PHALABORWA – Kingfisher Private School learner Didintle Nokana won the best female project award at the Mopani Eskom Science Expo, recently held at Mopani TVET College, with her project “Developing Technology Strategies for Human-Baboon Co-existence” impressing the judges.

Kingfisher also received the award for the highest number of entries at the district expo, while Khanyisa Edu Centre was named best-performing school at the regional science fair.

205 learners take part

The fair featured 162 projects, including group entries, presented by 205 learners from Gr 4 to 12 and TVET students at levels 2 to 4.

Participants qualified for the regional fair by taking part in Eskom Expo activities throughout the year, including workshops and district expos, where they received guidance and feedback from judges, mentors and STEMI professionals.

Engineering leads the categories

Projects spanned 13 categories, with engineering drawing the most entries at 41, followed by social sciences with 40 and energy with 19.

A total of 19 gold, 45 silver and 52 bronze medals were awarded, recognising excellence in scientific research and innovation.

Organisers praise young innovators

Eskom Expo Mopani regional director Cynthia Lebetha praised the learners for their innovation, creativity and problem-solving skills, and thanked the organisers, sponsors, judges, teachers and partners for their support.

Eskom Expo executive director Parthy Chetty thanked title sponsor Eskom and other sponsors for backing the event and helping young people develop their skills.