A visit to the Botanical Gardens plant nursery was the inspiration behind Zané Brown and Romé Harris’ winning research project, an automated watering system designed for water conservation.
“We were told about the problems that the plant nursery faced. We then looked at disadvantages, concerns, need for improvement, etc. That’s when the idea clicked,” they said.
The Riverlea High School, Johannesburg, students secured a bronze medal at the Eskom Expo International Science Fair for their innovative approach to implementing an automated watering system equipped with real-time monitoring capabilities, precisely regulating the water supply to ensure plants receive the ideal level of moisture, while simultaneously minimising water consumption.
They then integrated this model into the Arduino Integrated Development Environment, allowing for continuous soil moisture monitoring and providing timely feedback on soil dryness – thereby indicating the need for watering.
The young scientists credited their teacher for playing an instrumental role in shaping the project’s development.
“His dedication and passion for science, mathematics, technology, and innovation not only inspired us, but also ignited a spark of curiosity and instilled the value of hard work. As a qualified chemical engineer, his guidance motivated us to delve into extensive reading and exploration,” they said.
“When our names were called during the awards ceremonies, we were very excited. Being recognised felt amazing, and made us feel that hard work truly does pay off. It made us feel nervous, but also capable,” they added.
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