Eskom hands bursary to promising engineering student
15 May 2013
News
Eskom has awarded a full bursary to student Hearn Johnson to study engineering at the University of Witwatersrand, on the strength (literally) of the prosthetic hand he invented and entered into the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.
The young engineer, a graduate of Hoërskool Drie Riviere in Vereeniging, spent 11 months developing the prosthetic hand to help lower-arm amputees who cannot afford expensive prosthetics. The prototype provides bilateral hand function through four moveable fingers, an opposable thumb and a moveable wrist, and is capable of picking up an impressive 40 kg.
After winning a gold medal at the Eskom Expo’s National Finals, Johnson and his hand flew to Pennsylvania, USA to compete in the Intel ISEF science fair, where he garnered an impressive third place in the mechanical and electrical engineering category.
The young man is a big fan of the Eskom Expo and believes it is a great breeding ground for young talent in the science fields and that it exposes learners to the exciting opportunities available in the science, technology, engineering, maths and innovation (STEMI) fields.
“The science fair gives you the chance to take what you have learnt at school and apply it in the real world, which is really fun and can be that challenge you really need to inspire you to want to excel in maths, science, biology and other school subjects which will one day be necessary to enter the career of your dreams,” he says.
Johnson hopes to work for Eskom in research and development once he graduates.
Further reading:
From the editor's desk: The art of measuring the truth
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
All electronic measurements are a lie. The trick is making the lie as small as possible.
Read more...
TSE has relocated
News
The Technology Station in Electronics (TSE) has entered a new chapter with its relocation from the CSIR campus to TUT-owned building at Ditsela Place in Hatfield.
Read more...
Innovative MyLegrand app
RS South Africa
News
Legrand SA is set to launch the MyLegrand mobile application, a digital platform designed to strengthen engagement across its professional network.
Read more...
Kulani Energy acquires critical assets from Optipower
News
Kulani Energy preserves engineering, procurement, and construction capability and positions a wholly women-owned firm at the forefront of South Africa’s grid expansion.
Read more...
From Cape Town to Johannesburg
News
Würth Elektronik South Africa has taken a significant step forward with its recent relocation from Cape Town to Johannesburg, marking a new phase of growth and ambition for the company.
Read more...
Lesley Havenga: Building partnerships for Africa’s electronics future
Editor's Choice News
As Würth Electronik expands its footprint across South Africa and the broader sub-Saharan region, Havenga’s blend of manufacturing expertise, supply chain knowledge, and people-centred leadership appears well suited to the task.
Read more...
Tackling e-waste with help from international partners
News
Every year millions of electrical and electronic devices and appliances, including mobile phones and computers, are thrown away and these items are now the fastest growing waste stream in the world.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Pricing surge reshapes engineering reality
Technews Publishing
News
The recent and continuing surge in memory prices has become more than a supply-chain story confined to global semiconductor markets. We have watched in disbelief as the ASP of memory has risen by over
...
Read more...
Siemens democratises EDA software access
News
This collaboration will provide streamlined access to advanced electronic design automation software for European semiconductor innovation.
Read more...
Components distribution: A promising trend
News
The European electronic components market returned to solid growth in Q1, gaining 16,9%, with broad, but uneven, momentum across the region.
Read more...
printer friendly version