Science wondergirl bags international award

ZANA van As just became one of the Bay’s most promising young scientists, when her ‘Blue Machine’ science experiment was awarded a top position at the International Science Fair, where she competed against more than 800 budding scientists from around the world.

Zana, a Grade 7 pupil of Arboretum Primary, snatched up the bronze medal in the division Best Project of the Day at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.

Zana and teammate Nonotobeko Mkhonza, participated in the First Lego League (FLL) robotic tournament, where young scientists are required to solve a tricky mission with the help of a robot.

The team must research a specific topic, plan the programming and test the autonomous robot to solve the mission.

Team work, quick thinking and keeping cool under pressure, earns points.

The topic was recycling and ‘Blue Machine’ impressed the judges.

Zana walked away with R5 000 in prize money and the special ABB-Award, by Dr Hendrik van der Bijl, for a project which shows outstanding awareness and understanding of a current technological challenge and offers an innovative solution.

Dr Van der Bijl was a Telecommunication pioneer and founder of Eskom and Iscor.

Van As also received the Xavier Beetge floating trophy.

Zana is a top ten student and a good all-rounder with a love for sports.

She participates in netball, tennis, athletics, cross-country and the ATKV’s public speaking.

In her down time, she loves playing with her dogs, Bullet, Dexter and Bella and, of course, like all intellectuals, loves reading.