Anna Kapembe (8), a Grade 3 pupil at Suiderhof Primary School, says she aspires to be a food scientist one day.
Kapembe said this after being awarded the gold award and the overall best project in the junior primary category at the Khomas Regional National Science Fair in Windhoek.
This prompted her to enter the local National Science Fair finals in September.
The National Commission on Science Research and Technology organises the science fair each year in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture to raise awareness of science and technology among pupils, students, communities and educators.
It serves as a vehicle to encourage pupils, parents and teachers to take an active interest in science education by allowing pupils to conduct and publicly present an independent scientific inquiry.
Kapembe’s winning topic was ‘Values of Jackal berries,’ which looked into whether jackal berries require pectin or agar-agar to make jam.
“I wanted to know if it was possible to add gelling agents to local fruits to make a quality jam that would be enjoyed by many Namibians,” says Kapembe.
She says her participation in the competition was inspired by her older brother, who won gold and best in the engineering and architecture category at the Khomas Regional Science Fair last year.
“I wanted to develop my ideas. So my mother suggested that I do a food-related topic because I enjoy baking and eating. We had jackal berries, which I would prefer to eat raw because eating dried jackal berries is time-consuming.
“I would crush them and mix them with water for a pure meal. So I started watching videos about how people mix ingredients to make products like jelly and jam. Then the idea of making jam came to me,” Kapembe says.
She says winning the regional competition was simple.
“I believe the judges took my idea seriously, which is why they named me a winner. I am very excited to represent the Khomas region at the National Science Fair.”
Kapembe was born in Ongwediva, and attended Ambrosius Amutenya Primary School at Oranjemund before moving on to Suiderhof Primary School for Grade 1.
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