MZANSI has experienced one of its worst droughts in years, but a 16-year-old pupil might just save our crops in future!
Kiara Nirghin from Joburg has created a low-cost, biodegradable and chemical-free super-absorbent polymer.
Last week Kiara was awarded the 2016 Community Impact Award at South Africa’s Google offices, in Bryanston.
She’s the regional winner in the Google Science Fair for the Middle East and Africa region with her solution for thirsty crops.
Kiara is now in the run-up to become one of 16 global finalists who will get to visit Google Headquarters in California in September for the annual awards celebration.
The Google Science Fair invites the brightest young minds from around the world to show how they can make the world better through science, maths and engineering.
And that’s exactly what Kiara did with her submission called “No More Thirsty Crops”.
She came up with a revolutionary way to keep crops hydrated for longer at a much lower cost.
Using orange peels and avocado skins, the teen has managed to create a super-absorbent polymer which acts as a water reservoir beneath the soil.
Kiara will know by 11 August whether she’s made it to the global 16 finalists.
The pupil from St Martin’s High School said she has always had a great love for science.
“I absolutely love chemistry and physics. It’s such captivating subjects ,” Kiara told Daily Sun.
“I can’t express what winning the Google Science Fair would mean to me,” she said, adding that she hoped to continue with her scientific studies and to further the development and application of her idea.
