The Durban University of Technology’s Department of Electronic Engineering hosted the Siemens 2012 Junior Cyber Junkyard Challenge, an initiative involving high schools in the KwaZulu-Natal.
DUT was invited by Siemens to participate in the event which was held on Thursday last week. The University’s role was to identify and recruit three to five schools for the project as well as to facilitate and coordinate the event.
The high schools participating in this competition were Phoenix Technical High School, George Campbell School of Technology and Coastal KZN College (As-Salaam Campus). The schools were tasked with building a Water Level Control System; an electronic equipment which, when electrically connected to the starter of any given pumpset motor, controls the operation of the pumpset depending upon the water level in the source and destination storage tanks.
Siemens sponsored the material (for the construction of the Water Level Control System). Each school was given specifics of how to build a water tank system that can operate manually and automatically.
DUT Electronic Engineering Head of Department Kris Moodley said the aim of this competition is to encourage pupils to enter the field of Engineering, improve technology as well as for the University to expose pupils to what the industry is all about.
Siemens Regional Manager Bruce Atherton said the company started this initiative because it needs technically qualified students, adding that for Siemens to perform to its best, it needs a cut above the rest.
Atherton thanked DUT for agreeing to be part of the exciting project; making a mention of Solly Essack; Electronic Engineering lecturer at DUT, “who worked tirelessly as the project coordinator”.
The three schools used a PowerPoint presentation to explain the creation process to the judges and later presented their machines to the judges for testing. The students needed to explain what materials were used for construction and why, as well as all the possible alternatives.
George Campbell School of Technology won the competition while Phoenix Technical High School came second and Coastal KZN College won third place. George Campbell School of Technology received a Siemens coursework to the value of R20 000 and the DUT Engineering Department surprised the winners with a bursary for the first year of study. The bursary is available if the pupils meet the Department’s entry requirements.
Phoenix Technical High School took home Siemens vouchers to the value of R10 000 while Coastal KZN College won a Siemens coursework to the value of R5 000.
–Nomvula Sikakane
Caption: (From left in the middle row): DUT Electronic Engineering Head of Department Kris Moodley, George Campbell School of Technology teacher Barry De Klerk, Electronic Engineering Lecturer Solly Essack, Siemens Regional Manager Bruce Atherton with Siemens and DUT staff as well as the George Campbell winning team and their design.
