Two brilliant SA scientists to showcase research at Taiwan's international science fair

Two South African youngsters, Dia Singh and Jaco Jacobs will hoist the country’s flag at the upcoming 2023 Taiwan International Science Fair.

The duo, Singh and Jacobs will head to the 2023 Taiwan International Science Fair and will showcase their projects between 6 and 10 February.

Singh and Jacobs have been awarded the opportunity to showcase their scientific brilliance in Taiwan After impressing at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists International Science Fair (ISF) with their research projects.

Per a media statement dispatched to BusinessTech Africa, it indicates that Singh is a Grade 12 learner at St Dominic’s School in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.

Jacobs is enrolled at Outeniqua High School in George, in the Western Cape – he will participate in the Taiwan fair at the National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei. 

BTA is informed that South Africa participates in this annual fair as it offers learners an opportunity to present their research to their peers from other countries while promoting cross-cultural communication and educational exchange.

With the research project, “Using P.I.P. to strengthen roads: Plastic incinerated by plastic”, Singh was awarded a gold medal at ISF as she demonstrated that the fuel produced when plastic is burnt can be used to burn more plastic waste. In this way, one can get rid of plastic using an alternative fuel source.

“She concluded that the temperature and time taken by plastic fuel to burn more plastic correlates positively with that of coal and natural gas. It produced a similar amount of plastic fuel as these conventional fuel sources,” reads the statement.

“In addition, Singh developed the Plasticator mobile application, which allows for the monitoring of quantities and types of waste that have been incinerated. This data is then saved onto a database and can be used for analysis purposes.”

Turning the focus to Jacobs, his research focused on “Automated Inflation and Pressure Regulation for Recreational and Professional Cyclists”.

He established that for competitive cyclists, as well as amateurs, deflated or over-inflated tyres have always been problematic and more importantly, a safety hazard.

“The learner’s fourth prototype 3D-printed design automatically adjusts the tyre pressure while moving,” added the statement.

“Using an air release valve that is designed to work with a servo motor, the prototype has a mountable housing for the electronics. Jacobs, who was awarded a gold medal at ISF, wrote the code that enables the device to manage incoming data such as low pressure and adjust the tyre pressure accordingly. He now has a fifth prototype with a higher capacity and has also found a creative and more efficient way to house the device on the cycle. Using this prototype, cyclists can also adjust the tyre pressure as the terrain of the track they are using changes.”

According to Eskom Development Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Sumaya Nassiep, she said it is vital to have homegrown talent compete in international science fairs such as the upcoming Taiwan Science Fair

“The learners will be able to interact with like-minded peers who are knowledgeable and skilled in engineering and innovation,” she said.

“This is to create awareness of the global youth innovation space and its trends, as well as to encourage networking and collaborations at an international level. As the funder of Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, our continued investment in the Expo is an important way to promote scientific education and interests in future careers in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation (STEMI).”

“Cultivating the next wave of innovators is an investment for our country,” said Nthato Minyuku, Eskom Group Executive: Government and Regulatory Affairs.

“With their research projects, the two learners will present novel solutions, complex engineering challenges and scientific research that resonate globally. We are truly proud to be part of creating a pipeline of innovators by means of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, our contribution to building technology, science, and engineering talent in the country.”