Victoria:Young scientists in Seychelles showcased their creativity and scientific expertise at the 23rd Seychelles Science Fair by presenting projects addressing coral bleaching and plastic waste. The event, held at the International Conference Centre of Seychelles, featured 36 projects from students across various educational levels.
According to Seychelles News Agency, the biennial event was organized by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development in collaboration with the Department of Environment. It served as a platform for students to demonstrate how science and innovation can tackle environmental and technological challenges faced by the island nation.
Dr. Justin Zelime, Principal Secretary for General Education and Curriculum, spoke at the opening ceremony, encouraging students to use science to address issues such as climate change and marine conservation. He emphasized the importance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in science education.
Among the noteworthy projects was a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) developed by students from the School of Advanced Level Studies to detect coral bleaching. The vehicle can capture live video and transmit it to a laptop for analysis. Another project by Anse Boileau Secondary School students transformed plastic waste into educational tools, addressing both pollution and the cost of educational materials.
The science fair, coordinated by Jeffrey Lagrenade from the Ministry of Education, saw increased participation from secondary schools and improvements in project quality. The competition was divided into categories based on educational levels, with judges assessing the projects based on predetermined criteria.