“Sunken Cooking Jacket,” under the Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences category beat over 1780 submissions of young innovators, to win the Young Scientists Kenya 2024 Awards earning them this prestigious accolade.
The multi-functional cooking stove designed by Students of Menyenya Secondary School in Nyamira County, Bradford Nyangiri and Felix Makori is an innovative stove, featuring three cooking points powered by a single fire source, is equipped with a fixed copper coil that simultaneously heats water while cooking.
“Technology is now integral to our daily lives, transforming how we communicate, work, learn, and solve problems. By encouraging high school students to engage with technology creatively and innovatively, we not only equip them with essential skills for the future but also nurture a generation of thinkers and problem-solvers who can drive positive societal change,” stated Dr. Eng. Victor Mwongera, YSK National Director.
The design significantly reduces energy waste by insulating cooking vessels, ensuring more energy is directed toward cooking rather than being lost.
The overall winners of the 7th Edition of the Annual Young Scientists Kenya [YSK] National Science and Technology Exhibition received a range of prizes, including a scholarship at Strathmore University for a STEM course, an all-expenses-paid trip to Ireland to attend the Irish BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition sponsored by the Irish Embassy, KES 100,000 in cash and a mobile phone courtesy of Safaricom.
In the second place were students from Mombasa County, Memon Academy High School’s Aymaan Khandwalla and Marithiya Issa. The students were recognized for their project, the Eco Super Absorbent Biopolymer. “Eco Super Absorbent Biopolymer, material project excels in water absorption and retention, making it ideal for applications such as baby and adult diapers, as well as sanitary napkins.
When integrated into soil, it improves water retention, enabling crops to survive under conditions of low rainfall, drought, and soil degradation and is poised to play a critical role in addressing the challenges posed by global warming and climate change according to Aymaan Khandwalla.
The YSK Awards runners up were awarded, KES 80,000 in cash, a mobile phone and the Year Runner-Up Trophy.
“It is inspiring to see students identifying challenges within their communities and developing innovative solutions to address them. We are proud to support and walk alongside these students on their journey of collaboration and innovation, regardless of gender, geographical location, or financial circumstances,” said Evelyn Maris, Deputy Ambassador of Ireland.
Launched in 2017, YSK has been at the forefront of preparing young people for the rapidly evolving digital age by engaging high school students in technological innovation. This year’s exhibition celebrated the innovations of high school students from all 47 counties in Kenya, underscoring their contributions to STEM.
“We recognize that in today’s world, science has helped us solve some of the most monumental societal challenges while creating opportunities that were unimaginable a few years ago. By partnering with YSK, we are keen to help our young people tap into the transformative power of technology by making STEM courses more attractive,” said Fawzia Ali, Chief Consumer Business Officer, Safaricom PLC.