Scientific Brainers

Jake Martin ’s parents, Brent and Debbie, don’t know where their son got his extraordinary scientific brain from.

It is something that has amazed them since Jake was very young and has also made them extremely proud.

The Cambridge High School student is riding a wave of success. Jake ’s invention, the Discovery Model Gasifier, which turns wood power into electricity, has been described by some of the top engineers in the country as an engineering masterpiece.

The Discovery Model Gasifier has not only won supreme national awards in the last few months, it has also seen Jake gain prestigious international recognition.

Jake was the winner of the International Award for Engineering and Technology at the Youth Science Creations Competition in Beijing.

"I wasn ’t expecting to win my category. There was some incredible stuff there." Jake was one of four New Zealand secondary students who went to Beijing. There were 15 delegations from around the world attending the science fair.

While there was no prize money, students in Beijing would kill for the opportunity Jake now has the ability to get into any Chinese university he chooses.

"It ’s not about the money, it ’s about getting into university over there. There ’s lots of hype because it ’s such a big deal." Jake ’s success doesn ’t stop there either. He is a gifted rower as well.

Two days after returning from~ Beijing, Jake competed at the Maadi Cup. Because he ate very little while he was away, he came home five kilograms lighter than when he went.

"My mum had to load me up with carbs, so it was heaps of pasta and rice for me," Jake said.

"It ’s funny how they don ’t really eat much rice in China." Jake said he felt as though he was suffering from altitude sickness when he returned.

"I thought about pulling out of the quad because I didn ’t want to let the others down." How wrong he was the Cambridge High School boys ’ under-18 coxed quad went on to win a silver medal in their event.

So what does the future hold for this amazing young man? He has his sights set on gaining entry into an engineering school at a university in England or the United States.

"It would be nice to still be able to row but I ’ll keep my options open," Jake said.

And his parents couldn ’t be happier.

"The world just seems to be opening up for Jake," Jake ’s mum Debbie said.

"We are very, very proud of Jake. Cambridge has provided him with many opportunities that he probably would not have had if we were still in Auckland."

Cambridge Edition