Scores of Projects Featured at Science Expo at UKZN

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About 250 youngsters from KwaZulu-Natal schools displayed more than 180 projects at the recent FFS Science Expo for Young Scientists.

Now in its 30^th year, the Expo was held on UKZN’s Edgewood campus.

Chief organiser of the Expo and Associate Professor in UKZN’s School of Chemistry and Physics, Professor Bice Martincigh, said: ‘I was impressed with the quality of the projects this year.  We awarded more projects than in previous years, which proves the higher quality.’ 

Main sponsors, FFS Refiners, are also sponsoring about 25 of the top achievers and a group of disadvantaged young scientists on a four-day tour in October of various sites of scientific interest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, including the Drakensberg Pumping Station, the Wits University Planetarium, the Hartbeeshoek Radio and Astronomy Observatory, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Laser Research Centre, Pretoria Zoo, Tswaing Mereorite Crater, Sterkfontein Caves, and the NECSAR Atomic Energy Corporation at Pelindaba.

The award for the best Senior Project went to Tashic Nataal, a Grade 10 pupil at Star College in Durban for a project in the Electronics and Robotics category titled: “Autonomous Automobile”. 

The award for the best Junior Project went to Dani Janse Van Rensburg, a Grade 7 learner at Kloof High School, for her project, “Alien:  Friend or Foe”, in the Conservation and Environmental Studies category. 

Said Chief Operating Officer at FFS Refiners, Mr Andrew Channing: ‘We believe that a country’s future is linked to the development of science and technology among high school learners, as this is where our scientists and engineers will come from. 

‘We are proud to be sponsors of the FFS Expo for Young Scientists, as in so doing we are encouraging young learners to consider a career in the science and technology field.’

 

Article courtesy of the Pinetown Izindaba