6th CEMASTEA STEM Boot Camp Sparks a Wave of Technological Creativity.
The 6th CEMASTEA STEM Boot Camp culminated after a week of intensive, hands-on learning and innovation at the Centre for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA). The event encouraged students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Martin Mungai, Deputy Coordinator for STEM, explained that the Boot Camp is designed to spark interest in key technological fields, including robotics, creative coding, mobile app development, and 3D/graphic design.
As part of the program, students engaged in Arduino prototyping, where they developed coding skills, assembled mechatronics systems, and created simple projects to address real-world challenges.
Mungai highlighted CEMASTEA’s dedication to integrating coding into the curriculum to foster sustained interest in STEM. He noted that the Government, through the Ministry of Education, promotes digital literacy via the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP).
This initiative encourages learners to innovate, conduct research, and devise solutions to societal challenges, complementing CEMASTEA’s efforts in advancing STEM education.
Tools and Techniques in Innovation
Mungai revealed that the Boot Camp, held from December 2 to 6, attracted 72 participants from various fields. Learners used SCAMPER, a thinking tool that stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, and Reverse, to design projects aimed at solving human problems.
Participants developed creative solutions to address various challenges. Emmanuel Tito, a Grade 8 student from The Pearls Academy, and Nadya Nyevu, a Form Two student from Kenya High School, led a team to create a Smart White Cane for visually impaired individuals.
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The rechargeable cane uses ultrasonic sensors to detect barriers up to 60 cm away, emitting an alert sound to warn users of potential dangers. Tito expressed that the project aims to help visually impaired individuals live normal lives while enhancing their mobility and safety.
Yash Asher, a Form One student from Samaj School, focused on Smart Agriculture. His project automates irrigation systems by monitoring temperature and soil moisture in real-time.
The system adjusts water flow as needed, conserves resources, and manages lighting to optimize photosynthesis. Asher hopes the project will assist farmers in improving efficiency and productivity while addressing water conservation and labour challenges.
Kibe Elsie Njeri, a Form Four student from Maryhill Girls High School, worked with her team to develop a mobile app, Mediconnect, to connect patients with specialists.
The app simplifies access to healthcare by enabling patients to choose specialists, reducing hospital registration delays, and tackling issues like corruption and fake doctors. It operates around the clock, providing reliable contact information for various healthcare providers.
She said, “The main goal of the app is to assist patients who struggle to access specialised care and to also help reduce the incidences of fake doctors and corruption in healthcare systems. The app operates 24/7, providing contact information and details for various specialists, ensuring patients can access care at any time,”.
Additional Notable Projects
Other standout innovations included the Expose 360 App, designed to allow users to report corruption cases anonymously; the Robotic Grabber, a device led by Grade 7 pupil Ethan Weru to handle hazardous substances safely; and the Smart Dustbin, which aids visually impaired individuals in identifying colors.
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Other creations included the Agricare App to connect farmers with essential resources, the Funtown App for linking house sellers with buyers, and the Ecotrack App for managing garbage and combating illegal dumping.
All participants were awarded certificates upon completing the training, with the top three in each group receiving medals for their outstanding performance. Mungai urged more students to join future training sessions to enhance their skills and pursue STEM careers.
6th CEMASTEA STEM Boot Camp Sparks a Wave of Technological Creativity.
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