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Dashayin “Dash” Gilbert from Stellenbosch, Western Cape impressed judges at the world’s largest pre-college science competition; Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Atlanta, USA during May 2022, by winning the Third Award in the physics and astronomy category.

Gilbert, a 16-year-old in grade 11 at Curro Durbanville, was awarded more than R16 000 for the research project entitled, “Formula One Aerodynamics”. He was selected to compete in the Science Fair by winning an award at the 2021 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.

The young scientist combined his passion for Formula One with his problem-solving aptitude to investigate the aerodynamics of the cars used in Formula One. After investigating several variables, Gilbert made significant findings that help us understand the factors that contribute to improving the aerodynamics of Formula One cars.

“Eskom Expo served as a way for me to develop my knowledge about Formula One Aerodynamics and learn as much as I could. My project is based on research and comparative analysis of fluid dynamics. The main idea of my project is about financial efficiency as the development of aerodynamics in all regions of science is extremely expensive since either wind tunnel testing or computational fluid dynamics programmes are used,” said Gilbert.

“Eskom is proud of all the budding scientists who represented South Africa well on the global stage. Congratulations to Dashayin Gilbert who performed exceptionally in an unfamiliar subject of aerodynamics and bringing home this valuable award,” said Eskom Group Executive for Government and Regulatory Affairs, Nthato Minyuku.

“Eskom is proud that through the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, we provide a springboard for young scientists, who are researchers and innovators, enabling them to unleash their potential,” added Minyuku.

Six other local learners competed in the Regeneron ISEF: Audrey Hunn and Sarah Hackland from Protea Heights Academy in Stellenbosch; Sachin Mohan from Horizon International High School in Johannesburg; Michael Shepstone from Somerset College in Stellenbosch; Kutlwano Tshatiwa from Gabonewe High School in Madikwe, Northwest; and Ra'ees De Witt from Curro Hermanus in Stellenbosch. 

Registration to take part in 2022 Eskom Expo is open. Learners in grades 4 to 12, along with learners from TVET colleges that are in NC2 to NC4, can register their own research projects by visiting our website. Learners can register their project by clicking here: http://bit.ly/3dVnTGH. To access resources and easy-to-use templates, click here: https://bit.ly/3ctUuik.

Issued by Eskom