Un Giuricich nello spazio

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Created on Wednesday, 16 January 2013 15:33

La famiglia Giuricich è una fra le più grandi e note del Sud Africa. Negli anni è cresciuta assieme all'azienda che da settant'anni ne porta il nome e da Johannesburg si è diramata nel resto del paese. Un ramo ha messo radici rigogliose nella provincia del Capo e da qui ha recentemente spiccato il volo, portando il nome Giuricich perfino nello spazio. Da qualche tempo, infatti, nel registro dei corpi celesti è presente un asteroide classificato "28159 Giuricich = 1998 VM7".

Il Giuricich in questione è Alessio, figlio di Leonard e Rosetta, di Città del Capo. Alessio è stato allievo di una delle più prestigiose scuole del Sud Africa - il Bishops Diocesan College - e nei recenti esami di fine anno ha ottenuto la maturità con una media del 94,5%, grazie alla quale è stato accettato nella facoltà di medicina dell'Università di Cape Town. Il premio per lo straordinario risultato accademico ottenuto gli è stato consegnato dal premier del Western Cape Helen Zille (a destra nella foto).

In questa impresa di Alessio però l'asteroide non c'entra. Quello gli è stato intitolato a Los Angeles nel 2011 a seguito della sua partecipazione all'Intel Science & Engineering Fair con un progetto di scienza comportamentale e sociale intitolato: "Epidemiology of sugar dependence among adolescents", con il quale ha ottenuto il secondo posto nella graduatoria finale del concorso internazionale per giovani scienziati. L'asteroide che reca il numero 28159 e adesso anche il nome Giuricich è stato scoperto dal Lincoln Laboratory Near-Earth Asteroid Reserch Team di Socorro il 10 novembre 1998. Su quella straordinaria esperienza proponiamo più sotto il racconto fatto dallo stesso Alessio al rientro a Cape Town sulla pubblicazione online del Bishops Diocesan College.

Alessio non è il solo nella famiglia Giuricich del Capo Alessio a eccellere negli studi. Infatti il fratello maggiore, Mario, ha appena conseguito all'Università di Città del Capo (nella foto con Alessio) il titolo di Bachelor of Business Science in Actuarial Science con una distinzione in  statistica. E quest'anno completerà nella stessa università il suo Master in Financial Mathemathics.

Agli orgogliosi genitori e ai giovani talenti che onorano la nostra comunità le nostre più sentite felicitazioni.

Bishops Boy Excels at Intel Science Expo

Alessio Giuricich (Mallett, Grade 11)
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair 2011

A Report by Alessio Giuricich

Firstly, before I begin I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Expo and to Eskom for providing this wonderful opportunity for pupils to attend the Intel Isef Science and Engineering Fair. The event was memorable and it further provided us with an abundant learning experience.

After we left O.R.Tambo airport and the excitement of Intel ISEF 2011 set in, we travelled to New York where we spent one night. Although we were very busy and the time was limited, it was worth the stay. We spent the time sight seeing and exploring this amazing city. The buildings are absolutely enormous and the city is always busy. On seeing the Statue of Liberty, I knew New York was real. The hotel in which we stayed was pleasant and everyone slept peacefully that night as we were all very tired. The next day we left for Los Angeles and the butterflies in my stomach began to flutter.
 
Soon after arriving in Los Angeles we had to go to the Conference Centre to set up our projects and to ensure that all the ethics for the fair were in order. I breathed a sigh of relief when all was found to be in place and we could leave the Conference Centre. At this point, the magnitude of the fair dawned on me and I realized the amount of preparation that is involved to make this fair a reality for students from all over the world. It was a privilege to be here. Later that afternoon we had the pin exchange which encouraged everyone to make contact with each other. The following day was Monday and we manned our projects in the morning. Our team leaders were most encouraging as they provided us with guidance, advice and support. It was most rewarding meeting the consulate general of South Africa who came to all our projects and offered us support. That afternoon I attended the talks which were offered and found the talk on advice for an effective interview most interesting. The opening ceremony took place that night and I proudly took up the S.A banner with Danielle, Monique and Schalk.

The next day was Tuesday and during the morning we manned our project stands. During this time I was visited by a number of special award judges who interviewed me about my project. The talk by the Nobel Laureate was interesting as well and they referred to the fact that schools should reward and recognise science teachers more, as this would increase the standards of science at a school level. At the end of the day and I looked forward to a well deserved break. The evening was well spent at a club where all the finalists had a good time.
 
Wednesday arrived and this was another day for judging. It was really quite pleasant to be able to wear a suit. Most of the finalists were dressed smartly. That day I was interviewed by about 6-7 grand award judges. Some of the interviews were interesting and stimulating but one was rather difficult in that the judge was not very talkative. Otherwise I felt that the interviews had progressed well. I felt that the team leaders had prepared us well for the interviews. During all this time I had managed to meet and network with the other finalists from around the world. The people I met were very pleasant and friendly. The standard of the projects was high and some finalists were quite competitive. That evening we went to Universal Studios which was absolutely amazing and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
 
On Thursday, the science fair was open to the public and we manned our stands during this time. I met many new people of whom many showed a strong interest in my project. In fact some of the special award and grand award judges came around again to speak to me. That evening was the special award ceremony. I was so happy to hear Daniell Boer’s name to be called out when this was announced. It was music to my ears as at least one for South Africa had hit the nail on the head. When I heard my name and South Africa being called I took me a while to comprehend this. The feeling is unbelievable . I felt so proud for all involved; TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION FOR MYSELF AND MY COUNTRY. What an Honour!  Later that evening after all the photos were taken we went out for supper. I still kept my fingers crossed for all the South African finalists for the next day.

The following morning was the grand award ceremony, where I received a second place grand award in Behavioral Sciences but the absolute joy was in being given a minor-planet to be named after me. The knowledge of having achieved this for myself and my country makes me most grateful and I hope to be able to give back the same in return. That afternoon we had to rush back to the hotel and pack to leave for the airport. We had a very long trip back to South Africa.

My advice to South African young scientists:

I don’t think that pupils realize the potential of their school projects and where these could take them. The standards of the projects at the Intel Fair are high and the finalists are very competitive. Pupils need to realize that it does take quite a bit of hard work but it is worth it.
 
Finally, I would like to say that the experience was amazing, professional and of a very high standard. Eskom Expo is doing the right thing by allowing pupils from this country to participate because it allows us to set a measure for comparison, participative learning and sharing of ideas. I would like to thank my sponsors, Eskom Expo and Intel, for sending me to this amazing science fair.

Cape Town Expo for Young Scientists was my starting point for this project and would like to thank those (especially Mrs Olga Peel) who involved at Cape Town Expo. Cape Town Expo for Young Scientists offered me the opportunity to go to the National Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and to go further from there and for that I thank them.

I would like to give a huge thank-you to Mrs. P Moodley, Mrs J Anderson and Mrs R Riba who took such care and pride in their team. Furthermore, I would like to thank Prof. Ian Jaindrell and Mr Parthy Chetty for their words of wisdom and encouragement during the trip.

I would like to thank Dr Rauf Sayed for being my mentor and for all the help he gave me as well as Mrs Olga Peel for all her advice as regards my project. Mrs Cheyl Douglas and Mr Gerard Noel are thanked for their constructive criticism on my project.