JAROSLAV Ferenc, 17, a student of the Secondary Grammar School of Vojtech Mihálik in Sereď, western Slovakia, has won first place in the International Environment Scientific Project Olympiad – INESPO and received a gold medal as well as a cash award of €500.
Between June 3 and 7, 300 talented students from secondary schools in 31 countries met in Amsterdam to present their original projects aimed at solving environmental problems of regional as well as global importance.
Jaroslav Ferenc in his research project “Comparing Possibilities of Phyto-remediation of Soils Contaminated with Heavy Metals by Oilseed Rape and Soybean” solved serious environmental problems caused by the dumping of runoff waste products by the former Nickel Ironworks in Sereď.
His project resulted in a proposal for a new method of soil revitalisation and the selection of the most appropriate plant for this purpose.
Ferenc qualified for the INESPO Olympiad after competing at the Congress of Young Researchers – Natural Scientists 2009 which is held annually for secondary-school students by the civic association Young Scientists of Slovakia.
