Youth Symposium investigates sustainable energy for all

	The NZG's Parks Leshaba (left) and Elize de Jager with this year's winners - Odirile Marire and Isaac Masoleng from Voortrekkerhoogte Secondary School.
	The runners up - Fern Harris (left) and Desiree Gambushe from St Catherine's Empangeni/UniZul Science Centre in Richards Bay.
	Desiree Gambushe's presentation on sustainable foods for sustainable energy earned her the second prize in the competition.
	ZooClub member Ofentse Litsele won a prize for his entertaining talk on biomass as an alternative source of energy.
	Keynote speaker Professor Michael Gaines from the University of Miami dispels myths about scientists and science in his presentation.
	Miss Earth South Africa finalist, Charlotte Clark, receives a bunch of flowers from a ZooClub member.

Presenters and learners from all over Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the United States of America converged on Pretoria for the NZG's 3rd annual Biodiversity Youth Symposium. The United Nation's theme for 2012 - 'Sustainable Energy for All' - was adopted as the central theme for this year's symposium.

The Managing Director of the NZG, Dr Clifford Nxomani, welcomed the presenters, learners and supporters and introduced the keynote speaker, Professor Michael Gaines, from the University of Miami. Professor Gaines gave an informative talk on the research done by one of his PhD students on ox-peckers in the Kruger National Park. His interactive talk, involving the audience served as an ice breaker before the rest of the proceedings began.

Ambassador for the environment

This was followed by a presentation by Charlotte Clark, a Miss Earth South Africa finalist. Charlotte encouraged the audience to contribute to environmental conservation by making a few minor changes in their lifestyle. She shared the top five changes in her own lifestyle, among others not using a straw when drinking a beverage, taking showers rather than baths and using material bags for shopping instead of plastic bags. This enthusiastic ambassador for the environment succeeded in motivating the learners, even inspiring some girl learners to work towards becoming a future Miss Earth South Africa.

'Sustainable energy for all'

Then it was time for the highlight of the day - presentations of 15 minutes each in which contesting individuals and teams addressed biodiversity and sustainable energy methods. Alternative methods of using or obtaining energy for a sustainable future were expertly debated. The judges were faced with a challenging task to evaluate the unusual, informative and eloquent presentations that varied from PowerPoint presentations, videos and posters to singing and homemade videos.

Presentations aside, the symposium also included a range of highly original and entertaining environmental messages performed by other school learners, such as poems and songs. The vibrant Kgadi Masetlwa performance by Prinshof School got everyone on their feet singing and dancing along to the music.

And the winners were ...

Once the judges had made their decisions it was time for the prize-giving ceremony. The runners up were ... Fern Harris in third place for her talk on solar energy, and Desiree Gambushe in second place for her presentation on sustainable foods for sustainable energy. Both runners up were from St Catherine's Empangeni/UniZul Science Centre in Richards Bay.

First place was awarded to Odirile Marire and Isaac Masoleng from Voortrekkerhoogte Secondary School for their outstanding presentation on sustainable energy through biomass. Ofentse Litsele, a top member of the ZooClub - an on-going conservation society of the NZG - presented a talk on biomass, discussing how biomass can be an alternative source of energy obtained from burning different products from animals and plant matter to produce heat and electricity. Ofentse was awarded a prize for his presentation in the ZooClub category.

Prizes included vouchers, a printer, a camera and scientific calculators. No one left the symposium empty handed - everyone received an attendance certificate.

Claire Fordred, NZG Intern