Two young ladies have walked off with the local top awards in the SA leg of International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This annual international competition has thereby earned them a slot in the worldwide finals of this prestigious event, to be held in Detroit, USA, during May.
Fifteen-year-old Jandri Barnard from Newcastle and Jacqueline du Toit from Bloemfontein won top honours for their projects and exhibitions out of a total of 30 000 students from around the country. The winners were announced at a function held on 2 October organised by The Expo for Young Scientists.
The Intel ISEF, considered the Olympics of science fairs, is the world's only international science fair representing all life sciences for students at secondary schools between the ages of 12-18. More than 40 nations take part. The two top students from 11 affiliates are invited, each year, to compete in the international finals. Students compete in one of 15 science categories ranging from biochemistry to zoology.
For Jandri Barnard this was the third time she has taken part in ISEF - and the second time she has received a gold medal. She earned one of the top two local slots for her scientific study of an alien plant called 'Salvinia molesta' and how it can be used as a base material for producing paper - and as an alternative means for providing food to the masses in underdeveloped countries.
Jacqueline du Toit, meanwhile, earned the nod from the judges for her research project, called 'Four colours leads to rainbow'.
Said du Toit: "The four colour problem and the Konigsberg problem were two problems that led the way of opening up a branch of mathematics known as topology. Euler was the first person who stated that it is not possible to solve the Konigsberg problem. However, by investigating possible ways of proving the Konigsberg problem, three challenges were identified and investigated: the first challenge was an investigation into the meaning of networks and the use thereof to prove the Konigsberg problem. By solving this problem a new challenge, namely, the investigation and proof of Euler's rule on polyhedras, came to the fore. Lastly, the effect of half-turns, as topological transformations on a Moebius band was investigated and formulas were deduced from these investigations," Jacqueline explained.
Intel's ongoing sponsorship of this year's Intel ISEF - which marks the 50th anniversary - is part of its worldwide commitment to maths, science and education around the world. "Part and parcel of this ongoing commitment and sponsor- ship," said Steve Nossel, Country Manager of Intel SA, "is a desire to encourage interest among our young people to explore and consider a career in science and technology. This is key to our growth and future in this, and other, regions," he said. "The qualities central to Intel's own success - the ability to be creative and inventive - are at the heart of the Intel Science Innovation Fairs and the International Science and Engineering Fair."
For further information contact Fathima Haniff, Intel SA, (011) 806 4530.
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