Being able to compete in the biggest pre-college science expo in the world is a huge achievement on its own and coming fourth in a category in which more than 200 young chemists vied for top spot was just the cherry on top, young Port Elizabeth scientist Shaziyah Laher said.
Shaziyah, 16, was part of a group of seven young scientists who represented SA at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona, in the US, last week.
Shaziyah explored a more efficient way of producing and disposing of alternatives to plastics that would be less harmful to humans, animals and the environment.
Her research produced a transparent, biodegradable polymer.
More than 1,800 young scientists took part in the 2019 fair, which Shaziyah said was the experience of a lifetime.
“I cannot begin to describe how fantastic the science fair was.
“Being a participant was a great honour because the journey to get to that level was really difficult.
“It took a lot of determination, courage and hard work.
“[It is] the world’s largest science fair and students from around the world are doing high levels of research and using advanced equipment, whereas I mostly worked from home,” she said
Shaziyah arrived back in the Bay on Monday morning.
At the Port Elizabeth International Airport she was showered with hugs and kisses from her family and her grade 11 peers from the Al Azhar Institute in Malabar.
Shaziyah said she had learnt a lot from the exposure to hitech equipment and from the opportunity to engage with people who were like-minded.
She said she was planning on taking her biodegradable plastic project to the next level.
“I’m definitely going to improve my project for next year, because I strongly believe that my solution to plastic pollution would solve the impeding dilemma we have.”
She will devise a timetable so that she can balance her studies and her research.
Shaziyah’s mother, Sajida, said her daughter did it all on her own and she was very proud of her achievements.
“It’s very easy to push and motivate my children because they listen and they are very loving as well.
“They have been through many hard lessons because I’m a single parent.
“They lost their father six years ago and from that they have really grown and they have come to realise that they need to give back to the world to progress.”
Shaziyah’s science teacher, Huseyin Yildirim, said that though the whole school chose from a list of 100 possible science projects to undertake, Shaziyah had her own project idea for the international science expo.
“I supervised her until she went through to the regional science fair.
“After that she had a science professional from the national expo to mentor her.
“And what also played to her advantage was the Nelson Mandela University opening its laboratory doors to us.
“Shaziyah’s success is a very big success for not only the Muslim community but also for young children from the [northern areas] and we would like to thank her for her dedication,” Yildirim said.
Yildirim said Shaziyah had great potential and she would definitely score a couple of distinctions in 2020, especially for maths and science.
The regional Eskom science fair director, Dr Marilyn Gibbs, said that Shaziyah’s enthusiasim and dedication had shown what could be achieved through hard work.
”She is a great role model. She is passionate about science and with her creative skills and innovative thinking has made us proud in the Nelson Mandela Bay region.
“To achieve an award at an international level is incredible and we congratulate her, her family and her school on her excellent achievement,” Gibbs said.