PAHS pupil to compete in leading science expo
Project focuses on vegetable density and nutritional value
PAHS grade 10 pupil Buhle Diniso has made her school proud by making it through to the Eskom International Science Expo in Birchwood, Gauteng from October 2-6.
The 16-year-old Diniso came out tops with her scientific project that focused on the relationship between the density of fruit and vegetables and their nutritional value.
The showcase of scientific activities to be demonstrated by pupils at the expo include biology, the medical and technological fields, incorporating countries from the SADC region and beyond, including Brazil and India.
Diniso won gold while competing against various schools in the Sarah Baartman district. The regional competition has been ongoing since March and her achievement is the culmination of tedious and painstaking research on her subject of study.
She joins six other pupils from the Eastern Cape who have won through to the expo.
“I am very proud of Buhle,” said physical sciences teacher Wellington Makoni. “It took a lot of work and tenacity to pull of such an achievement, which is a first for our school.”
Rhodes University’s chemistry Professor Tenda Mudzimu’s mentorship role was pivotal in helping Buhle achieve her goal, said Makoni.
“I really appreciate her help because when certain aspects of her assignment went beyond my knowledge, it was Mudzimu who stepped in.
“I am very thankful and grateful for the support I got from her parents and the school.
“She is a pupil who has a lot of passion, good character and hard work ethic, which makes it easy to teach her,” Makoni said.
Diniso is bubbling over with excitement especially because months of hard work have earned her a huge opportunity to make her mark in the scientific field.
“I feel great and I am excited at the same time; the reason why I wanted to do this I wanted to prove a point to other schools that Port Alfred High is a school where we develop science.
“The other reason I entered the competition was to gauge how my study could benefit people because my project is based on nutrition.”
Diniso’s study focuses on whether nutrients in fruit and vegetables have an effect on whether the vegetable will float or sink in water.
“People in rural areas consume fruits and vegetables without knowing how much of the beneficial components they are taking in and whether these benefit them or not.
“For example, there are certain junk foods that can have a negative effect when it comes to calorie intake. So, I want people to get an idea of what is the nutritional value and how it affects the body.”
Diniso said the decision for the research study occurred one night when she was washing fruits and vegetables before supper. “I noticed that some fruits and veg floated while others sank. I wondered why that was happening, so after researching it I discovered that the reason was density.
“I first worked on whether these densities could be calculated. I discovered that the heavier the fruit and vegetable is the more dense it will become.
“Kingswood College then moderated my experiment giving me key factors that could improve my project. One of the educators suggested to me that I turn my project into something based on nutrition because all people in SA want to know
about the nutrients in their food.”
Diniso said she had been aiming to pursue studies in medicine but after this scientific
study she was keen to follow a career in nutrition.
“When I heard that I won through to the Eskom Expo, I cried because there were
sleepless nights doing this study.
“My mother cried, too, because when she was young she wanted to pursue her dream of analytical chemistry, so being her child and fulfilling that dream for her was very emotional for her.”
Principal Nigel Adams said he was proud of Diniso and Makoni’s achievement.
“We hope that this will encourage more of the learners to go into the maths and science stream. “We wish all pupils who will be going to the expo well.
“I’m excited and looking forward to these young scientists in the making going out there and giving of their best.”
Diniso praised her teacher, Makoni, who was the source of her motivation throughout her scientific study.
“I love the way he explains the subject matter and he gives us revision and worksheets, which help a lot when it comes to final exams.
“Science is new to me and being able to discover more from my teacher is the best experience ever.
“This achievement is as much for our school as it is for me,” she said.