tawandamusarurwa
Charmaine Mutongwizo
THREE Queen Elizabeth School learners will take part in the forthcoming International Science and Engineering Fair, set to be held in the United States, after judges were impressed by their projects at the Zimbabwe Science Fair.
Audrey Chimimba, Tanyaradzwa Manhare and Tanatswa Mhiti made it to the final list of learners who will be travelling to Dallas, Texas, for the world’s biggest pre-university science competition.
They will join leaners from other schools, whose works were also considered outstanding.
Others who represented Queen Elizabeth were Charmaine Mutongwizo, Gillian Mushaninga, Taidaishe Mbizvo, Salma Maodzwa, Tanatswa Mbizvo and Mitchell Chitofu.
The Harare Institute of Technology provided 20 judges for the local event that had 13 different categories.
At least 120 learners participated in the contest and 317 projects were exhibited.
The fair, which was held on February 22 and 23 at Westridge High School in Harare, is a prestigious competition for young scientists and engineers in local schools who are developing ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.
The awards ceremony was supposed to take place on February 24 but was moved to March 1, as organisers took precaution against Cyclone Freddy.
Participants also stood a chance of winning cash, medals, scholarships, internships and international trips.
Mutongwizo, who is the media club president; as well as her colleagues Chitofu and Mushaninga, walked away with gold medals, while Maodzwa scooped a silver medal.
All the finalists were awarded an ambassadorship with Africa Science Buskers, through which they can access help from professionals and research institutions in Zimbabwe.
The finalists were also presented with certificates to acknowledge the creativity in their projects and for taking part in the fair.
All in all, 44 special awards and 28 grand awards were bestowed on the top young scientists and engineers from Zimbabwe.
From one corner to the other, the hall was covered with mind-blowing projects, with different prototypes on exhibition.
The fair was open to science and engineering enthusiasts who were free to observe the different innovative ideas from the learners.
The judges were impressed by the high level of competition at the event.
Charmaine Kimberly Mutongwizo is an Upper Sixth learner at Queen Elizabeth School
Online Reporter