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By Levy Masiteng
The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is currently in full swing across the country, with regional science fairs taking place in 35 regions.
The annual event provides a platform for learners to showcase their innovative ideas, scientific research and problem-solving skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI).
The Gauteng South Regional Science Fair took place at the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Soweto campus over the weekend.
Raven Motswebangwe, the project manager for Gauteng, said close to 200 projects were judged, with learners going through interview phases with specialised judges.
The Basic Education Department said the fair was part of a series of events happening across the country during July and August.
The Eskom Expo said the event had been taking place since 1980. It provided pupils with the opportunity to share their unique projects, discover the joys of scientific thinking and compete for exciting awards both locally and internationally.
This year’s participants were pre-selected after taking part in various expo activities.
These included workshops designed to elevate scientific skills, as well as mandatory district expos where young scientists received expert guidance and insights into conducting impactful research investigations.
“By cultivating interest and excellence in STEMI from an early age, the Eskom Expo not only develops individual potential, but also contributes to the broader goals of economic growth, innovation and social equity,” said Eskom Development Foundation acting CEO Mologadi Motshele.
“These young scientists are the future problem solvers who will address the challenges of energy, climate change, healthcare, food security, and digital transformation.”
Over 6000 projects will be showcased across the country. They explore vital topics such as environmental science with sustainable practices, advancements in health and medical technology, robotics for designing autonomous machines and data science for uncovering insights from complex data.
The winners will compete at Eskom Expo International Science Fair from 6 to 10 October.
The ISF participants stand a chance of winning a multitude of prizes, bursaries and a chance to be selected to showcase their projects at international science fairs in the US, Asia, Europe and the rest of Africa.
“These regional science fairs are the first step to our young scientists engaging with professionals in a meaningful way, which will further develop their research ideas and innovations,” said Eskom Expo executive director Parthy Chetty.
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