Nampula Provincial Science Fair

What kinds of science projects could you come up with, using only local resources from your everyday life?  Now, what if you were in Africa…

After their participation in my own Murrupula Science Fair last month, I took my top four participants to the Nampula Provincial Science Fair.  Going in to it, I didn’t expect my students to win, but I was excited for them nonetheless, knowing this was going to be an opportunity unlike anything they had ever been a part of before. 

My students - Anifo, Belfim, Jacinto, Aires

The whole concept of a “science fair” is a new and upcoming notion in Mozambique, encouraging students to think critically and question the world around them.  In the classroom, students learn almost entirely theory, painstakingly copying notes from the board or, more frequently, notes their professors dictate at them.  But a science fair gives an opportunity for them to apply and put these theories in to practice.  For a lot of students, that jump from the board to application is unimaginable, but for the 61 students who participated in last weekend’s Nampula Provincial Science Fair, it became a reality.

The venue was an Industrial and Commercial school in Nampula

My students joined the other 50 projects ranging from demonstrations of circular momentum, filtration, and electrical circuits to medicinal plants, water purification and insecticides. 

The students first present to the director of the Northern Ministry of Science and Technology 

A student presents his home security system to a judge, Peace Corps staff Lucio

Modeling a hospital out of wire hangers, this student got 3rd place for creating a parallel circuit
which could be used as an emergency alerting system in the hospital

This student researched pupil reaction to sunlight

Explaining why water passes from a sealed bottle to another empty bottle to PCV Tony 

Our Peace Corps Director Gelane tries a students wire phone

SCIP offered free HIV testing and counseling.
38 people participated and all tested negative.

Second place winner who demonstrated how to make sugar from sugar cane.

These girls showed how various household items can complete a circuit.

Second Cycle (Grades 11-12) winners:
1st place - Salt Water Distillation
2nd place - Sugar Production
3rd place - Emergency Light System

1st cycle (Grades 8-10) winners:
1st place - Agro-Ecological Defense
2nd place - Production of Peanut Oil
3rd place - Paper "Charcoal"

My proud students with their participation certificates. 

While none of the students from Murrupula placed, Anifo actually got fourth place for his orange candle.  When I told him, I expected him to be somewhat disappointed for just missing the prize-receiving spot, but he surprised me by jumping up and  shouting excitedly!  All in all, it was an extremely successful event and I look forward to attending the National Science Fair in September!