Local Einsteins win in science competition
The word "science" probably brings to mind many different pictures - a fat textbook, white lab coats and microscopes, an astronomer peering through a telescope, a naturalist in the forest, Einstein's equations scribbled on a chalkboard, the launch of the space shuttle, bubbling beakers... But for Uzair (13) and Hamza (12) Hira of Nelspruit Primary it meant taking centre stage.
NELSPRUIT – A normal white metal broomstick, an ultrasonic sensor, a micro-controller and some batteries, turned out to be an award-winning science project for Uzair and Hamza Hira. These two boys had to submit a science project for school. “We had to come up with a brilliant idea. We watched a documentary of blind people and decided to help the community of the blind with our project,” said Uzair. They named their project, “Ultrasonic smart blind stick”.
They got outstanding marks for it and their science teacher, Ms Wilna Theron, encouraged them to sign up for the Science Expo at Penryn on August 3. It consisted of two rounds, subregional and regional. A total of 298 learners participated in the first and 450 in the final round. “We won gold in both rounds,” said the younger brother proudly.
The next step, the Eskom Expo South African International Science Fair, was held at Birchwood Conference Centre, Boksburg from September 25 to 28. Once again they had to compete against 650 projects from all over the country and neighbouring Swaziland, Namibia and Zambia.
Regional Science Fair director of Eskom, Mr Bailey Nkuna, accompanied them to Johannesburg, having recognised their potential and passion for science. “They didn’t disappointed me. They came up with innovation and new science. I knew their project was gold.”
The minister of science and technology, Mr Derek Hanekom and the minister of public equity, Mr Malusi Gigaba personally inspected their project.
They were chosen to be interviewed by the television channel, etv. “We received a book prize from the USA Embassy of Pretoria and were awarded a bronze medal,” said Uzair.
After a month, they received a letter inviting them to be one of only 10 project entrants, to have lunch with the president Mr Jacob Zuma at his guest house in Pretoria. “They were so excited when they read it and came home with big smiles on their faces. We are in the process of patenting our design. Without Theron and Nkuma, their achievement would not have been possible. We as parents are extremely proud of our boys,” said parents Sajid and Mahera.
The headmaster, Mr Wynand Viljoen, congratulated them and said he believed that nothing in life could be achieved without passion. “Wilna has so much passion for what she does. I heard week after week about these two doing so exceptionally well. Our school is very proud and honoured.”
Of the three regions in Mpumalanga, only these two were invited to meet Zuma. It took them three months to get where they are today. These are two very eager young boys, with their sights set on achieving yet bigger goals.
