• The innovators presented projects in four main areas.
• These are social and behavioural sciences (SB), chemical, physical and mathematics sciences (CPM), biological and ecological sciences (BE).
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The Young Scientist Kenya (YSK) has feted 46 high school students during the annual Science and Technology exhibition.
The 5th annual YSK National Science and Technology exhibition, saw a total of 450 students from across the country showcasing 198 innovations both physically and online.
Eighty of the projects were physically exhibited by 164 students at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi.
The innovators presented projects in four main areas.
These are social and behavioural sciences (SB), chemical, physical and mathematics sciences (CPM), biological and ecological sciences (BE), and the technology category (TECH).
Special awards were also given to students who had innovative solutions to different societal problems.
The awards were presented by different science, technology, and innovation enablers.
These included TSC deputy director Agnes Gatere, Kenya Space Agency director general Brigadier Hillary Kipkosgei, Tononoka group CEO Dharmesh Savla and YSK board chair Sachen Gudka.
Others were Safaricom’s acting chief consumer business unit officer Fawzia Ali, EAC state department PS Kevit Desai, Ireland Embassy’s deputy head of mission Jill Clement and YSK national director Evans Njoro.
Diana Wambugha and Brian Mwaghogho from Chala Secondary School, Taita Taveta emerged the overall winners of the 2022 competition.
They received a cash prize of Sh50,000 each, a brand new smartphone each and a trip to Ireland while their teacher received a cash prize of Sh 20,000.
Their invention —the smart fingerprint ballot box, emerged as the best out of the 80 projects exhibited.
Bravin Emala and Isaac Abuti from Musingu High School, Kakamega were runners-up with their invention, a smart and modernised solar greenhouse.
They received a cash prize of Sh40,000 each, a brand new smartphone each while their teacher received a cash prize of Sh15,000.
For the biological and ecological sciences category, Faith Muthei and Clare Tei from Masaani Girls High School emerged as overall winners.
Kakenya Girls High School’s Ann-Clare Muteisti and Leah Nasieku came in second place while Stacy Muhonja and Marysymprose Bwakali from Kaimosi Girls High School came third.
For the tech category, Amos Maina and Romanus Ogacho from Machakos school came first.
Moi girls high school Kamusinga’s Patience Busolo and Faith Nyongesa came in second as Maleen Karimbaksh and Abdalla Suleiman from Shree Swaminarayan academy Mombasa came in third place.
For the chemical, physical and mathematics category, Happy Harriet and Brivian Kagonya from Kaimosi girls high school won first place.
Nuru Wanini and Betty Ngala from Bahari girls emerged as the second best while Jerry Wati and Levin Kemboi from Bungoma high school came in third place.
For the social and behavioural sciences category, Mercy Chelangat and Abigael Chepkoech from St Monica Girls Chebangang won first place.
Mary Ndungu and Grace Waiganjo from Nyakiambio Girls came in second while Abbassali Karimjee and Mohammed Hassan from Sheik Khalifa Secondary School took third spot.
Lowland Masaria from Viyalo Mixed Secondary School, Vihiga won the 2022 YSK teacher of the year award.
Maxwell Okumu who volunteered with YSK was recognised as the mentor of the year.
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Allan Kirwa and Doris Mutua from Kapsabet Secondary School For the Deaf were feted for the most innovative project in energy.
Margaret Mkamburi and Roina Mpaini from Wamba School won an award for the most innovative project in the ASAL region.
Sudi Livingstone and Rita Divinah from Nkoroi mixed-day secondary won the most innovative project in agricultural issues.
Irene Mwai and Lydia Ocholla from Mt Kinangop Girls were feted for the most innovative project in STEM inclusivity.
Nelson Ayoti and Jesse Matugi from St Paul’s Gekano Boys received an award for the most innovative project in health.
Janet Mwende and Winfridah Manwa from Mokubo secondary were also feted for the most innovative idea in EdTech.
Dennis Mwaura and Lenny Kaunda from Nguviu Boys were also recognized for the most innovative project in Internet of Things (IoT).
Alishba Zulfiqar and Atfa Khatib from Memon Academy received an award for the most innovative project in science for development.
Simiyu Brenda and Geofrey Juma from St Mary’s secondary, Kamba received the 2022 YSK people’s choice award having garnered 3178 votes.
This year's exhibition was a culmination of a STEM mentorship programme with more than 55,000 students reached through the YSK physical outreach.
Supported by their teachers and YSK mentors, the finalists developed innovative STEM projects to be judged by national and international judges.
The winning students will be taken through a bootcamp and given mentorship and training on commercialisation, enterprise development, and Intellectual Property protection.
They will also be provided with incubation links to the public and private sectors.
This year's exhibition was the first hybrid event, mimicking the 2020 and 2021 edition's virtual format and including a physical event.
Over 11,000 virtual visitors visited the last 2 year's exhibitions.
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