Science on our doorstep: Learners show their brain work

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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEOS - A robotic car controlled with a cellphone and a device to condense water from the air are among the innovations displayed by high school learners at Eskom's 10th Regional Science Fair for the Eden/Karoo district.

Fifteen high schools were represented at the fair, including Outeniqua High, Kretzenshoop Primary and Thembalethu Secondary. With 75 budding young scientists and 52 projects on the floor, the Volschenk Hall at Outeniqua High was abuzz on Saturday 27 July.

GALLERY - Young scientists show their stunning work at regional fair

The public could browse through the displays and discuss the projects and experiments with the participants. "The creativity of some of these works is impressive," said a teacher from Oudtshoorn who attended the event.

Walking through the aisles one was met by many different projects. Mieke Conradie (Grade 8) of Outeniqua High designed a computer programme for foundation phase learners to bring back the fun element in learning. Every time a child finishes one level, an apple grows on a tree. If they get it wrong, they have to repeat the level. "My little sister loves it," she said.

Mieke Conradie (Grade 8) of Outeniqua High designed a computer programme for foundation phase learners. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

VIDEO: Mieke Conradie explains how her computer programme works

Mikash Maritz (Grade 6) of Kretzenshoop Primary filled the legs of a school chair with sand to absorb the noise when learners move around during a lesson. Kelvin Piedt (Grade 10) of Aurial College in Oudtshoorn explored the effect of vaping, while Sarai Roos and Izelke Conradie (Grade 9) of Point High in Mossel Bay investigated the social science of improved grades through changes in the school environment.

Heinrich Conradie (Grade 10) of Outeniqua High impressed with his project - a robotic car with a camera, small enough to fit into oil pipes for leak detection, remote-controlled with a cellphone using Bluetooth.

Heinrich Conradie (Grade 10) of Outeniqua High impressed with his project - a robotic car with a camera. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Top accolades

A total of 12 highly coveted gold medals were awarded at the awards ceremony, along with eight silver medals and 11 bronze medals.

Both Heinrich and Mieke Conradie, as well as Brink van Zyl (Grade 9) of Outeniqua High received gold for their scientific entries.

Five projects from Point High received gold. The learners involved in these projects are Nina Strydom, Anny van Dyk, Jonathan van Wyk, Joël Oosthuizen, Zehani Lodewyk, Catherine Pretorius, Bianca Fitzgerald, Sarai Roos and Izelke Conradie.

The four special Eskom prizes went to Aedan Rischmuller (Grade 8) of Still by the Sea (homeschool) for the category Best Energy; Heinrich Conradie (HO) received a prize for Best Innovation; Zehani Lodewyk and Catherine Pretorius (Point High) were awarded Best Female for their bioplaster project and Sesethu Resha and Abukwe Xasha of Indwe Secondary School received the prize for Best Development.

The Department of Water and Sanitation presented their awards, including promotional education items, certificates, and free passes for a site visit to the Mossel Bay Regional Wastewater Treatment Works, to the following learners: Laiken Smith and Scout Johnston of Point High School (first prize); Bianca Fitzgerald of Point High School (second prize) and Bulumko Merile of Murray High School (thrid prize).

Lydia Maputle (National Board Member Representative), Scout Johnston (Grade 9), Councillor Thandi Qatana (VIP) and Laiken Smith (Grade 10). Both learners are from Point High in Mossel Bay. Photo: Michelle Pienaar

Increase in entries

Regional Science Fair director Leana Robinson said the enthusiasm of the children was contagious. "We are seeing a steady increase in entries after the Covid pandemic. For some learners this is their second consecutive year of participation and one can clearly see the growth in their projects," said Robinson, who also teaches at Oakdale Agricultural High School in Riversdale.

The first Eden Karoo Regional Science Fair was held in April 2014 at Point High School in Mossel Bay, with seven schools and 14 projects. The number of projects steadily grew to 35 in 2015; 55 in 2016 and in 2017 there were 14 schools with 80 projects.

The founder of the Regional Science Fair for the Eden/Karoo, Marinei Bester, said she becomes quite emotional every time she walks past the projects at a science fair like this. "As an educator I am so excited when I see all the scientifically creative thinking that took place. Doing a project has so many hidden treasures and advantages for a learner," she said. "Over the years I have seen the growth in these learners and how their academics improved substantially. If I look at all the opportunities, prices and bursaries that Eskom Expo provides, I know that this is one of, if not the best activity, that a learner can participate in."

VIDEO: Izelke Conradie and Sarai Roos, Grade 9 learners from Point High School

Humble beginnings

Over the last decade a lot has been done through the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists to instil a love for scientific projects among leaners from the region.

At the function, Bester gave some background to the regional fair, explaining how it all happened. Here is an extract from her speech:

"When I started teaching at Point High School in Mossel Bay, I realised that there were no opportunities for learners to participate in science expos in our region. Coming from KZN, where I was involved in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and where it was common for schools to involve learners,

"I started in 2012 to enter a few learners in the Stellenbosch Region Expo. In 2014, after two years of driving to Stellenbosch the National ISF Director, Priscilla Padiyachy and the Western Cape Provincial Coordinator, Mada du Toit visited me at the school. They persuaded me to start the Eden/Karoo Eskom Expo region.

"As part of my extra curriculum, while teaching I had to, as the regional science fair director, visit all the schools in the region and motivate the science teachers to get involved. I had to present workshops and had to sell the concept to them.

From left are Regional Science Fair director Leana Robinson, Sonet Strydom (administrative assistant) and the founder of the Regional Science Fair for the Eden/Karoo Marinei Bester. This Regional Science Fair last weekend was one of 38 planned in all provinces across South Africa. The most popular categories were Engineering, Environmental Studies and Social Sciences. Photos: Michelle Pienaar

In April 2014 we held the first Eden/Karoo Regional Science Fair at Point High School with seven schools and the 'enormous' total of 14 projects. It grew to 35 projects in 2015, 55 projects in 2016 and in 2017 there were 14 schools with 80 projects.

"A highlight for me in 2016 was Erjee Dames of Point High School who went to the South African ISF in Johannesburg and from there was chosen to represent South Africa at the Taiwan International Science Fair. There he was awarded a gold medal and first prize in the engineering category.

"I retired at the end of 2017 and Miss Bredell from Knysna High School took over and the science fair venue moved to the NMMU Campus in George. When Miss Bredell left, Mrs Leana Robinson from Oakdale took the reins.

"Thank you very much to Mrs Robinson for continuing. With her hard work and dedication, all voluntarily as part-time with her teaching, we can stand here today to celebrate 10 years of growing young minds to have an innovative mindset.

"May the Eden/Karoo Region carry on to shape the scientists, engineers, doctors and entrepreneurs of our future."

VIDEO: Mikash Maritz explains her invention

The following schools participated in this year's Regional Science Fair: Aurial College, Chris Nissen Primary School, Concordia High School, Dysselsdorp Secondary School, Oakdale Agricultural High School, Indwe Secondary School, John Crawford Primary School, Kretzenshoop Primary School, Mandlenkosi Secondary School, Murray High School, Outeniqua High School, Panorama Primary School, Punt High School, Still by the Sea School (homeschool) and Thembalethu Secondary School.

Winners of Eskom prizes are (from left) Sesethu Resha and Abukwe Xasha (Indwe SS Gr 11), Catherine Pretorius and Zihani Lodewyk (Point HS Gr 11), Aeden Rischmuller (Still by the Sea Gr 8), Heinrich Conradie (Outeniqua HS Gr10).

Winners of the Department of Water & Sanitation's special prizes: from left are Bulumko Merile (Murray HS Gr 9), Bianca Fitzgerald (Point HS Gr 12), Laiken Smith & Scout Johnston (Point HS Gr 9).

GOLD WINNERS: 8 Projects (12 Learners) Izelke Conradie (Point HS Gr 9), Johanthan van Wyk (Point HS Gr 10), Sarai Roos (Point HS Gr 9), Joël Oosthuizen (Point HS Gr 10), Anny van Dyk & Nina Strydom (Point HS Gr 9), Bianca Fitzgerald (Point HS Gr12), Catherine Pretorius & Zehani Lodewyk (Point HS Gr 11), Brink van Zyl (Outeniqua HS Gr 9), Mieke Conradie (Outeniqua HS Gr 8), Heinrich Conradie Gr10).

SILVER WINNERS: 6 Projects (8 learners) Rossouw Gerricke (Point HS Gr 10), Scout Johnston & Laiken Smith (Point HS Gr 9), Bulumko Merile (Murray HS Gr 9), Tahlia van Merch (Aurial College Gr 10), Aeden Rischmuller (Still by the Sea Gr 8),Sesethu Resha & Abukwe Xasha (Indwe SS Gr 11).

BRONZE: 6 Projects (11 learners) Leana Robinson (Eden Karoo RSFD), Mikash Maritz (Kretzenshoop PS Gr 6), Ilke Claassen (Point HS Gr 10), Bexashe Aluve (Chris Nissen PS Gr 7), Kayla Kempen (Point HS Gr 10), Buyana Liveni (Chris Nissen Gr 7) , Tamlin-Joy Tiemie & Reece Scholtz (Aurial College Gr 10), Courteney Stefaas & Jaylee Ann Botes (Aurial College Gr 8). Absent: Sisipho Phantsi & Sesethu Phantsi (Mandlenkosi SS Gr 9).