Iqra Faki, a born and raised Capetonian, is currently carving her path in the world of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI) as she pursues a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Faki’s involvement in the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists began in high school, where participation was a requirement. “In matric, I entered out of my own accord because I felt I could further and deepen my research from grade 11. I found the behaviour of fractals fascinating and wanted to apply the rules of the Koch Snowflake in a three-dimensional world. I guess you could say I was obsessed with playing with graphs and numbers,” she recalls.
The project was lauded at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) in 2019, earning Faki the coveted “Top Senior Scientist” award; the “Best Female” award; and the Meiring Naudé Award for the most inspiring project, amongst other accolades.
The former Star College Cape Town Sybrand Park Campus learner was then prompted to give back to the community. “I initially applied to be a judge and eventually became a regional Convener for the Mathematics Category. Later on, I received an invitation from Cape Town Regional Science Fair Director, Mrs Olga Peel to join the Regional Committee, where I am currently in that role,” she says.
One of the highlights of Faki’s Expo journey was meeting learners from other regions across South Africa and various other participating countries at the ISF. “I really enjoyed getting to know learners from other regions, especially since I had not visited places outside the Western Cape at the time. Apart from the exposure, the friendships that came out from it were great too. I find myself still being good friends at university with the same people I met back then.”
University life has been challenging, but transformative for Faki. “I’ve learnt to realise that mental health and disabilities are an important part of life, and tertiary life is truly where a lot of growth takes place in one’s self.”
When Faki isn’t immersed in her studies, she indulges in numerous hobbies, including gaming on her Nintendo Switch or casually playing Genshin Impact. In addition to gaming, she enjoys hand-making jewellery, collecting Pokémon cards, creating Instagram Reels and TikToks; along with watching tennis (she’s a big fan of Novak Djokovic). Amidst her studies and part-time student jobs, she also works as a freelance model.
Reflecting on her journey, Faki explains her longstanding fascination with mathematics. “I always enjoyed Mathematics and its applications. I wasn’t always good at it as a kid, but when I was older I somehow found myself only wanting to study Mathematics after school and quite enjoyed explaining it to people (and my plushies),” she says with a laugh. “Hence why I’m hoping to continue into a Maths-related career after I graduate.”
Faki’s passion for STEMI has roots in her childhood. “My siblings and I were frequently gifted encyclopaedias by our uncle, and we’d watch a lot of cool science programs like ‘How It’s Made’ and NatGeo, so I could assume that contributed to it. In school, I’d find myself gravitating toward the science-y subjects more, although I will admit that I did find those subjects quite challenging in high school and nearly grew a bit of disdain for them. In university, those same fields were much harder, but I somehow found that I enjoyed them much more than when in high school, and it just grew from thereon,” she says.
With Eskom Expo’s Regional Science Fairs coming up in July, Faki offered the following advice to first-time attendees: “You know the ins and outs of your project more than anyone and the judges interview process is only so they can ask questions to get clarification and understanding on what you’ve been working on, so there is nothing to fear, just do the best you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help from anyone you think could be of assistance.”
Looking ahead, Iqra emphasised the importance of inclusivity in STEMI-education. “We should focus on working more closely with under privileged schools and helping the learners get a much fairer opportunity in the Expo. Eskom Expo opens a lot of doors and opportunities with all its partnerships, and I ultimately feel like bridging the gap would be very important to provide many more learners the chances of accomplishments.”
Iqra Faki’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and giving back to the community. Her story inspires many young scientists to pursue their dreams in STEMI.
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