a unique opportunity to showcase their skills and talent on an international stage, is commendable.”