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BRAINBOX: Hope Serepa, a student at Wits University, is developing antibiotics. PHOTO: VELI NHLAPO

The 24-year-old from Botlokwa in Polokwane, Limpopo, impressed judges with her project to develop antibiotics with less harmful side effects. She won a trip to Germany to share her research with her global counterparts.

Serepa is currently working on developing antibiotics from natural sources.

"The current problem with antibiotics is they are mostly synthetic and contain many chemicals, so they have a lot of side effects," she explains. "I am trying to develop antibiotics from natural sources.

"I am at present extracting it from bacteria but for my PhD I will use plants. This will have fewer side effects because our bodies accept them since they are natural."

On Friday Serepa presented her project as part of the Falling Walls Lab project. This is a platform for social and scientific innovation and accommodates 30 other young people.

After the presentations Serepa's project was chosen as the best and she won the trip to Berlin, Germany, to present her project at the Final Lab on November 9.

About 100 global candidates will convene to present their ideas and to listen to 20 other leading scientists present breakthroughs in science, the humanities, business and technology.

Inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall the German-based Falling Walls Foundation and its partners, AT Kearney, started the Falling Walls Lab aimed at young academics and professionals from around world, asking them to predict the next social, scientific, economic, and political walls that will fall.

It started in Berlin last year.

Anna Lorenz of Falling Walls said the project was started as a way of attracting young people who are interested in innovation and ideas.

Though her research is still laboratory-based Serepa hopes to continue with it for her doctorate.

Another idea that was presented was on a steering wheel cover fitted with sensors to detect drunk drivers.

Xolani Mtshali, a UCT student interested in innovation who came up with this concept, said: "If a driver is drunk the sensors will send a message to the GPS system, which will then send a t 'pick me up message'' to a trusted taxi company.

"The company will come and pick up the drunk driver. Statistics show that 50 percent of accidents involve drunk drivers. This system is not complicated since it is a simple wheel cover.''-monamat@sowetan.co.za

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Wed May 22 23:04:18 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 25, 2012

Papage

Thobela, Limpopo, Polokwane e tswala dikgware ele ruri, o kare Modimo wa Magodimo a ka go thusha o phomelele Moshega wa Mmaphaka se kgele.
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Sep 25, 2012

Pitso.MCCMA.SAFA

“The current problem with antibiotics is they are mostly synthetic and contain many chemicals”

The project is too interesting. However, Serepa needs a deeper understanding on why synthesis dominated, in literature review, over natural resources. Given that the obvious advantages of synthesis are purity and inexpensive processability, Serepa should go deeper in a bid to address not only those two mentioned, but also the recyclability at a larger scale. We are interested in this kind of initiatives, what worries most is the greedy people who could dismiss the work of Serepa for their pockets.

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Sep 25, 2012

Kabelo10

Make us proud Girl, is unfortunate some who kol themselves Youth are busy corrupting our beloved province. Im in your age too, but what im doing (working) is more than my age. Goodluck Girl again.
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Sep 25, 2012

Credo

The anc have already made this ''scientific breakthrough'' to cure AIDS with beetroot and garlic !!!!!!
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Sep 25, 2012

malemaforpresident

Yeah this is the kind of ladies one would expect this is what we call a true role model for young girls not Khanyi who specialise in nudity Nxaaa
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Sep 25, 2012

iPhone4

Well done sisi take Biotechnology to the next level
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Sep 25, 2012

Pointman

Lets get something really invented before making a splash in the media. Now this young woman is under pressure to perform. Anyay this has been done already - Nurofen is a plant extract - that the San people brought to the worlds attention.
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Sep 25, 2012

MommaC

You go girl !
So great to read stories of these brilliant people in our country :)
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Sep 25, 2012

Pointman

And as for plant extract not having side effects??? Read the mushroom story on this same page. And don't say that death is not a side effect.
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Sep 25, 2012

CYBORICO

Credo
The anc have already made this ''scientific breakthrough'' to cure AIDS with beetroot and garlic !!!!!!

shut up u $%$%, nobody ever said that, u misunderstood everything as ussuall, healthy leaving and eating healthy goes a long way in preventing HIV patients from developing full blown aids, that how i undestood Tboz and orla Manto, but as u know people hear what they want to hear from a statement
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