Congratulations to Naomi, LVI, whose entry in the ISA STEM Competition 2026 in the category Design a system to capture rainwater to irrigate and regreen deserts has earnt her a place in the finals. Her design is inspired by the Namib Desert Beetle which is found in the Namib desert along the southeastern coast of Africa. It features hydrophilic regions (in green) and hydrophobic channels (in blue), which allow water to be collected and transported efficiently. Naomi used the Desmos 3D Graphing Calculator to create the model of her rainwater collection system, using mathematical equations to plot each shape. With entries from over 750 other schools, the result is a real testament to her creativity, dedication and hard work.
