When Graeme College learner Gordon Ballatyne entered the regional Eskom Expo for young scientists he didn’t think it would lead to chilly Stockholm and the Nobel peace prize awards ceremony.
When Graeme College learner Gordon Ballatyne entered the regional Eskom Expo for young scientists he didn’t think it would lead to chilly Stockholm and the Nobel peace prize awards ceremony.
His project was titled: “The use of orb web spiders as a possible model for studying, the psycho active potential of compounds for Human consumption”.
He won the 1st place and a 1 year free tuition to Rhodes University as well as inclusion in the national finals in October last year. He was in Grade 11 at the time.
He was up against some stiff competition and there were over 800 pupils participating in the national finals. This did not stop Gordon as he won the most prestigious award overall, The Dr Derek Grey Memorial Award.
This award offered him a fully sponsored trip to Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar. At the Nationals he also won the Allan Gray unit trust fund of a worthy value as well as the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation award for the project with the best entrepreneurial theme.
He was the only African representative from the entire continent. Gordon was one of 25 participants from 19 countries, worldwide.
Apart from totally freezing in Stockholm, Gordon had the once in a life time opportunity to attend the Nobel peace prize award festivities. This included press conferences with Nobel Prize winners, a reception with cocktail with some of the winners.
Some conversations were with prominent attendants of the awards ceremony, banquette and a ball. It was a life time experience that he has never even dreamt or imagined before. The standards were up there even his lodging was a unique boat that was n one of the canals.
In this experience, life long bonds and friendships were made. He hopes to see all his fellow cosmopolitans at the reunion in Stockolm in 2010.
