Young city scientists do SA proud as they reach for the stars

LEARNERS from Kimberley Boys’ High School and Kimberley Technical High School were applauded for their exceptional performance in representing South Africa at the Growing Beyond Earth (GBE) 2022/23 international competition in the United States of America, where they presented their scientific research findings to Nasa scientists during National Science Week.

Both schools secured a position in the top 40 of best-performing schools during National Science Week (NSW), which is celebrated from July 31 to August 5.

NSW is an annual initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and is a celebration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI). It involves various stakeholders and role-players who participate in conducting STEMI activities during the week.

The theme for NSW 2023 was “Transforming lives through evidence-based science” and the objective was to expose the public to the evidence-based approach of problem-solving and decision-making and responding to situations by using available information that has been researched or experienced.

In addition to this, NSW 2023 had a sub-theme focused on agriculture, which, among others, focussed on cutting-edge scientific research of farming to inspire learners to take agricultural science subjects with the purpose of solving food security challenges.

Regardless of being first-time participants in the competition, the learners from the two Kimberley schools ensured that they were among the 58 schools that made it through to Trial 2 of the GBE competition.

Trial 1 of the competition initially saw 372 schools from across the country participating since September 2022.

Kimberley Boys’ High ranked in the top 11 performing schools, scoring 192 points out of 200, and was awarded a Special Merit award for Exemplary Teamwork.

The Boys’ High learners investigated the effect of humidity on plant growth. The young scientists tested their prediction that higher humidity could increase yield with constant growth.

One of the judges highlighted that the experiment was well-conceived and executed and communicated clearly with a very high-quality presentation.

“Strong work indeed and I’m looking forward to finding out about your future research,” said the judge.

Technical High School ranked in the top 39 performing schools, scoring 185 points out of 200.

The judges highlighted during their feedback that theirs was a very strong presentation that was well-rehearsed and professionally performed.

“Taking the initial observations about algal growth and then using that as a building block for a new investigation was a great piece of science. Elements like using randomisation in the trial design showed a really thoughtful approach to setting up the experiment,” said the judges.

GBE presented the learners from the two local schools with the opportunity to showcase their talent and passion for STEM, Innovation and Agri-tech.

Through a local programme called GreenLab.bi, the two schools are part of 10 other local schools in the Northern Cape leading the way in looking at innovative solutions to address key problems around food security and climate change using hydroponics.

As Nasa looks toward a long-term human presence beyond Earth’s orbit, there are specific STEM challenges related to food production in space.

Established in 2015 as a partnership between Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Nasa’s Exploration Research and Technology Programs, GBE enables student community scientists to actively contribute data toward Nasa mission planning.

The highlight of the learners' amazing achievement remains that they had the opportunity to participate in a groundbreaking classroom-based citizen science project that has Nasa attached to it.

This visionary initiative aims to advance Nasa’s research on growing plants in space by conducting plant experiments in a state-of-the-art plant habitat, reminiscent of the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) aboard the International Space Station.

For the learners from Kimberley, the GBE competition has ignited their passion for STEM, Innovation and Agri-tech and opened doors to the world of science and innovation.

Reflecting on their experiences, Lukhanya Wolf said it helps to shape his ambitions in terms of making a name for himself, helping the Earth and finding ways to sustain life beyond the planet.

“As we take care of the Earth, it becomes evident that things are not going well. I have always been interested in contributing to the well-being of our planet, and STEMI has provided me with an avenue to do so. This project holds the key to ensuring that we sustain our planet for future generations,” said Wolf.

Another learner Tshiamo Molusi envisioned that their experiences and experiment has the potential to redefine the agricultural space.

His particular insights have also highlight to the team at GreenLab.bi the transformative potential of the GBE participation on learners.

“With the success we achieved in the GBE competition, I envision our contributions and experiences having the potential to redefine the agricultural space.

“We can offer productive and sustainable farming methods that address pressing issues like water shortages and climate change while simultaneously increasing food production.

“Our GBE experience opens up new possibilities and frontiers for future space missions. It has shown us that sustainable food production is feasible even in environments previously deemed unsuitable for plant growth, such as space shuttles or other planets.

“Hydroponics, which we are being taught on, has emerged as an efficient and promising farming method.

“We believe that our school’s ongoing participation and contributions in GBE will contribute to the success of future space excursions, enabling scientists to sustain themselves during these missions,” said Molusi.

The GBE competition not only celebrates the outstanding achievements of these Northern Cape learners but also underscores the profound connection between agriculture and space exploration.

As they delve into the complexities of growing plants in controlled environments, these learners are providing valuable insights that have the potential to revolutionise farming practices and ensure food security in the face of climate change and potential interplanetary colonisation.

They have inspired their peers, and potentially the wider science and agricultural community, as their achievement serves as a testament to the power of curiosity, collaboration and perseverance, reminding of the incredible potential of the next generation of leaders, especially in the context of National Science Week and thus demonstrating the potential of young South Africans on a global level.

Khanyile Kalipi from Technical High highlighted that farming with new technology has propelled them into a realm of endless possibilities, especially as traditional land farming faces increasing challenges in South Africa.

“Embracing agri-tech and innovation on a larger scale can have a profound impact, making land farming problems a thing of the past,” shared Kalipi.

“I strongly believe that projects like GBE can serve as a catalyst for elevating our country. Personally, my ambition lies in becoming an aeronautical engineer and this project has given me a fresh perspective on how our environment does not dictate our yield.

“By creating artificial environments that provide stability for plants, we can replicate this approach on other planets like Mars, sustaining human life in extraterrestrial environments. Rather than searching for life out there, we can bring life to those planets and thrive in these foreign environments.”

Kalipi’s profound insights shed light on the transformative power of agricultural innovation and the potential to expand the horizons beyond Earth’s boundaries.

The participation of the two schools in GBE was made possible by the Northern Cape Entrepreneurship Academy (a non-profit company), an organisation which aims to educate and drive sustainable development with learners and young people through various initiatives such as GreenLab.bi.

GreenLab.bi has been made possible through the support of the United States Mission to South Africa Public Affairs Section at the US Consulate General in Cape Town.