The inaugural Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) National Science and Technology Exhibition has concluded with winners taking home not just happy smiles but coveted prizes courtesy of YSK, the embassy of Ireland and BLAZE by Safaricom. The event whose opening was officiated by his Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta officiated ended Friday evening at the KICC.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru who attended the award ceremony praised the students for the talent and potential that they displayed at the exhibition. “The innovative projects I have seen in Agriculture, health, technology and energy and financial audit systems show that this is for Kenya and not just for a single ministry. We need to all come together and ensure that we are supporting our young people and ensuring that they get all the benefits,” said hon. Mucheru.
Of the 92 projects in the competition, and out of 160 students, Wilson Irungu and Abdulrahman Sheikh Ali from Naukuru High School emerged the winners with a revolutionary Internet-based energy monitoring and audit system concept. Sophia Medza and Bakayo Koncharo from Moi Girls Marsabit came close with their project dubbed ‘Making construction blocks from non-biodegradable polymers.’
The form 3 students from Nakuru High School intent to help Kenyans save on electricity bills if given a chance to develop their Internet-based energy monitoring and audit system.“Our system is meant to help consumers keep track of their energy consumption rate so they can plan. Kenyans are losing a lot because there isn’t an efficient method of energy consumption monitoring and control,” said Abdulrahman Sheikh Ali.
Sophia Medza and Bakayo Koncharo from Moi Girls Marsabit on their part aim to solve the environmental pollution menace by using plastic waste to make building blocks. “We intend to use all the plastic waste and make construction blocks out of them. They are not just cost-effective, we have tested our plastic based blocks to be even stronger than concrete blocks,’ said Sophia Medza.
YSK has since March this year visited all 80 schools in the ten pilot counties, engaging students and teachers and positioning STEM subjects as not only ‘cool’ but also central to day-to-day life.
The winners took home a check of KSH100, 000 with phones while the runners-up taking home a check of KSH80, 000 with headphones from BLAZE by Safaricom. The winning students will go on a fully paid trip to Ireland early next year to participate in the Young Scientists Ireland Science and Technology competition.
