Teenager wins top award in regional science fair
MOTIVATED, intelligent and determined are but a few words to describe Richards Bay’s Sayuri Naidoo, 14, the Best Female Winner at the North Coast Regional Eskom Science Fair held recently at the University of Zululand.
The Grade 9 pupil at Grantleigh College competed against more than 150 peers from Empangeni, Richards Bay and the surrounding North Coast region.
The innovative participants presented their hypotheses, research results and conclusions to a team of discerning judges in the hope of earning a medal, or to compete in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF) in Johannesburg in October.
Sayuri’s project, which she entered in the energy conservation and efficiency category, investigated the effect of using an energy-efficient spin dryer to decrease the drying time of clothing.
“The spin dryer uses centrifugal force to remove water and is more energy efficient than a tumble dryer, which heats and evaporates the water,” she said.
“My project showed that the use of a three-minute cycle in the spin dryer halved the drying time of clothes. This was especially significant for tumble dried clothes as it halved the cost of drying each load.”
Sayuri heard about the competition at school and was encouraged to enter.
“The school chose the best projects to enter. I was very nervous as I had not entered a science expo before. The judges were thorough and asked many thought-provoking questions. The experience was challenging.”
She said she was surprised she had won.
“There were many entries and the competition was of a high standard. I am happy and proud of my achievement. I hope it encourages other girls to learn science and maths.”
Sayuri also enjoys music, and plays the flute and piano.
“I am in the school band, choir and the marimba band. I play tennis and hockey and have represented KZN in tennis for the past four years. I also enjoy spending time with my friends, baking and creating new flavour smoothies.”
Sayuri, who is undecided whether to study engineering or venturing into the medical field, said whatever she chose to do, she hoped to use it to improve the lives of others.
Her mother, Nirvana Panday, said: “We are so glad that her hard work has been rewarded.”
The executive director of the Eskom Expo, Parthy Chetty, said they were proud of the budding scientists and the great strides they have taken to meet the objectives of the competition.
“The competition unearths the country’s brightest young minds and presents to them the many exciting career opportunities available in the diverse scientific world,” Chetty said.