Bloemfontein science prodigy Jaco Deysel made a sterling impression at this year’s Taiwan International Science Fair (TISF), held at the National Taiwan Science Education Center in Taipei.
He was among the 630 participants from 27 countries showcasing their scientific ability at the event from 27 January to 2 February.
Jaco, a Gr. 11 learner at the Jim Fouché High School (JF), placed fourth overall in the computer science and information engineering category. He received a certificate, recognising his performance.
His research project entitled “Breaking a Caesar Cipher/Vigenère Cipher Encryption for secure data communication” identified vulnerabilities in ciphers and explores the factors influencing the strength of an encryption system by breaking both Caesar and Vigenère Ciphers.
“Receiving recognition at a prestigious international science event was a tremendous honour for me,” said Jaco.
“Being surrounded by some of the brightest minds of our generation was an experience that will forever resonate with me. Moreover, I had the opportunity to see beautiful places, while learning about unique cultures and traditions, which greatly enriched my perspective in many ways.”
Jaco was chosen to compete in this international competition last year, when he was awarded a gold medal for his research science project at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists.
Following his achievement in Taipei, Johannes has encouraged aspiring young scientists to continue being curious.
“You are allowed to disagree and seek your own answers or solutions. Do not allow others to tell you that you can’t do it, because you can,” he said.
“You are capable of so much more than what people tell you, so don’t take negative feedback to heart; use it as your driving force.”
Jaco represented South Africa alongside Lethabo Molobi, a Gr. 12 learner of the Zinniaville Secondary School in the North West. She placed fourth, and received the viewer’s choice award, in the behavioural and social sciences category.
