A group of young scientists from South Africa recently had the opportunity to showcase their scientific aptitude at the Grand Final of the Indonesia International Science Technology and Engineering Competition (ISTEC) in Bali.
According to a press statement released by the Eskom Expo, pupils competed in this research competition with their projects to identify innovative solutions to global problems.
Matthew Crouch, a Grade 10 pupil at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, exhibited his research project, “The use of UV Light to delay ripening and prevent decay of plums”.
His research aims to address a major problem in South Africa, that of food wastage. To counteract this problem, Matthew sought to delay the ripening process using Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) treatment, which extends the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables.
Most of the studies done on the delayed ripening of fruits and vegetables look at more common produce like tomatoes, while Matthew’s research was done on yellow plums. He found that the plums exposed to UV-C light had smaller pathogen growing and less fruit ripening at room temperature. This is a great contribution and addition to the field.
Research projects were showcased at the competition from Wednesday May 10 to Sunday May 14, and ranged from studies into weight affecting piezoelectric output on shoe insoles, to the effectiveness of turning Styrofoam waste into an adhesive.
Matthew’s participation in the ISTEC follows after he competed in the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF), which took place in December last year.
Eskom Development Foundation chief executive officer, Sumaya Nassiep commented on the pupils’ participation at ISTEC. “With a keen recognition of the pivotal role of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Innovation (STEMI) in South Africa’s development, Eskom urges the active participation of young people in these fields, as they are the future of the nation’s progress and prosperity.
“By fostering a pipeline of skilled and enthusiastic scientists and innovators through Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, we can forge a brighter and more promising future for South Africa.”
Registration to take part in this year’s Eskom Expo is open. Pupils in Grades 4 to 12, along with students from TVET colleges that are in NC2 to NC4 can register their projects by visiting https://app.myexpo.science/quick/register
