<a><strong>SA science wizkid wins gold at Turkey international science fair </strong></a>

One young and gifted South African scientist, Pieter Huysamen has scooped a gold medal at this year’s Buca International Music, Science, Engineering Energy Fair (IMSEF) in Turkey.

Huysamen is a learner whose research seeks to address South Africa’s need for more energy-efficient buildings and construction materials.

The 17-year-old Huysamen Grade 10 learner at Hoërskool Jan van Riebeeck in Cape Town, represented Eskom Expo for Young Scientists at the virtual IMSEF.

According to a press statement sent to BusinessTech Africa, his research project was entitled, “A comparison between the influence of three different sizes of exfoliated vermiculite on the thermal and mechanical properties of cement construction bricks”.

“I feel very excited and thankful for receiving this great award. A lot of hard work went into this project, and I am very glad that all that work paid off,” said the teenager after claiming a gold medal.

“My project was inspired by our country’s energy crisis, as well as dangerous informal settlement fires motivated me to find a solution for these problems. My solution was lightweight, fire resistant, insulating and durable bricks made using the mineral vermiculite.”

Looking at the future, the brilliant leaner and budding scientist hopes to build a small low-cost building out of his bricks, to see how the structure would hold up after a fire; and also see if these bricks would be economically feasible.

Eskom Development Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Sumaya Nassiep, congratulated the learner and said:

“As the funder of Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, we are delighted to see one of our very own being recognised on the world stage at the Buca IMSEF,” expressed  Nassiep.

“It is notable that at such a young age, Adrian realised that environmental and economic constraints are increasing and affecting the construction industry; which results in a need for more energy-efficient buildings and construction materials.

“Our country’s future looks brighter with the calibre of learners like Adrian, who we have a hand in cultivating as a future innovator.”

To Eskom’s Group Executive: Government and Regulatory Affairs Nthato Minyuku, she praised the young learner, and said taking part in the Buca IMSEF has been an incredible opportunity for Adrian to show South African ingenuity to a wider audience. 

“It is impressive to see that a key sustainability driver for the organisation like Eskom Expo is producing the next generation of scientists, innovators, and engineers, whose research projects are on par with upward trends in the vermiculite global markets, and could be impactful for the changing world,” she said.

In addition, this website has learned that more impressive research projects by the country’s top young scientists will be showcased at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) next month.