Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is hosting several Research and Innovation Camps across South Africa in a bid to equip budding researchers with the tools to produce award-winning projects.
The Research and Innovation Camp initiative is a special intervention for learners who have been identified as promising young scientists. These learners have been hand-picked due to their outstanding performances at Eskom Expo Regional Science Fairs, or at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF). To this end, these exclusive camps are by invitation only.
At the camps, which are taking place in all nine provinces, learners will be given one-on-one assistance to improve and build on their research ideas. They will also be assisted by qualified scientists, researchers, mentors and teachers who are experts in their respective fields.
While some Research and Innovation Camps will be held in a single day, others will be weekend-long events for grades 4 to 12 learners, accompanied by their teachers. Teachers will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the young scientists at the camps, as they will work closely with Eskom Expo staff to provide at-school support.
Eskom Expo’s physical District Expos are scheduled to take place in May and June 2023, while Regional Expos will begin in July 2023. The hive of activities will culminate in the Eskom Expo International Science Fair near the end of the year.
Requirements:
A pre-requisite for learners to attend the camps is for learners to have a draft Research Plan or viable research idea. At the camps, learners will be guided to refine their research idea; plan their data collection and data analyses; then look at potential ethics violations.
These aspects will be captured in a Research Plan with clear time frames, which is the main outcome of the camps. Thereafter, each learner will work closely with a mentor to complete the research in time to compete at a District Expo, and subsequently a Regional Expo. Several contact sessions, mostly online, will follow as part of Eskom Expo’s ongoing support to develop these young scientists and assist them with producing award-winning research projects of high standards.
A list of upcoming camps is available below. For enquiries, click here to contact a provincial coordinator in your province.
Region | Date | Venue | Number of Learners |
East London | Saturday 22 April 2023 | Fort Hare Campus, Bisho | 15 |
Saturday 20 May 2023 | Gonubie High | 15 | |
Grahamstown | Saturday 13 May 2023 | Victoria Girls | 20 |
Mthatha | Saturday 11 March 2023 | Holy Cross High | 15 |
Saturday 29 April | 15 | ||
Port Elizabeth | Saturday 25 March 2023 | Grey Boys Primary | 15 |
Saturday 6 May 2023 | 15 | ||
Bethlehem | Monday 20 March | The Sentinel Primary | 20 |
Bloemfontein | Saturday 18 March 2023 | CUT | 20 |
Welkom | Saturday 25 Feb 2023 | St. Andrew’s Welkom | 17 |
Johannesburg: Provincial R and I Camp (2022 Medalists) | Saturday, 25 March 2023 | SciBono (TBC) | 18 |
Johannesburg: Ikusasa Lethu Camp (Grade 8 and 9) | Tuesday, 04 April 2023 | JHB Botanical Gardens | 100 |
Johanesburg: Ikusasa Lethu Camp (Grade 10 and 11) | Wednesday, 05 April 2023 | JHB Botanical Gardens | 100 |
JHB City Parks and Zoo Eco Research Programme Camp | Monday, 27 March 2023 | JHB Botanical Gardens | 20 |
Northern Gauteng: UP Pre-University Academy Camp | Saturday, 29 April 2023 | UP Mamelodi Campus | 100 |
Provincial R and I Camp (2023 Trained Learners) | Saturday, 08 April 2023 | SciBono (TBC) | 20 |
Mentor Focused Day Camp | Tuesday, 28 March 2023 | TBC | 16 |
Capricorn | Saturday, 18 March 2023 | Mastec, Seshego | 16 |
Mopani | Friday, 17 March 2023 | Tivhumbeni College, Tzaneen | 18 |
Vhembe | Saturday, 11 March 2023 | Makhado College | 15 |
Waterberg | Saturday, 25 March 2023 | MPCE College, Mokopane | 18 |
Bohlabela | Monday 01 April 2023 | Mashishing Secondary School | 20 |
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Lydenburg Hoerskool | 20 | |
Gert Sibande | Saturday 15 April 2023 | Secunda Hoerskool | 25 |
Wednesday 05 April 2023 | Mpupuluzi Teacher Centre | 25 | |
Ehlanzeni | Tuesday 04 April 2023 | Valencia Combined | 15 |
Nkangala | Saturday 12 March 2023 | Witbank High School | 25 |
Saturday 25 March 2023 | Sofunda Secondary School | 25 | |
Bojanala | Saturday, 11 March 2023 | Academy Christian Education | 20 |
Friday, 17 March 2023 | JM Ntsime High School | 20 | |
Tuesday, 28 March 2023 | New Covenant Academy | 20 | |
Dr Kenneth Kaunda | Saturday, 18 March 2023 | Milner High | 20 |
Friday, 24 March 2023 | Phiri High School | 15 | |
Saturday, 25 March 2023 | Hoërtegniese Skool Potchefstroom | 20 | |
Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati | Saturday, 25 February 2023 | Goitseone Mankuroane Primary School | 20 |
Ngaka Modiri Molema | Wednesday, 29 March 2023 | Thuto Legacy | 15 |
Saturday, 04 March 2023 | Mafikeng Sub-district Office | 20 | |
Cape Town | TBC | TBC | TBC |
Eden Karoo | 14 & 15 April 2023 | Bridgton High School | 10 |
Stellenbosch | Wednesday 05 April 2023 | iThembaLabs | 10 |
West Coast | Tuesday, 04 April 2023 | Diazville High School | 10 |
Registration to take part in Eskom Expo is open. Learners in grades 4 to 12 and from TVET colleges in NC2 to NC4 can register their projects by clicking here.