A fair bit of science at expo

Christine Friest (above) of Wynberg Girls' High was among the hundreds of learners (projects nervously nestled in bags and boxes and bubble wrap) at Jameson Hall last week for the 21st annual FFS Cape Expo for Young Scientists, this year themed Celebrating 21 Years of Expo Excellence. The expo invites high school students (grades eight to 12) to display investigative and innovative projects, covering 24 categories that span everything from the agricultural sciences to tourism opportunities. For last week's showdown, about 370 learners from 35 schools across the Peninsula entered 250 projects (seven schools and 40 projects up from 2002). The 180 girls - just about matching the 190 boys - taking part in this year's event represented a record intake. Prizes and medals were awarded for the best projects, and gold medallists will represent Cape Town at the annual Eskom National Expo in Pretoria in early October, with possible entrée to international science fairs.

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