The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists will take the centre stage in July and August where the young scientists will display their brilliance.
In a media release dispatched to Business Tech Africa, the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is heading to the Free State province where a number of regional science fairs will be hosted.
The expo will allow young minds to exhibit their scientific brilliance from the province’s promising young scientists.
According to the provincial co-ordinator, Nicho Swartz, he said the road to this year’s regional finals began with a series of workshops in the province.
On top of that, there were research and innovation camps where district expos allowed learners to receive valuable input from a team of experts to improve their research.
Swartz also confirmed that 3D-printed trophies, additional special prizes for medallists, and laptops will be awarded at this year’s competition.
“Eskom Expo started the process of developing young scientists in the province by guiding them through the ideation phase of research, as well as assisting them on how to write a research plan, abstract, and project report, along with how to identify potential ethics violations,” said Swartz.
“The last two years have been quite challenging, as Eskom Expo had to execute its mandates virtually as a result of the pandemic, so it’s a welcoming return to form to be able to host physical expos this year, where pandemic protocols will remain in place.”
For the first time since 2019, the regional expos will grant the learners a golden opportunity to show and discuss their own scientific investigations in different fields of science, technology, and engineering.
“As the funder of Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, the biggest science fair on the African continent, moulding young scientists, especially previously disadvantaged learners and girls, remains vital in readying them to fulfil essential roles in the various fields of science,” said Eskom Development Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Cecil Ramonotsi.
“The regional science expos not only provide opportunities to celebrate our future scientists and showcase their talent, but also to inspire more young learners to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”
With about 500 projects to be showcased in the province this year, young scientists will compete for a much sought-after opportunity to represent their regions and province at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF), which will be held virtually in October.
Regional expos will be held as follows:
| Region | Project set-up | Awards ceremony | Venue |
| Bloemfontein | 28 July | 30 July | Central University of Technology, Boet Troskie Hall |
| Welkom | 5 August | 6 August | Central University of Technology |
| Bethlehem | 12 August | 13 August | University of the Free State’s QwaQwa Campus |
Image Source: Eskom Expo Twitter
