Following months of submissions from 13 to 18 year-olds from around the world. The judges are set to announce their deliberations on the winners of the Google Science Fair 2016 today at 11 AM PT.
The Science Fair is probably the biggest online science competition in the world, seeking online submissions by inventors and innovators between the ages of 13 to 18 from around the globe. Submissions to the contest must at the very least solve an engineering challenge, provide new ways of looking at the word, and answering questions to some of the world’s toughest questions.
The finalist stage of the competition has 16 finalists from around the world, who would travel to Mountain View, California in the company of a parent or a guardian. The finalist under the engineering innovation consideration will walk home with the LEGO® Education Builder Award. While those whose project provide answers to challenges people face, offer new ways of looking at the world. Stand a chance of walking home with the National Geographic Explorer Award or the Scientific American Innovator Award.
Kids from Africa participating in the Google Science Fair 2016
The African continent is also fairly represented at the finalist global stage of the Google Science Fair 2016. The following are the innovators and inventors from Africa, putting their respective country’s flag at the height of STEM pitch competition in the world for juniors:
Mphatso Simbao (18-years-old, Zambia): Simbao has come up with a simple, portable production station (Keeping Farms Alive on a Budget) that using the most common kitchen waste like charcoal coupled with plant leaves to enrich farm soils. His innovation comes at a time when most Southern African farmers are yielding little to no harvest thanks to the recent El Nino and climate change that has led to less rainfall. His solution plans to enrich farm soils so that farmers can reap the maximum from a given rainy season. His solution also eliminates the use of hazardous fertilizers and pesticides on the farm.
Jandre van der Merwe (15-years-old, South Africa): Merwe and team have come up with an education aid (Edumat) for caregivers for toddlers between the ages of 1-5 years old. The education aid will help the caregivers develop and prepare the toddlers for schools. Merwe says his innovation will go a long way in enriching pre-school programs for toddlers living in rural areas.
The Fair kicks off in less than nine hours at the time of writing this article. The official kick off time is 11 AM, and it will be taking place in Mountain View, CA. For more details, click here.
