Young Scientist Kenya
News
12 August 2021
Minister Coveney was delighted to meet a number of YSK 2020 winners from Nova Pioneer Kenya during his visit.
Additionally, Patron of Young Scientists Kenya, HE President Kenyatta and Minister Simon Coveney discussed YSK during their meeting and agreed that it presents an important pathway for Kenya’s brilliant young people to power Kenya’s development over the longer-term.
The year 2020 was a special year for YSK. With significant support from the Embassy of Ireland, Young Scientists Kenya pivoted online to overcome challenges associated with Covid. Students from 22 counties were are able to participate on an online exhibition, joining teams from public and private schools, from arid and semi-arid regions (ASAL) and urban settlements, both girls and boys, and with differing abilities and needs. Particularly heartening was the participation of two special needs schools despite this year’s constraints. The 2020 projects covered crucial issues in agriculture, technology, health, energy, and STEM inclusivity, as well as timely projects responding to Covid-19.
The winning project this year was by Keith Brian and Maxwell Okoth from Kanga High School in rural Migori County who were crowned Young Scientists of the Year 2020 for their remarkable innovation, Smart Vigilance System, which seeks to help the government solve burglary and illegal intrusions encountered by members of the society.
“Burglary and illegal intrusions are some of the major problems people are facing. We wanted to come up with an effective solution that would help curb this menace. Our project will help mitigate the effects of burglary,” said Keith Brian, YSK winner.
In second place was Jeskah Kaptalai and Betty Khimollos of Ossen Girls High School from Baringo County. Their project was on an eryngo root extract that boosts oral hygiene by preventing formation of microbial plaque.
The project also saw the introduction of a COVID-19 Response Award, which was won by Precious Kigona and Brita Kavete Muti from St. Thomas Girls High School, Kilifi, with their theory on creating herd immunity.
The exhibition, which is based closely on the Irish BT Young Scientists Competition, gives young students the opportunity to demonstrate that science, technology and engineering are not only interesting and exciting, but also easy. It provides students with the opportunity to participate in scientific learning experiences away from the classroom and to explore the unlimited potential of science.