Students display scientific discoveries

Accra, Aug 20, GNA - About 60 appliances and products locally manufactured by pre-tertiary students across the country were on Monday displaced in Accra to attract government and investor support to develop them for industrial use.

The exhibition, which is a prelude to the weeklong "National Science Fair 2007" organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, would also help support scientific discovery especially among students.

Some of the products displayed were a solar reflector that uses solar energy to distil water, a solar cooker manufactured with carbon board and aluminium foil, a vegetable preservation chemical manufactured with brine and cement also made with dry cocoa pods.

Master Samuel Buabeng, a 14- year-old pupil of St Martha's Catholic School, Kasoa, manufacturer of the solar reflector, told the Ghana News Agency that considering the energy crisis, he saw the need to come out with the equipment to help produce safe water for consumption in the absence of electricity.

He said after conceiving the idea, he used science books and the Internet as materials to assist him develop the reflector which he made with tubes, bitumen, mirror and glass.

Master Buabeng said he was happy to have come out with such a discovery to help his motherland and commended his school for the support.

Another student Gladys Yankey, a 13-year-old pupil of Ahumtumano Primary School, Ahanta West in the Western Region who made the vegetable preservation chemical, said she comes from a village where majority of the farmers produced vegetables and her project is intended to help the farmers to preserve their produce.

She said the preservation chemical could preserve vegetables for more than a year.

Mr Charles Appiah, Deputy National Coordinator, National ICT and Science Resource Centre, told GNA that the fair, which was being organized nationally for the first time, was part of the government's effort to support scientific discovery. He said students whose discoveries were adjudged as exceptional would receive prizes and be supported to further enhance their skills. Mr Appiah said the Ministry had invited some investors and technical brains to assist to further develop the projects. Other projects displayed were an engine boat, a telephone model, a biogas machine, garlic hair and medicinal products, a solar panel for water heating, among others. 20 Aug 07