Pearson High School pupil and science whizz, Luke Boswell, has repeated his triumphant international feat after again earning first place during the recent 45th Eskom Expo International Science Fair (ISF) .
This is the second time the grade 11 pupil has taken the gold in the competition having done so two years ago with his renewable energy project, "Investigating the performance and output of the Savonius, Darrieus and Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines".
This year his project "Viability of blade pitch optimisation in high turbulence environments" beat a total of 303 other young scientists from 35 regions across SA and 16 international participants from Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Ireland, India and Russia.
The annual fair serves as the pinnacle of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists programme, where participants showcase months of innovative research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation.
The 17-year-old said his innate passion for science had seen him embark on a journey of perseverance, curiosity, and dedication.
"Since I can remember, I've had a passion for science and innovation," he said.
"My entire life I've been doing projects, initially small ones, just to understand how things work.
"So, when a teacher at my school announced that pupils could enter the Eskom Expo, I was instantly drawn to the opportunity to develop my skills even further."
He was awarded a gold medal and various awards at the ISF, including the FFS Refiners Award (tech prize bundle), Wits University: faculty of engineering and built environment award (a bursary valued at R40,000), and the Eskom best energy project -- R10,000 cash and a laptop.
"A standout experience for me was walking into the entrance of Emperors Palace and realising that this was the culmination of months of hard work," he said.
"It hit me that this was my moment to truly shine, that all the effort, planning, and learning had brought me here.
"Winning an award at ISF made all the struggles throughout the project feel worth it.
"The material value of the award was less important than what it symbolised: a sense of accomplishment and validation that I'm on the right path."
Luke said his lifelong curiosity had always been his driving force.
"Ever since I was a young child, I've been fascinated by the world around me.
"I wanted to explore the secrets it holds more extensively, and science gave me the tools to do that," he said.
"Perseverance and strategic planning are the keys to success.
"If you create a good plan and follow it with hope, even when things fail, you're bound to succeed."
Outside school, Boswell enjoys spending time in nature through gardening and archery.