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Support the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists:
Call for sponsorship of special awards
The Hendrik van der Bijl Awards organisers invite companies and individuals to invest in our youth by sponsoring Special Awards for the 2013 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists national finals to be held from 25 - 28 September 2013 at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg... (more)
Please help inspire our young scientists to strive for greater things and to consider adopting careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by joining the growing group of sponsors.
In 2012, the following companies and individuals sponsored the Special Awards at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists:
Actom, Battery Ventures, Celia van der Merwe, DetNet, EE Publishers,
EON Consulting, Hatch, MinPay, ITC Services, Simon Green,
Embassy of the USA, and Victor Solomon & Associates.
This year, EE Publishers is sponsoring R20 000 for Special Awards for the best entries from disadvantaged township and rural schools, and challenges like-minded companies to follow suit at a level at which they can afford.
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Ndzalama Mayimele and Pulane Thipe from Welkom won an EE Publishers prize in 2012 for their excellent project from a rural or township school. They analysed where the problems lay with the education system for previously disadvantaged schools, and recommended measures for remediation.
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Supporting the annual Eskom Science Expo for Young Scientists is far more 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.
Endow the future of your company and South Africa by investing in our youth! The 2013 Awards programme needs to be finalised by mid-August 2013 so please pick up the phone or send an email to make your commitment to:
Dr. Stafford Smithies, VSA, Tel 082 785-0195, stafford@vsaconsult.com
or
Hans van de Groenendaal, EE Publishers, Tel 082 781-4631, hans.vandegroenendaal@ee.co.za
BACKGROUND
The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists has been running for over 30 years and has established itself as the premier exposition for South African youth to demonstrate their innovation in the fields of science and technology.
   Dr.Steve Lennon Dr. Stafford Smithies Chris Yelland
The Expo was founded by the late Dr. Derek Gray in 1980 and it has, since then, provided an opportunity for school learners from primary school to Grade 12, who have an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, to exhibit their projects and to be judged on their skills and enthusiasm for science.
The Expo is committed to the development of a strong base of educated and skilled South Africans in the fields of STEM. More than 60 000 learners from schools in 26 regions around the country submit their science projects at the regional Expos, demonstrating their research, design, entrepreneurship, innovation and inventiveness. Then, over a thousand learners participate in the national finals.
Learners have the opportunity to discuss their work with professional scientists, judges, educators, parents and learners from other schools, as well as other interested community members. Not only do learners increase their awareness of the wonders of science, but participation in the Expo broadens their knowledge and scientific horizons.
"One thing that Africa is not short of is incredibly innovative human talent. Eskom is committed to ensuring that the African Renaissance is realised", says Dr. Steve Lennon, divisional executive corporate services, and champion of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.
The judging criteria are based on the scientific work and effort that goes into the project, the initiative displayed, and the scientific method followed by the 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 at the regional and national finals. A number of special awards also recognise outstanding projects and selected learners are offered the opportunity to participate in international science fairs.
From 2009, to stimulate the direct involvement of sponsors in the Expo awards, Dr. Stafford Smithies, an engineering consultant at Victor Solomon & Associates (VSA), encouraged and supported by Chris Yelland, managing director at EE Publishers, introduced the Kelvin Awards at the national finals of Expo after the Faraday Awards, originally sponsored by the London-based Institution of Engineering and Technology from 2001, were discontinued in 2009. To enhance the South African connection, the Kelvin Awards have been renamed the "Hendrik van der Bijl Awards", in recognition of his contribution to science and engineering on numerous fronts both in South Africa and internationally.
Last year, local and international sponsors contributed R44 000 to these awards, an amount that the Hendrik van de Bijl Awards organisers would like to see increased substantially this year. The Hendrik van de Bijl Awards are an easy way for sponsors - either individual or corporate - to become involved and invest in learners who, at a young age, have shown an interest in the world of science.
The Hendrik van de Bijl Award judges are drawn from donors and donor organisations so that each may not only be involved in the judging process but also have their special areas of interest covered. Logos of donor organisations are reflected on award certificates with special focus awards bearing the name of the donor.
The Hendrik van de Bijl Awards are broad-based, with awards available for all aspects of science, technology, engineering mathematics and innovation exhibited at the Expo.
To simplify the handling of award funds, EE Publishers administers the financial aspects of the awards programme free-of-charge, and in addition provides two special awards for the best entries from township and rural schools.
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