The Annual Eskom Young Scientists Expo will be stopping in Kimberley this Friday (16/8) and Saturday giving young scientists the platform to display their scientific skills and knowledge.

The expo aims to celebrate the innovation, creativity, and intellectual curiosity of children between the ages of eleven and 18 in South Africa. Participants were selected at various schools and the event is by invitation only.

“The expo provides a platform for learners to showcase their scientific investigations and projects, fostering a culture of research and innovation, and empowering the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said newly appointed Northern Cape provincial coordinator, Katlego Tsogang.

Winners of last year’s expo. Picture: Facebook

“We do the selections by having workshops for teachers and learners, with training and district expos throughout the year where we guide learners on how to do research projects and ensure they meet regional standards.

“At district expos we then select projects that meet regional standards, meaning the district expo is a prerequisite to enter the regional science fair,” said Kimberley region committee member for Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Motlatsi Makhari.

The number of learners selected varies yearly, based on the region and the quality of submissions. This year 150 learners were selected to participate in the Kimberley expo.

Inside the Sol Plaatje University building during the presentations last year. Picture: Facebook

“There are 13 categories but there are four types of projects. The four types of projects are scientific investigation and experimentation, engineering, mathematics and social sciences, with those four types, learners can look at different aspects which can fall into different categories,” said Kimberley Regional Science Fair director, Odette du Plessis.

Learners would have worked all year on their specific project preparing for the main event, however, the project needs to be innovative, or it can be a project that was done before, just changed.

This year the expo will include 13 categories, namely:

• agricultural sciences;
• mathematics;
• biomedical and medical science;
• animal sciences;
• earth science;
• computer sciences and software development;
• chemistry and biochemistry;
• energy;
• engineering;
• environmental studies;
• physics;
• astronomy and space science; and
• plant sciences and social sciences.

“They get marks and according to the marks they get gold if it’s above 80, silver if it’s above 70 and bronze if it is above 60. So it depends on the quality of the project to see if you can get gold or not.”

At the end of the event, learners will receive awards based on their mark which will be in a certificate form which will display how well they did and the quality they produced.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony cg