Shaheem Ebrahim, who is currently serving as a Procurement Engineer at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, has an inspiring journey from his roots in Paarl to his vital role at Eskom. His story highlights the power of passion, education, and a lifelong curiosity about how things work.
Ebrahim grew up in Paarl before studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT). His professional journey began with a twelve-year tenure at De Beers Marine, after which he transitioned to Eskom.
While at De Beers Marine, Shaheem was the responsible engineer for several sampling and survey ships. His dedication and hard work paid off as he obtained a Government Certificate of Competency for both Mines and Factories. At Eskom, he furthered his qualifications by becoming a Nuclear Engineer.
“I was always fascinated with how machines work, taking them apart to see what’s inside. Engineering allowed me to understand what I was seeing,” he says. This curiosity led him to remarkable experiences, including a visit to the bottom of the world’s deepest mine, Western Deep Levels, during his training.
Reflecting on his early inspirations, Shaheem credits television and encyclopaedias for sparking his interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Innovation (STEMI). “That love was also nurtured by some good teachers,” he adds.
Shaheem later saw his career as an opportunity to channel his passion for STEMI into education and community service by volunteering first as an Eskom Study Buddy and later at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists Cape Town Region.
“For the past few years, I have been a Category Convener for Energy and Physics projects,” he says. “I reckon the best projects are interesting and well-presented, with the learners having a good understanding of the underlying science. Good projects also require passion to endure the hard work.”
He observed that learners often find their inspiration online, with popular internet trends frequently reflected in Expo projects. “Alternative energies are very popular topics, with some learners pursuing ‘free’ energy, despite it being thermodynamically impossible. Most recently, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used and abused,” he says.
Shaheem fondly recalls his first Expo experience, saying, “I remember the buzz at my first Expo. The UCT Sports Hall was cold, but the building was filled with hundreds of enthusiastic learners and judges. I was also nervous the first time I had to be the Eskom speaker at the Expo.”
With Eskom Expo’s Regional Science Fairs coming up in July, Shaheem offered budding young scientists the following advice: “Try your best to follow the Expo rules, but most of all try to have fun! It is important that you understand the science behind your project. Learners don’t always understand the science, and I believe they need to get at least that out of the Expo.” He also emphasised the importance of learners being able to effectively explain their projects, both in person and in their reports to achieve the best scores.
Despite his demanding career and volunteering endeavours, Shaheem remains an avid Nintendo fan, though he admits, “My time to play games is limited.”
Looking to the future, Shaheem advocates for the expansion of Expo to draw more learners towards STEMI careers. “South Africa has much talent and we need to foster that talent, especially in STEMI. To support this expansion, Expo also needs to recruit and train more judges.”
Shaheem Ebrahim’s journey from Paarl to Koeberg exemplifies the impact of dedication and passion for STEMI, inspiring the next generation of South African scientists and engineers.
Eskom Expo invites professionals such as Engineers, Doctors, Veterinarians, Teachers, Lecturers, Researchers, Scientists, and IT Professionals; along with university students to contribute their academic and specialised expertise by becoming judges at the upcoming Regional Science Fairs planned across South Africa, as well as the Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF). Click here for more information.