A team of five students from Willow International School in Mozambique have won the Best in Region award for their research into organic fuel.
Mr Nougueira, Miss Macuana, Mr Muchanga Júnior, Miss Nria and Mr Fernando Machoco experimented with cassava, arrowroot and white corn to produce ethanol as a potential replacement for fossil fuels. Their experiment set out to understand which source and medium of production made the most ethanol by volume. The team found that cassava was the most cost-effective means to produce ethanol biofuel.
‘This is a very thoroughly described and documented account of a good deal of hard and well organised work,’ said the judges. ‘The scientific question was posed in direct response to specific problems arising in the candidates’ community, which also has important real-world implications. This hugely relevant study is well planned, with clear goals and objectives, and good application of chemistry with well-thought-out and executed experimental work which provided a large amount of data.’
When asked to reflect on their experiences, the team remarked:
‘Spending so much time together allowed us to get to know each other better and understand how to grow as teammates and as individuals. We were given a lot of freedom and space to research more and analyse every little detail in every possible way.’