Yet another award for Waterkloof’s expo gurus
Grade 12 learners at Kloof, Roodt and Swart won the biology and chemistry category.
Two Hoërskool Waterkloof expo innovators have pinned down yet another award next to their names.
They were awarded first place at the Global Youth Science and Technology Bowl.
Berlie Roodt and Carli Swart’s project, “puffer jacket: an alternative for anxiety relief”, was named one of the top projects during the international competition last week.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the competition was held virtually.
It is an international student science competition in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.
Kloof grade 12 learners Roodt and Swart won the biology and chemistry category.
They both have a passion for the welfare and the well-being of society.
Last year, they designed a “puffer jacket” for people suffering from anxiety attacks.
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This idea saw them winning the Modiragatsi competition, an innovative competition for South African girls aged 16-18, hosted by the North-West university faculty of engineering.
They came up with an initiative to design a waistcoat that triggers specific nerve systems in the body which make a person feel more relieved when suffering from an anxiety attack.
“Our science teacher at Kloof helped us and motivated us to take part in this competition. We did more research on medical problems in society and found out that people living with autism do not really have an alternative for anxiety relieve,” said Swart.
“We were fortunate to win the Modiragatsi competition, then we further participated in three more expos,” she said.
The girls also came up with the idea of a wristband that monitors heartbeat.
“It will send a signal to the valve on the jacket where it will automatically open and then fill the jacket with air,” said Roodt.
“This will apply deep pressure therapy to the child.”
It is a therapy that occupational therapists use on children with autism to calm them. The jacket will be a natural way to relieve the symptoms for anxiety or a panic attack.
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As soon as the heart rate starts to increase, the jacket then gets activated and blows up and will blow off on its own when the heart rate is normal.
Swart and Roodt focus mainly on children suffering from autism, but the jacket is suitable for anyone that suffers from anxiety attacks.
The jacket is not yet manufactured, but they have worked closely with engineers from North-West university to develop a prototype.
The girls have known each other since grade 1 and have been part of the Voortrekkers.
“We are planning to start with medical trials. It takes a very long time and to approve the concept to test it on autistic children. We have come a long way and worked great as a team,” they said.
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