5 USAP Community School students, representing 3 projects, were selected as finalists for the 2022 Zimbabwe Science Fair. 60 finalist projects were selected from across the country, representing the nation’s most accomplished young scientists in primary and high school. The 2022 finalists were selected from more than 600 highly qualified applicants based on scientific curiosity and rigour, and the passion to solve grand challenges in society. Below is information on each of the 3 projects developed by our students, and the prizes awarded to them at ZSF 2022.
Praise Ndhlovu
2022 Zimbabwe Science Fair Gold MedalistCommunity Innovation Award with a value of USD$500.
Topic: The smart way of waiting for a bus
Category: Robotics and Intelligent Machines
“In Zimbabwe, public transportation is facilitated by buses under the ZUPCO company. On average, people wait for almost an hour for the buses to come. Currently there is no existing system which intimates the passengers about the whereabouts of the buses. This project is aimed at providing the solution to the problem at hand through the use of available and affordable technologies. The proposed solution comprises software and hardware. On the software part, there is a web application which intimates the passengers about the location of the bus and the time it is expected to reach their station. There is also the administrator interface in the web application where the route administrator can view the live location of all the buses in their route. The hardware will consist of an arduino UNO, GPS and GSM module.”
Talent Koronya
2022 Zimbabwe Science Fair Gold MedalistRegeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2022 Zimbabwe Delegates
Topic: Online ID and Birth Certificate Application System
Category: Robotics and Intelligent Machines
Tawedzerwa Vhurumuku
2022 Zimbabwe Science Fair Gold MedalistRegeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2022 Zimbabwe Delegates
Topic: Online ID and Birth Certificate Application System
Category: Robotics and Intelligent Machines
“Across the whole nation of Zimbabwe, citizens face the challenge of waiting for a long time and in long queues when they visit registration centres to apply for Identification cards(ID’s) and birth certificates. It’s also a hustle due to unlimited staff to serve the people applying for these identification documents. Sometimes they even go back home without receiving the service. The proposed solution is to computerise the whole operation to enable citizens to apply for their ID’s and birth certificates at the comfort of their respective homes. Online ID and birth certificate Application System is a system that is going to allow citizens to apply online and collect their ID”s and birth certificates after the process is done online.”
Talent and Tawedzerwa have been selected to be the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2022 delegates for Zimbabwe. The Regeneron ISEF is the world’s biggest pre-university science competition where the world’s top young scientists and engineers compete for over $4 million in awards and scholarships. This year’s ISEF will be held as a virtual event. They can choose to participate virtually or in-person in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 7 – 13 May 2022. The Fair comes at a personal cost of $2500.
Kudzai Mangoro
2022 Zimbabwe Science Fair Bronze MedalistAwarded the Professor Clare Elwell Scholarship
Topic: Eradication of Epileptic Seizures
Category: Biomedical & Health Sciences
Yolanda Chihwehwete
2022 Zimbabwe Science Fair Bronze MedalistAwarded the Professor Clare Elwell Scholarship
Topic: Eradication of Epileptic Seizures
Category: Biomedical & Health Sciences
“The essence of their project was to investigate the causes and effects of epileptic seizures in a patient, and then design a permanent drug that reverses the condition of epilepsy. Epileptic seizures are repeated electrical disturbances in the brain and result in changes in behaviour, movement and consciousness in the affected person( Mayo Clinic, 2021). Victims’ to this neurological disorder face challenges in the quality of their lives such as less mobility, an impact on learning, school attendance, employment, relationships and social interactions.”
Kudzai and Yolanda have been named the recipients of the Professor Clare Elwell Scholarship. This award, by the Young Scientists for Africa (YoSA), is given to a notable young African scientist to attend the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) at Imperial College London in the UK. The London International Youth Science Forum is a two week residential event held at Imperial College London with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists, visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world class laboratories and universities. LIYSF attracts over 500 of the world’s leading young scientists from more than 70 countries. Students are able to tailor their programme at LIYSF to suit their own interests. This year’s LIYSF will be held on 27 July – 10 August.
We are extremely proud of our students for the work they have put into creating these projects and the awards they have received at this year’s Zimbabwe Science Fair.
