On the African stage of science, Mozambique stands out. A school in our capital, Maputo, distinguished itself by winning the African regional title in the first round of a world-class scientific contest.
Hundreds of young students from the four corners of the globe took part in this science competition, run by the prestigious Cambridge institution for Upper Secondary education, with the mission of finding sustainable answers to problematic issues of everyday life.
The achievement of our team from Willow International School in Maputo lay in the discovery of an innovative method for removing methylene blue dye from water. This synthetic dye, commonly discharged into our lakes and rivers by industry, is a veritable scourge for aquatic life and poses a worrying threat to public health. However, according to the students, conventional treatments for this type of water contamination have proved complex and costly. The breakthrough came when, over a period of nine months, the team tested the effectiveness of the shrub known as Pyracantha coccinea in removing the dye.
Winning first place in the African competition brought a wave of happiness and pride among the students, who saw themselves reflected in the intensity of a rich and challenging experience.
The management of Willow International expressed great satisfaction with this achievement and thanked the event organisers, based in the United Kingdom. The competition was praised as an excellent opportunity for growth for the students, a platform that allows everyone to shine.
We must now wait for the big announcement of the overall winner of this competition, which will be revealed in December.
