Science whiz wins international expo with water device
A CAMBRIDGE High School pupil has walked off with the top prize at Eskom’s International Science Expo in Boksburg for her solar-powered water purifying device.
Vanessa Annan flew the Eastern Cape flag high when she won a bursary to attend Stellenbosch University, a gold medal and R2 000 in cash prizes.
The young science enthusiast also won third place overall in her division for the water purifying device she created.
The annual science expo aims to give young scientists an ideal platform to showcase their talents and passion for all things scientific.
The expo also serves as motivation for pupils to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation fields.
The Grade 11 pupil said she had been inspired to create “the aqua powerhouse” device after realising the dire need for clean water in rural areas.
She said she started working on her project immediately after hearing about the competition last year.
Annan first participated in the regional leg of the competition, at which she won a silver medal and R500 for her project.
She also qualified to go to the next leg of the competition.
With the international expo being bigger, Annan said she decided to improve her device.
This saw the young pupil visiting water purifying centres to get the device tested and ensure it was ready for the expo.
Annan said while also conducting research for her project, she learnt that many people in rural areas not only struggled to have access to clean water, but also had to travel long distances to get it.
She then decided to create a mobile device to provide easier access for water users in rural area.
The pupil said being part of the international expo had been a wonderful experience.
She was inspired by the other projects and devices created by pupils from other schools and provinces.
Annan said most pupils in the Eastern Cape could compete on an international level because they had brilliant ideas and concepts, but they lacked resources in creating and presenting projects.
Annan, who wants to study medicine after matriculating, said she was passionate about science and the health of others.
She said she wanted to improve the quality of people’s health and her inspiration for her project was drawn from that.
“Like the name, the aim of the device is to provide power to households, just in the form of water. The device also uses solar power because some rural areas still do not have access to electricity. It is also mobile, making it easier to reach.
“Being part of the expo was amazing, getting to meet other young minds with such brilliant ideas was very inspiring,” she said.
Cambridge’s head of science, Lauren Whitaker, said the school was extremely proud of Annan, who had not only represented the school but also East London at the expo.
Overall, the power utility spent R1.3-million on prizes for all the winners.