COMMENT Supporting the Expo for Young Scientists is more than CSI by Hans van de Groenendaal, Supporting the annual Eskom Science Expo for Young Scientists is more EE Publishers than spending a few thousand rand from the corporate social investment budget; it is an investment in the development of skills to support the future of South African enterprise. learner, coupled with the quality of the findings and the scientific and technical skills that the learner develops. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists inventiveness at the regional Expos, with at the regional and national finals. A has been running for over 30 years over a thousand learners participating number of special awards also recognise and has established itself as the premier in the national finals. Learners will have outstanding projects and selected exposition for the South African youth the opportunity to discuss their work learners are offered the opportunity to to demonstrate their innovation in the with professional scientists, judges, participate in international science fairs. fields of science and technology. It was educators, learners from other schools, To stimulate the direct involvement of founded by the late Dr. Derek Gray in parents as well as other interested sponsors in Expo awards, Dr. Stafford 1980 and it has, since then, provided community members. Not only will an opportunity for school learners learners increase their awareness of the from primary school to grade 12, who wonders of science but participation in have an interest in science, technology, the Expo will broaden their knowledge engineering and mathematics (STEM), and scientific horizons. to exhibit their projects and to be “One thing that Africa is not short of judged on their skills and enthusiasm is incredibly innovative human talent. for science. The Expo is committed to Eskom is committed to ensuring that the the development of a strong base of African Renaissance is realised,” says educated and skilled South Africans in Dr. Steve Lennon, divisional executive the fields of STEM. corporate services, and champion of the Ndzalama Mayimele and Pulane Thipe More than 60 000 learners from Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. from Welkom won a prize from schools in 26 regions around the The judging criteria are based on the EE Publishers for a project from a rural country submitted their science scientific work and effort that goes into or township school with their analysis of projects, exhibiting research, design, the project, the initiative displayed and where the education system was wanting in entrepreneurship, innovation and the scientific method followed by the terms of previously disadvantaged schools. Dr. Stafford Smithies Dr. Steve Lennon Chris Yelland July 2013 - Vector - Page 35 Hendrik Johannes van der Bijl was born on 23 November have shown an interest in the world of 1887 in Pretoria. He studied physics in Germany where he science. obtained MA and PhD degrees at the University of Leipzig. The Hendrik van der Bijl Award His thesis proved that electrons carry the same fundamental judges are drawn from sponsors charge in ionised liquids as in gases. Impressed by his and sponsor organisations. Logos of talent and dedication, his supervisor recommended him sponsor organisations are reflected for the post of assistant in physics at the Royal School of on award certificates with special Technology at Dresden. At the beginning of 1912, the 24 focus awards bearing the name of year-old Dr. van der Bijl took up his new duties. the sponsor. The Hendrik van der Bijl In 1913 the Western Electric Company in the USA employed Awards are broad-based, with awards him to work with the team investigating the De Forest audion. In later years he available for all aspects of science, technology, engineering, mathematics wrote, “When I joined the Western Electric Company at that time I was shown an and innovation exhibited at the Expo. audion and was told that it was capable of detecting radio waves and of amplifying feeble telephone currents, but that it was not known how or why, and that it was To simplify the handling of award funds, to be my task to find that out.” EE Publishers administers the financial aspects of the awards programme free In 1918 he published a paper bringing together his experience in designing and of charge and, in addition, provides two using thermionic vacuum tubes as amplifiers. His mathematical analysis of the special awards for the best entries from triode stood the test of time and formed the basis for amplifier design until the township and rural schools. transistor usurped its position in the 1950s. The Hendrik van der Bijl Awards He returned to South Africa in 1920, and in 1923 founded the Electricity Supply organisers invite companies and Commission (Escom – now Eskom). He subsequently set his sights on the steel individuals to invest in our youth by industry and established the South African Steel and Iron Corporation (Iscor). sponsoring awards for the 2013 Expo for Young Scientists national finals to be held from 25 – 28 September 2013 at Smithies, encouraged and supported recognition of his contribution to science the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg. Please by Chris Yelland, MD of EE Publishers, and engineering on many fronts. help inspire our young scientists to introduced the Kelvin Awards at the Last year, local and international strive for greater things and to consider adopting careers in STEM by joining the national finals of Expo after the Faraday sponsors contributed R44 000, an Awards, originally sponsored by the amount that the Hendrik van der Bijl growing group of sponsors. London-based Institution of Engineering Awards organisers would like to see Contact Stafford Smithies, and Technology from 2001, were increased substantially this year. The Tel 082 785-0195, discontinued in 2009. To enhance Hendrik van der Bijl Awards are an easy [email protected] or the South African connection, the way for sponsors – either individual or Hans van de Groenendaal, Kelvin Awards have been renamed corporate – to become involved and Tel 082 781-4631, the "Hendrik van der Bijl Awards", in invest in the youth who, at a young age, [email protected] July 2013 - Vector - Page 36 .