Two budding young scientists from South Africa received awards at the 2024 Taiwan International Science Fair (TISF), after successfully showcasing their research projects to judges and their peers at the National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei.
Johannes Jacobus (Jaco) Deysel, a Grade 11 learner at Hoërskool Jim Fouché in Bloemfontein was awarded the Fourth Award in the Computer Science and Information Engineering category; while Lethabo Molobi, a Grade 12 learner at Zinniaville Secondary School in the North West’s Bojanala region, was awarded the Fourth Award and the Viewer’s Choice Award in the Behavioural and Social Sciences category at the prestigious science fair.
Deysel showcased his research project titled “Breaking a Caesar Cipher/Vigenère Cipher Encryption for secure data communication”.
The project aimed to identify vulnerabilities in ciphers and explore the factors influencing the strength of an encryption system by breaking both Caesar and Vigenère Ciphers.
Reflecting on his achievement, Deysel said: “Receiving recognition at a prestigious international science event was a tremendous honour for me. Being surrounded by some of the brightest minds of our generation was an experience that will forever resonate with me. Moreover, I had the opportunity to see the most beautiful places, while learning about many unique cultures and traditions, which greatly enriched my perspective in many ways”.
Deysel encouraged aspiring young scientists to continue being curious.
“You are allowed to disagree and seek your own answers or solutions. Do not allow others to tell you that you ‘can’t do it’, because you can. You are capable of so much more than what people tell you, so don’t take negative feedback to heart; use them as your driving force,” he said.
The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Eskom Development Foundation Mologadi Motshele, congratulated the duo on their achievements.
“We are extremely proud of our learner’s success. Competing on the global stage and receiving recognition among 630 young scientists from 27 countries is a commendable feat. Eskom’s commitment to investing in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and innovation (STEMI) through the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists remains unwavering. The Expo is an excellent way to support and nurture the next generation of scientists and engineers, and creates a solid foundation for the development and progress of our country” Motshele added.
Registration for the Eskom Expo 2024 is open. Learners in grades 4 to 12, and NC2 to NC4 learners from TVET colleges can register their projects by visiting www.exposcience.co.za
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