ARTICLES
STEM down under students are on top of the world (continued)
Macinley and Jade’s aim was to develop a self-sustaining
sanitation and sterilising device to produce potable and medical
grade sterile water for developing countries and for emergency
relief. Their project, The SAS System (Sanitation and Sterilization
System), is a self-sustaining, portable unit consisting of 3
integrated systems, to provide both clean drinking water and
sterile water for medical use, for developing communities and
emergency relief.
Minh Nga Nguyen, Year 12, Sydney Girls High School,
Recycling waste into biochar: a sustainable wastewater filter
and fertiliser for the agricultural industry
Nga investigated the use of biochar to filter agricultural wastewater
as well its suitability as a soil fertiliser. She developed two
bamboo-based biochar filter systems that proved very efficient
at adsorbing nutrients such as ammonia, nitrates, nitrites and
phosphates. The used biochar was also shown to be effective
as a fertiliser leading to increased plant health when tested,
demonstrating real potential for biochar to be used in the animal
husbandry industry.
The time delay meant that everyone had to maintain their smile
and pose for over two minutes but the final shot was well worth it.
Other experiences included a two-hour Pittsburgh highlights tour
that included a ride down the famous Duquesne Incline and a
visit to the original Heinz factory. At the end of the week, after
the stress of judging, the students visited the Carnegie Science
Centre, went on a two-hour downtown Segway tour and watched
a Major League American baseball game.
ISEF Finalists’ Project Details
On the following pages are the project profiles along with a photo
of each of our seven Young Scientist projects
Macinley Butson, Year 12, The Illawarra Grammar School and
Jade Moxey, Year 12 (2017) Sapphire Coast Anglican College,
The SAS System (Sanitation & Sterilization)
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 2