Aspiring scientist represents South Africa in Stockholm

FRANSIE Streicher, a Grade 12 pupil from Curro Hermanus is representing South Africa at the annual Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar (SIYSS) in Sweden. South Africa is the only invited country on the African continent.

He competed against 600 of South Africa’s future engineers, chemists, physicists, mathematicians and innovators, and Streicher was chosen as the winner at the country’s largest school-level science fair, the Eskom Science Expo.

Streicher was also named the 2016 University of Pretoria Derek Gray Memorial Award winner, at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists’ International Science Fair in October last year.

Streicher’s project was so impressive he also won bursaries to study at the University of Stellenbosch and the University of the Witwatersrand.

Scientists participating in this seminar are all competing for a chance to take home prizes worth more than R4 million. The prize that stands out offers Streicher an opportunity to mingle with the Nobel Laureates during Nobel Week, while attending the SIYSS, as well as a full tuition bursary to study at the University of Pretoria.

THESE YOUNG SCIENTISTS TAKE PART IN A SCHEDULE THAT INCLUDES MEETING NOBEL PRIZE LAUREATES

While in Stockholm, these young scientists take part in a schedule that includes meeting Nobel Prize Laureates, attending the Nobel Banquet and visiting noteworthy Swedish science and tech companies, as well as locations of cultural importance.

Streicher is interested in alternative energy sources that are efficient and environmentally-friendly. Although the concept of microbial fuel cells is not new, Streicher wanted to find a way of making them more efficient.

“Fransie has all the characteristics of an outstanding scientist. He also showed innovation when obtaining the microbial agent and he exhibited a lot of passion for his project. Another positive attribute of Fransie is his willingness to change his views when presented with contrary evidence,” said Parthy Chetty, executive director of the Eskom Expo.