Mine takes schools’ hands to promote science
High schools within the Mogalakwena area were invited earlier this year to participate in an Environmental Science Competition arranged by the Ivanplats' Environment Department, in its endeavour, to create environmental awareness in the communities.
LIMPOPO – The 19 schools who decided to participate, were requested to put together a proposal for an invention that could assist in addressing environmental issues such as air pollution, renewable energy, water pollution and solid waste recycling. Through an internal independent adjudication, eight schools were selected to go through to the next round.
In this round the schools had to create a prototype of their inventions. They made their inventions from scratch and had to ensure that these inventions were in working order to demonstrate it’s functions to the judges.
The finale was held on Friday, 28 September, where the top eight schools had to present their inventions to the judges. Unfortunately, one school pulled out and only seven schools competed. The learners presented amazing work which showed that they understood the concepts and the specifications of the projects. It showed clearly that the learners knew what was happening in their environment, the issues that are present and they thought of solutions.
The competition was judged by the following government departments: Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Mogalakwena Municipality and Department Water and Sanitation. They all stated that it was a tough competition. It took a while for the final deliberation as they needed to make sure they picked a deserving winner.
The winner of the day was Nkakabidi Secondary School from Sekgakgapeng. They showed how planting an indigenous plant called the Spekboom (Pork Bush) which can absorb the carbon emissions in the atmosphere (air) and at the same time saving it from being extinct. And they walked away with R10 000 for their school and each learner received a tablet for their hard work. The second prize went to Somavhuga High School from Tshamahansi. Their invention was a prototype that reduces carbon emissions from industries through the use of a device that captures the emissions directly from the industrial chimneys.
Kgati ya Moshate High School from Moshate village took the third prize. Their invention was ‘using wastewater to create electricity and recycling the water at the same time’.
