Eskom Expo displays young talents, but also exposes gap between schools, reports Rowan Callaghan
Artificial intelligence: Dean Whyte, a 13-year-old from Mondeor Primary, with the robot which responds to light that he designed
Yhis year’s finals of the annual Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, which were held at Pretoria University on October 6, showcased the impressive number of talented young scientists that South Africa is grooming. Sadly, it also highlighted the huge disparities between the traditional powerhouses and schools from previously disadvantaged communities, who had comparatively low representation.
Interesting gold medal-winning projects included a robot that is attracted to light, an automatic sunflower peeler, a 4×4 wheelchair and a project on sunspots. Some of the gold medal winners won trips to science expos in Taiwan, the United States and other countries where they will compete against other young science buffs.
Judging criteria are the same as in regional expos, with a focus on the amount of effort put into a project, initiative shown, scientific method used, the quality of the exhibitor’s findings, and scientific and technical skills acquired.
The majority of exhibitors showed a remarkable understanding of their subjects, which were well researched and presented. The support from parents and teachers was obvious, judging from the high quality of construction as well as the supplemental materials (like laptops) used. Most of the exhibits looked more like university thesis projects than high school ones.
The disparities were, however, evident in a number of projects, like those designed by students from KwaZulu-Natal who had to rely on hand-written charts and flimsy materials. Nevertheless, they were still proud of their projects.
Bonga Mngadi from Isibukosezwe High in KwaZulu-Natal produced an electric truck that could be used to build pavements, as well as a lawnmower with a built-in rake and a chemical tank with weed killer. Unlike many of the other contestants, he got help only from friends.
According to Priscilla Moodley, national chairperson of the expo, the lack of support from teachers and parents is one of the main reasons for the low representation from public schools.
“Public schools do know about the expo” Moodley said. “It’s not that we aren’t inviting them – we are sending invitations. We’ve got a list of schools and send letters to them asking for 10 learners but we haven’t had any response. In Gauteng, 90% of schools know about the expo.
“Most of these schools at the Expo for Young Scientists depend on committed, dedicated science teachers. It all depends on the school and whether the principal buys into the concept of the expo.”
The Teacher approached a number of public schools in Johannesburg to check if they had received invitations to the expo. Most knew about it from recent publicity but could not recall receiving an invitation. They all said they would definitely send projects to the regional competition if invited.
Clive Ferris, a principal from a Kimberley high school who was at the expo to support his son Nathan, who was from a different school, said his school definitely didn’t receive an invitation.
“There isn’t really enough information going out to public schools,” he said. “The base must be broadened at school level.”
He added that if nothing is done to make the competition more inclusive, the same schools will keep winning the prizes every year.
“The cream of the scientists are sitting at home.”
Organisers and sponsors of the expo are not simply resting on their laurels, however. Thanks to a stronger marketing campaign made possible by the Eskom sponsorship, more schools are hearing about the expo and a number of schools are also getting help from the organisers.
Perhaps the most notable innovation this year is the introduction of a special rural schools category and a best female project. While these are noteworthy (if not patronising) efforts, a lot more still has to be done to make the science expo a truly national initiative. An interesting idea was the twinning of schools from disadvantaged areas with more affluent schools close by. This would ensure the poorer schools had access to much-needed facilities and that ideas were shared.
This year’s gold medal winners, who will be off to international fairs and expos, are:
– The Fourth European Science Expo (ESE 2002) in Bratislava, Czech Republic: Nico Beyers from Garsfontein High School, Emile Dippenaar from Ferrum High School, Kyle Torrington from St Stithians Boys College, Byron Pienaar from St Stithians Boys College, Juan-Mari Kruger from Ho’rskool Oosterland, Sylvester Masano from Thakeni Sen Secondary School, Jessica Cockburn from Deutsche Schule and Carin van der Merwe from Middelburg Ho’rskool
– The International Science and Engineering Fair in Kentucky, (United States): Bertus Esterhuysen from THS Potchefstroom and Bradley Mathews from Northcliff High School
– The Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar: Lee-Ann Lombard from Cambridge High School
– The Taiwan International Science Fair: Nathan Ferris from Kimberley THS and Petrus Janse van Rensburg from Kathu High School
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, November 2001.