The future looks bright for two South Africa as two ambitious learners and scientists are set to embark on a life-changing trip to Tunisia.
Kutlwano Tshatiwa and Ethan de Wet will raise the country’s flag as they will be part of the science and compete in an international science fair.
The two dynamic learners will be competing at the International Festival of Engineering Science and Technology in Monastir to display their research projects which revolutionises pneumonia and skin cancer diagnosis.
The fair is scheduled to be hosted from Friday, June 24 until June 30 where the duo’s projects also include in-depth research on the physics of sound.
As per a press release dispatched to Businesstech Africa, the festival is organised by the Tunisian Association for the future of Science and Technology.
Tshatiwa is a Grade 12 learner at Gabonewe High School in the North West province’s Bojanala region while de Wet is currently enrolled in the same grade at Curro Durbanville in the Western Cape’s Stellenbosch region.
The 17-year-old was selected to participate in the festival because of his vast knowledge and experience in machine learning.
He is labelled as a resourceful, quick learner and is mostly self-taught, making him a suitable participant for this science fair because of the fast pace and high standards.
To book a spot at the science fair, de Wet’s project gained recognition for international participation because the innovation is an example of how an industry dependent on natural resources can become eco-friendly.
The 18-year-old used 3D printing technology with biodegradable Polylactic acid (PLA), he designed and constructed speaker enclosures that could replace standard wooden ones.
Coupled with his knowledge of sound engineering, helped him design and 3D print an affordable and efficient speaker enclosure.
Speaking about the two talented learners, Eskom Development Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Cecil Ramonotsi heaped praise on the young scientists.
“Eskom is proud to be the funder of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, a platform which continues to enable learners not only to develop themselves but to also make a positive contribution to the country through scientific knowledge,” he said.
“Eskom is one of the organisations that contribute to the pipeline for research, development, and innovation in science and technical skills, which is needed for the bright future of our country.”
Apart from displaying their projects, the extended nine-day programme aims to be unique, educational and will include various excursions to discover the rich Tunisian culture.
