Nine Parel Valleiers took part in one of the 35 affiliated regional finals of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists in Stellenbosch last month.
The expo was established in 1980 and is South Africa’s only Science fair for school pupils, where they have an opportunity to exhibit their own scientific investigations and engineering projects.
This expo brings together pupils, teachers, professional organisations, educational bodies and governments from all over the world. Pupils can enter their own individual projects or two pupils can work together on a paired project.
Parel Vallei’s young and dynamic scientists achieved six bronze medals, by Zoë Naude, Carla Steyn, Dillon Cilliers, Charné Merrick, Mia Doyle and Uzair Patel, one silver meda, by Justin Burger, and two gold medals, by René van Zyl and Shannon Barry.
Parel Vallei also received the following special awards:
* Uzair Patel won one of three prizes for overall best project about water.
* Justin Burger won best project in mechanical engineering (seniors).
* Shannon Barry won best agricultural research project (seniors); and overall best research project by a girl.
Shannon is also going to represent Parel Vallei at the National Science Expo in October, and is one of 17 who will represent the Western Cape at the expo.