ESKOM Science Expo – National Finals

- Caleb and Sandy Swanepoel -

Last month we reported on the Hoërskool Zwartberg’s Science Club’s success at the Western Cape ESKOM Science Expo. Caleb and Sandy Swanepoel were among those selected to represent the Western Cape at the National finals in Pretoria. This is their story:

On the 27th of September we flew with the other Western Cape finalists from Cape Town on Kalula airlines to take part in the Eskom Science National finals. Although it was a bumpy ride we really enjoyed it. We landed in Johannesburg and then travelled to Pretoria in an enormous bus that could fit twice as many people than we were. We stayed there in a hotel for two nights.

At the Science EXPO venue we had to set up our poster and information about our recycling and compost project, and some of the other exhibitors asked us to help them with their displays. It was a great experience; we learnt a lot and saw what sort of projects get to international level. The judging was OK, but harder than we expected. Our first judge was very stern, but our second one was terrific. We won a bronze medal and want to say thanks to our Science teacher, Lesley van Heerden, for pushing us to the point where we got all our work done and to our mother Tracy for helping us get organised. Without them we wouldn’t have gone to the National finals and have a bronze medal to show.

Besides being part of the competition we had a good time – the hotel was super, our supper out was very nice and on our first night we went ten pin bowling, which was great fun.

We really hope we can go again and next year we hope to do even better.