FIFTEEN pupils from three Gauteng schools shared a prize of R100000 in the Smart Young Mindz competition.
The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday at Emperor's Palace, Johannesburg.
The competition is funded by investment company Blue IQ in partnership with the Gauteng education department and Sowetan's Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation.
SYM seeks to stimulate interest among high school pupils in maths, science, technology and entrepreneurship by inviting Grade 8 to 10 pupils to submit viable business ideas.
Pupils are then required to investigate problems, wants and needs in their communities and come up with ideas for products or services that will fill a gap in the market.
The theme for this year was Sustainable Innovation: eco-efficient and automotive products. In its fourth year, SMY attracted 470 entries and 38 finalists were selected from all the applications.
Team Metropolitan Raucall's winning project, the Polo Wheel, employed concept of magnetic repulsion to create an energy-producing wheel through rotary motion.
A group member, Faaizah Mohomed, said the invention could have a number of real-life uses if further developed.
"The Polo Wheel concept can be used to create a water pump, electricity generation and the concept of the magnetic force may be used to power a theme park," Faaizah said.
The all-girls team has been working on the project since the first quarter of this year and said they were glad their hard work paid off.
"When they announced us as first prize winners all five of us were shocked, but we are also really excited because we put so much effort into our project," Phindile Nkos said.
Recently appointed Gauteng economic development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said she was impressed by the finalists' understanding of environmental issues.
She also said making schools safe and well-resourced should be a priority to ensure that more innovative ideas are produced.
"We can't expect innovation where there is no infrastructure, so we need to partner with the private sector to make sure all schools have resources such as science laboratories," Mahlangu said
She encouraged all the finalists to submit their projects to the Innovation Hub for consideration for further development.
Blue IQ chief executive Amanda Nair urged pupils to keep pursuing maths and science and to continue being innovative for the benefit of the country.
The first prize includes R45000 to be invested for the youngsters' tertiary education, R2500 for their school, R1000 cash for each of the members of the winning team, a laptop and a printer.
They also join the Smart Young Mindz Alumni Club, which will nurture their talent further.
Second-place winners Wordsworth High School received a R30000 and the third place prize of R15000 went to the boys from Willowmoore High School.
Pupils shine in contest
FIFTEEN pupils from three Gauteng schools shared a prize of R100000 in the Smart Young Mindz competition.
The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday at Emperor's Palace, Johannesburg.
The competition is funded by investment company Blue IQ in partnership with the Gauteng education department and Sowetan's Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation.
SYM seeks to stimulate interest among high school pupils in maths, science, technology and entrepreneurship by inviting Grade 8 to 10 pupils to submit viable business ideas.
Pupils are then required to investigate problems, wants and needs in their communities and come up with ideas for products or services that will fill a gap in the market.
The theme for this year was Sustainable Innovation: eco-efficient and automotive products. In its fourth year, SMY attracted 470 entries and 38 finalists were selected from all the applications.
Team Metropolitan Raucall's winning project, the Polo Wheel, employed concept of magnetic repulsion to create an energy-producing wheel through rotary motion.
A group member, Faaizah Mohomed, said the invention could have a number of real-life uses if further developed.
"The Polo Wheel concept can be used to create a water pump, electricity generation and the concept of the magnetic force may be used to power a theme park," Faaizah said.
The all-girls team has been working on the project since the first quarter of this year and said they were glad their hard work paid off.
"When they announced us as first prize winners all five of us were shocked, but we are also really excited because we put so much effort into our project," Phindile Nkos said.
Recently appointed Gauteng economic development MEC Qedani Mahlangu said she was impressed by the finalists' understanding of environmental issues.
She also said making schools safe and well-resourced should be a priority to ensure that more innovative ideas are produced.
"We can't expect innovation where there is no infrastructure, so we need to partner with the private sector to make sure all schools have resources such as science laboratories," Mahlangu said
She encouraged all the finalists to submit their projects to the Innovation Hub for consideration for further development.
Blue IQ chief executive Amanda Nair urged pupils to keep pursuing maths and science and to continue being innovative for the benefit of the country.
The first prize includes R45000 to be invested for the youngsters' tertiary education, R2500 for their school, R1000 cash for each of the members of the winning team, a laptop and a printer.
They also join the Smart Young Mindz Alumni Club, which will nurture their talent further.
Second-place winners Wordsworth High School received a R30000 and the third place prize of R15000 went to the boys from Willowmoore High School.
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