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Science Advancement Highlights 2012-2013 a

SAASTA Science Advancement Highlights Report

2012-2013

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A passport to knowledge: Putting the world of science in society’s hands through

• schoollevelinterventionstoincreasethenumberofscientistsoftomorrow;

• strengtheningthescience,engineeringandtechnologyculture;and• bringingscienceandscientistsclosertosociety.

Touching lives: reaching for new frontiers

Strategic approachScience,throughresearch,hasacrucialroletoplayinthegrowthofSouthAfrica’seconomy.Whenscientificresearchfindingsaremadeaccessible,itispossibleforinnovationandentrepreneurialopportunitiestoarise.Researchfindingscanalsohaveanimpactonpolicyandsocialconditionsinthecountry.Butthiscanonlybeachievedwhensciencebecomespartofourdailydialogueanddiscourse.

ThebedrockofSAASTA’ssuccesstoadvancingacultureofengagementwithscienceinSouthAfricaliesinitssynergisticapproach.AllSAASTAinitiativesfallunderthreeinterdependentkeystrategicareas:• ScienceEducation(throughwhichwebuildupthesupplyoftomorrow’s

scientistsandinnovators);• ScienceAwareness(throughwhichweengagethepublicwiththe

phenomenaofscience,engineeringandtechnology);and• ScienceCommunication(throughwhichwesharescienceandtechnology

achievementswiththepublic,buildinguptheirappreciationofthebenefitsofscience).

Science Advancement Highlights 2012-2013 1

Foreword: Towards a knowledge economy......................................................2Trackingandevaluatingimpact..........................................................................5

Raising the SAASTA flag ..................................................................................6Exploration,coveringnewground,discoveringnewterritories

Making science accessible ..............................................................................8Touchingtheheartsandmindsofpeople

Our intrepid missions to the new frontiers .....................................................15

Exploring the future, inspiring the youth ........................................................24

The people of SAASTA ...................................................................................32

Contents

TheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologyisthemainsponsorofSAASTAanditsprojects.

Join us on our journey of discovery, touching hearts and minds, leading society to a brighter tomorrow.

SAASTAisabusinessunitoftheNationalResearchFoundation.

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This year, SAASTA set

out to further align its strategy and

objectives with those of the NRF

– in a combined organisational

effort to act as a catalyst for

capacity building and knowledge

creation. This is a vital step towards

transforming South Africa’s

economy into a knowledge-

based economy, in which the

production and dissemination

of knowledge lead to economic

benefits and enrich all fields of

human endeavour.

• OneofSAASTA’skeyobjectivesistoreachlearnersinremoteruralareaswiththemessagethatthey,too,canonedaybeapartofourcountry’sskilledandvaluedworkforce.

• SAASTAhasstronginternationalcollaborationagreementsinplace,amongotherswiththeBeijingAssociationofScienceandTechnologyandtheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory.

Towards a knowledge economy

Did you know?


SAASTAsetouttofurtherstrategicallypositionitselfwiththeNationalResearchFoundation(NRF)intheyearunderreview–inacombinedorganisationalefforttoactasacatalystforcapacitybuildingandknowledgecreation.ThisisavitalsteptowardstransformingSouthAfrica’seconomyintoaknowledge-basedeconomy,inwhichtheproductionanddisseminationofknowledgeleadstoeconomicbenefitsandenrichesallfieldsofhumanendeavour.

Fromanoperationalperspective,IamproudtoreportthatSAASTAexceededseveralofitstargetsduringthe year, both in terms of the number of learnersand educators as well as members of the publicreachedandtheSTEMIresourcesdevelopedbytheorganisation.Careerprofilingactivitiesandourresourcesonscience,engineeringandtechnologycareershavethepotentialtomakeavaluablecontributiontotheNRF’sobjectiveofgrowingarepresentativescienceandtechnologyworkforce.

Via our science awareness programmes andcompetitions, which are aimed at identifying andnurturingnationaltalentinscience,engineeringandtechnology (SET),wearecontributing toahealthypipelineofvitalcapacityinSET–fromprimaryandhighschoollearnerstoundergraduateandpostgraduatestudents.Oneofourkeyobjectivesistoreachlearnersinremoteruralareaswiththemessagethatthey,too,canonedaybeapartofourcountry’sskilledandvaluedworkforce.

SAASTAexposesthewinnersofitsvariouscompetitionsto cutting-edge research and science communi-cationpracticesoutsideofourcountry’sborders.ThewinnersoftheNationalScienceOlympiadparticipatedintheInternationalYouthScienceForuminLondon,thewinners of theNational Schools Debates wonatriptoNewYork,twowinnersintheEskomExpoforYoungScientistsparticipatedintheBeijingYouthScienceCreationCompetitionandthewinnerofthe

YoungScienceCommunicators’Competitionwillbeattending an international science communicationworkshoptofine-tunehiscommunicationskills.

Wedeveloped,printedanddistributedSTEMIresourcematerial across the country and provided learningplatformsattheJohannesburgObservatorysuchasthe forensic science laboratory where learners arechallenged with real life problems and curriculum-basedexperimentscanbeperformed forschools;learnerscaninteractwithexhibits;andmembersofthepubliccometoviewthenightsky.

Wehavesucceededinstrengtheningourrelationshipswithourstrategicpartners(highereducationinstitutionsand science councils) and with industry. We havestrong international collaboration agreements inplace,amongotherswiththeBeijingAssociationofScienceandTechnologyandtheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory.

Foreword by Dr Jabu Nukeri, Managing Director of SAASTA

Iwouldliketoacknowledgethesupportandencouragementthatwehave

receivedfromNRFmanagementinfulfillingourmandate.Wealsogratefullyacknowledge

thecontractualfundingwereceivedfromtheDST.Withoutourpartnersintheprivatesector,

highereducationandgovernmentdepartments,andatnationalfacilitiesandsciencecentres,

wewouldnotbeabletodeliverwhatisrequiredofus.Iwouldliketothankalloftheserole

playersfortheirsupportandcontributions.

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Foreword (continued)

Wepursuednewpartnershipswithtraditionalmediasuchasprintandradio.Thisincludedahighlyproductivecollaborationwithoneofthetop10SABCradiostations–MunghanaLoneneFMwhichoperatesfromPolokwane.Weworkedwiththemforaperiodofeightweeks,focusingoneightSETtopicsinwhichwesuccessfullyinvolvedanumberofresearcherstohighlightkeyaspectsoftheirwork.Wealsoexplorednewmediaplatforms,includingasuccessfulviraladvertisingcampaignforhydrogenpoweredvehicles,whichscoredover8000hitsonYouTube.

AnotherhighlightwasaninvitationbytheParliamentaryPortfolioCommitteeonScienceandTechnologytopresentouractivitiesandachievementstoitsmembers.Thetwo-hourpresentationelicitedaverypositiveresponseandseveralpertinentissueswereraised.OneoftheoutcomesofthisengagementwasthatweweretaskedtoassisttheAgriculturalResearchCouncilwithacampaignaimedatpromotingcareersintheagriculturalresearchsector.

Fromafinancialperspective,itremainsacauseforconcernthat80%ofourfundingis contractual. This has implications for the stability of the organisation and theconceptualisationofprogrammesinlinewithSAASTA’smandate.Additionalcorefunding from theDepartmentofScienceandTechnology (DST)andNRF isvitaltoenableustoconceptualiseprogrammesthatspeaktotheneedsofourtargetaudienceandattracttherequiredhumanexpertiseintotheorganisation.

OnbehalfofSAASTA,Iwouldliketoacknowledgethesupportandencouragementthatwehave received fromNRFmanagement in fulfillingourmandate.WealsogratefullyacknowledgethecontractualfundingwereceivedfromtheDST.Withoutourpartnersintheprivatesector,highereducationandgovernmentdepartments,andatnationalfacilitiesandsciencecentres,wewouldnotbeabletodeliverwhatisrequiredofus.Iwouldliketothankalloftheseroleplayersfortheirsupportandcontributions.

IwouldalsoliketoexpressmyappreciationtowardstheSAASTAstaffmembersforhavingalwaysbeenenthusiasticabouttheirworkandpassionateaboutthedifferencetheyaremakinginthelivesofourfellowSouthAfricans.

More than 22 000 learners participated in the 2012 National Science Olympiad competition. The top 100 performers attended a science focus week. Here the learners are introduced to the fascinating work being done in forensic science.

SAASTA’sbusinessasanorganisationhasdoubledintermsofthesheer volumeof the work we’ve been

doingoverthepasttwoyears.


The first study followedlearnerswhowerepartofthescience,engineeringandtechnology

awarenessprojectthatkickedoffin2007.Between2007and2009,SAASTA’sScienceEducationUnitcollaboratedwith theUniversityofJohannesburg,workingwith73ruralschoolsacrossfiveprovinces– the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal,LimpopoandMpumalanga.Thefocuswasoncareerguidance,andmathsandsciencesupport.Themainobjectivesweretoidentifyandnurturetalentandtobroaden the learners’ knowledge of the range ofpossibleSETcareers.Theprojectstartedwith2555learnerswhoweretakingmathematicsandscienceassubjectsingrade10(2007)andfollowedthemuntiltheyreachedgrade12(2009).

In2010,SAASTAdidafollow-upstudyofstudentsfromasampleof54ofthese73schoolsandtrackeduniversityentrance.Theresultsshowedthat:• 40%ofthetrackedlearnerswereinhigher

education;• 54%(or572)oftheselearnerswerestudying

inSETfields;and• 24%(252)oftheSETfieldlearnerswhere

studyingengineering.

In2012/13,only1386studentsoftheoriginalgroupof2555weretracked.Ofthese1386:

• 44%(612)arenotstudying;• 56%(774)arefurtheringtheirstudies;• Ofthe774,62%(482)arestudyingatHigher

EducationInstitutions(HEIs)furtheringtheirstudiesinscience,technology,engineering,mathematicsandinnovation(STEMI);and

• 30%(147)ofthese482studentsarestudyingengineering.

The second study involved learners whoparticipatedintheNationalScienceOlympiad,aprojectthatSAASTAhasbeenrunningforthe

past48years.IthasbeensponsoredbyHarmonyGoldMiningCompanysince2009.TheOlympiadaims to identify talent and potential, nurture it toenhanceclassroomperformanceandcontributetothedevelopmentoftheSEThumancapitalpipelineby enhancing youth’s access toSET.1 The study,which focusedon the top200grade12 learnerswhoparticipatedintheNationalScienceOlympiad,wascompleted inJuly2012.Basedon feedbackfrom82%of these learners, itappears thatmorethan 90% of these students are furthering theirstudies inscience,engineeringandtechnologyathighereducationinstitutions.SAASTAbelievesitisnotastretchoftheimaginationtoseetheseyoungpeople,inthenearfuture,contributingtotheNRF’senvisagedvibrantnationalsystemofinnovation.

Charting the future of South Africa’s workforceImpact: 2010–2012

Identify and nurture talent in SETTrackingoftoplearnerswhoparticipatedinNSO:2009

Eng

BScMedicine

BCom

IT

ActSciOther

In order to evaluate the impact of its science and maths support and career guidance, SAASTA has commissioned two studies to track learners who participated in some of the National Science Olympiads, competitions and camps over the past few years.

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Impact: 2008–2010Identify and nurture talent in SET

Totalnumberoflearnersinprogramme7 771

NumberoflearnersenrolledinatleasttwosubjectM/PS/LS2 555

Numberoflearnerswhopassedseniorcertificate1 060

1styearstudiesinSETfield572

1styearstudiesinengineering252

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1 DepartmentofScienceandTechnologypresentationtotheParliamentaryPortfolioCommitteeonScienceandTechnology,March2012

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Collaboration to accelerate transformative scienceTheconceptofacommunityisnolongerrestrictedtoagroupofpeoplelivinginacommongeographiclocation.Todaycommunitiescanextendacrosstheglobe.Toremainrelevantandattheforefrontofdevelopmentsinscienceadvancement,awarenessandeducation,SAASTAisincreasinglyspreadingitswingsandbecominganactivememberoftheglobalcommunity.

Inthepastyear,theorganisationvisitedruralcommunitiesasfarafieldasSpringbok,Giyani,Thohoyandou,Maphumulo,Malamulele,MalelaneandLusikisiki,butitalsotookitsexhibitionsandworkshopstoplacesasfarafieldasbustlingBeijinginChinaandbeautifulFlorenceinItaly.IthassentworthywinnersofsciencecompetitionstoNewYorkintheUnitedStatesofAmericaandWaterlooinCanada.Andinbetweenallthatactivity,SAASTAfoundtimetoparticipateinsciencefairsandfestivalsinSouthAfrica,Mozambique,KenyaandZimbabwe.

SAASTA coverage across the country

KwaZulu-Natal Newcastle,Durban,Pietermaritzburg,RichardsBay,Stanger,Maphumulo,Bergville

EasternCape PortElizabeth,EastLondon,Mthatha,Lusikisiki,Bisho,MountAyliff

Limpopo Polokwane,Giyani,Thohoyandou,Modimolle,Phalaborwa,Tzaneen,Groblersdal

WesternCape CapeTown,Saldanha,Hermanus,Worcester;Bredasdorp,George,BeaufortWest

Gauteng Johannesburg,Tshwane,Germiston,Bronkhorstspruit,Randfontein,Vanderbijlpark,Carletonville

Mpumalanga Nelspruit,Secunda,Witbank,PietRetief,Malalane,Middelburg,Komatipoort;Kameelrivier,Bushbuckridge

NorthernCape Kuruman,Kimberley,Sutherland,Springbok

FreeState Sasolburg,Bloemfontein,Botshabelo,Thaba‘Nchu,Kroonstad,Welkom,Trompsburg

NorthWest Mafikeng,Potchefstroom,Rustenburg,Klerksdorp,Zeerust,Vryburg,Brits

Raising the SAASTA flag

Exploration,coveringnewground,discoveringnewterritories


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SAASTA in the global arena

1 The winner of the South African Quantum Physics Project essay competition attended the International Summer School for Young Physicists in Ontario, Canada.

2 The top team in the SAASTA National Schools Debates Competition won a four-day trip to New York.

3 SAASTA participated in the Zimbabwe Science Fair. 4 SAASTA attended the first ever National Science, Technology and Innovation Week

in Nairobi, Kenya. 5 SAASTA participated in the 10th Mozambican Science and Technology Exhibition

in Maputo, Mozambique. 6 SAASTA attended a science communication workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 7 SAASTA exhibited winning entries from its Science Lens competition in Florence,

Italy. 8 The top national performers in the National Science Olympiad attended the London

International Youth Science Festival in the UK. 9 SAASTA exhibited at the Beijing Science Festival in China. 10 The top national performers in the National Science Olympiad stand a chance to

win a trip to the Australian National Youth Science Forum.

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Touching the hearts and minds of people SAASTA plays a central role in drawing togethersciencecommunicationprofessionals,cartoonistsandanimators,journalists,scientificmediators,museumsand informationofficerstodiscuss issuesrelatedtothediffusionofscience.Thediffusionofsciencehasbeenidentifiedasaninstrumentandevenasa“socialmovement”capableofhelpingstrengthencitizenship,improvingthewellbeingofthepeopleandboostingtheeconomyofcountries.2

Bybuildingthevisionofamorematurerelationshipbetweenscienceandsociety,SAASTAanditspartnerscanhelpeducateSouthAfricans(youngandnot-so-young) about science, engineering and technology,therebycounteringignoranceandambivalencetowardsscience.

SAASTA’sflagshipprojects,educationoutreachactivities,competitionsandquizzesarealldesignedtoadvancepublic awareness, appreciation andengagement ofscience,engineeringandtechnologyinSouthAfrica.Theorganisationhascommitteditselftoafocusonpoorercommunities,toensurethattheytooareaffordedtheopportunitytoengagewithandappreciatescience.

SAASTAisgrowinginstature,havingbeeninvitedtositontheadvisoryboardofacutting-edgeSouthAfricanresearch centre and teamingupwith corporates insponsorshipstopromotescience.

Making science accessible

2 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11910449

Over53600learnersinbothprimaryandhighschools

and students at universities participated in SAASTA’s

STEMIOlympiadsandCompetitions, inparticular the

NaturalScienceOlympiad(grade6to9);AstroQuiz(Grade

7);SchoolsDebates(Grade10to12)andtheNational

ScienceOlympiad(Grade10to12).

Did you know?


NationalScienceWeekNationalScienceWeek(NSW)isamajoreventonthesciencecommunity'scalendarwhen,usuallyinthefirstweekofAugust,SouthAfricansalloverthecountrycelebrate the contributions that science makes tothewellbeingofourcommunities.NSW,whichisledandfundedbytheDST,markedits13thanniversaryin2012.SAASTAhasbeenmanagingthisflagshipprojectonbehalfofDSTsince2002.

TheformerMinisterofScienceofTechnology,NalediPandor,openedthecelebrationsearlyon28July2012attheUniversityofJohannesburg'sSowetocampus.During the following week, South African learners,educators,thepublic,politiciansandthecommunityat largewere exposed to the value and impactofscience,technologyandengineeringintheirlives.

ThethemeofNSW,whichchangesfromtimetotime,was“TheroleofScienceinEconomicDevelopment”in 2012. SAASTA and the 99 organisations thatimplemented activities again exceeded their targetforthenumberofparticipants.SAASTAisparticularlyexcited about the marked increase in the numberofmembersof thepublic (from32231 in2011to108900in2012)whojoinedinthecelebrations,thoughthelargestparticipationisstillbylearners(273812).

Anewthree-yearcontractbetweenSAASTAandtheDSTforthemanagementofthisprojectupto2015wasrecentlysigned.

• Justunder397000peopletookpartinNSW2012,over8%morethanthetargetsetforparticipation.

• Thelargenumberofmembersofthepublicwhoparticipatedcanbeascribedtoeachorganiserpresentingatleasttwoactivitiesaimedatthisgroup.

• EducatorswereattractedtointerestingpubliclecturesandbyestablishingcollaborationswithprovincialMathematics,ScienceandTechnologycoordinatorsinallthenineprovinces.

• SevenneweducationalresourceswereproducedforNSWand16popularexistingresourceswerereprintedanddistributedinlargenumbers.

• SevenorganisationsfromtheastronomysectorparticipatedinNSW2012.

Did you know?

The Science Learning Centre for Africa, based in the Western Cape presented hands-on science educator training sessions covering metal extraction and acid-base reactions and how to deal with these topics in large classes during National Science Week 2012.

HIP2B2 drew capacity crowds all over the country during National Science Week 2012 with their iThink Challenge competition. Participants had to think out-of-the-box to complete four different tasks based on science, engineering, mathematics and entrepreneurship in order to win a prize.

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AneyetotheskyforDaveytonandHammanskraalSAASTAdonatedstate-of-the-arttelescopestothecommunitiesofeTwatwa,DaveytoninEkurhuleniandHammanskraal,northofPretoria.Thetelescopesareusedbylearnersandarealsomadeavailabletotherestof thecommunity forskyviewing. IneTwatwasomefamiliesfacesocialillssuchasdrugaddiction,alcoholismandviolence.3Hammanskraal faces thechallengeofpovertyand its related ills. Inadditiontothemanywonderfulprojectsactivelyworkingtoimprovethesetwocommunities,accesstotelescopesofthiscapabilityisaimedatgivingthesefamiliesandcommunitiestheopportunityonceagainlookupandreachforthestars.

Councillor Victor Chiloane (centre) of Ekurhuleni receives a telescope on behalf of the community from Patrick Thompson (left), Group Executive: Human Resources of the NRF and Shadrack Mkansi, Manager of SAASTA’s Science Awareness Platform.

3 eTwatwaresidentsembarkonacrimeawarenesscampaign,KeepinginTouch,Issue1of2012,newsletteroftheGautengProvincialGovernment

Celebrationofastronomysealedwithastampcollection

The intention of the stamp artworks is to capture the intangible and magical elements

of astronomy and to find a way to illustrate and translate this through visual interpretation.

–MarcusNeustetter

The sheet with all the stamps in the series depicting South Africa’s role in astronomy.


Aseriesof11stampscelebratingSouthAfrica’sroleinastronomywaslaunchedatSAASTA’sJohannesburgObservatoryinJune2012.ThestampsweredesignedbyMarcusNeustetter,anartistwithaspecialinterestinastronomywhoworkedcloselywiththeastronomyfraternityonthistask.

The eye-catching stamps, which glitter with silver foilingapplied to tinyelementswith theaidofaveryspecialisedprocessdepict,amongotherthings,theInnesTelescopeattheJohannesburgObservatoryandthestarProximaCentauri,thecloseststartooursolarsystem,thatwasdiscoveredbyInnes while he worked at the Observatory. Other stampsdepictthe26-metreradiotelescopeatHartRAO;theSAAOheadquarterswheretheRoyalObservatorywasestablishedin1828;theSouthernAfricanLargeTelescope(SALT)intheKaroolandscape;SumbandilaSATfloatinginfrontofanimagecapturedbythesatellite;theKarooArrayTelescope(KAT-7),theprecursortelescopetotheMeerKATradiotelescope;andtelescopesattheSAAOsitenearSutherland.

Addedtothisisastampthatacknowledgestheperspectiveandscientific insightmadepossiblebySouthAfrica’s firstsatellite,SunSAT1;onethatcelebratestherecentestablishmentoftheSouthAfricanNationalSpaceAgency(SANSA);onethatacknowledgestheachievementsofastronomers;andonethatcelebratesindigenousknowledgeofournightskies.Neustetterincludeddrawings,photographicimagery,storiesandreferencestorepresenttheideashediscoveredthroughhisresearchforeachofthestamps.

GuestsatthelaunchweretreatedtoastargazingsessionmadepossiblebySAASTAandmembersoftheAstronomicalSocietyofSouthernAfrica.

ScienceLensgoestoItalySAASTAwasinvitedtoexhibitthespectacularwinningentriesfromitsSouthernAfricanScienceLenscompetitionatthebiennialinternationalPublicUnderstandingofScienceandTechnologyConferencethattookplaceintheequallyspectacularcityofFlorenceinItaly.Theintrepid“SAASTerians”travelledtotheso-calledbirthplaceoftheRenaissanceandUNESCOWorldHeritageSiteinAprillastyear.TheinvitationgaveSAASTAtheopportunitytoshowcasethisprojecttoaninternationalaudienceofsciencecommunicators,journalists,scienceandsocietyresearchersandothersinvolvedinpublicengagementwithscienceandtechnology.

SAASTAhasbeenchallengingphotographerssince2002toparticipateinthiscompetitiondedicatedtosciencephotography,whichaimstoillustratetheexcitementandimpactofscienceinavisualwayandtocommunicatethesciencebehindtheimagestoabroadpublic.Fromthefirstround,photographershaverespondedenthusiasticallytothechallengetoillustratetheworldwherescienceandartcollide.

Celebrating the weird and the wonderful - the Southern African Science Lens competition photo exhibition premieres in Florence, Italy.

One of the winning entries in the 2011 Science Lens competition: The structural elements of a sea sponge photographed by Miranda Waldron.

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ScienceFestivalsScience festivals have the potential to becomeas popular as the arts festivals that are currentlydrawinghugecrowdsaroundthecountry.TheDST,incollaborationwithSAASTA,startedsupportingsciencefestivalsin2007,whenacollaborativecontractwassigned.TogetherSAASTAandDSTarenowthemainsponsorsofSouthAfricansciencefestivals,withtheDepartment of Basic Education also partnering attimes.SAASTAparticipatesactivelyintheseeventsbyexhibiting,presentingscienceshowsandlectures.

SciencefestivalsarepubliceventswhereSTEMIactivitiesarepresentedinfun-filledandexcitingways.Activitiessuchaslecturesandworkshops,demonstrationsofexperiments, guided tours, a mobile planetarium,lasershowsandpaneldiscussionsareamongtheattractionspresentedtogetherwiththeexhibits.Somesciencefestivalsincorporateculturaleventssuchastheatreplays,allwiththeaimofinvolvingthepublicinexploringthedifferentfacetsofscience.Sciencefestivalsrangefromlargeandwell-establishedeventssuchastheannualScifestAfricaandGrahamstownandSasolTechnoXinSasolburg,tosmallfestivalsinruralareas.

The aims of the support for science festivals are,amongotherstopromotepublicinterest,awareness

andappreciationofscienceandtechnology;createenthusiasmamonglearnersandpublicforthewonderandapplicationofscience;invitepeopletosharetheirviews on how science impacts society, especiallywhere moral and ethical issues are concerned; topersuademoreyouthtopursuecareers insciencerelatedfields;andshowlearnerstechnologythatisnoteasilyavailableintheclassroom.

There are a growing number of innovative ideasaroundthesciencefestivalsintervention,withmoreorganisersseeingtheneedtobroadentheirreach.Afterthreesuccessfulyearsofthisintervention,DSTandSAASTAmadeadecisiontocontinuetosupportthesefestivalsoverthenextthreeyearsandsignedacontracttothiseffect.Ninegrantswereawardedtosciencefestivalorganisersin2012/13.ThesefestivalstookplaceintheNorthernCape,Mpumalanga,NorthWest,Limpopo,GautengandtheEasternCapeandwereattendedby143394people.

A first for the Northern CapeTheScienceTubeeventthattookplaceinMothibistad,Kurumanin2012wasthefirstscienceandtechnologyfocusedeventintheNorthernCapeProvinceanditwashugelysuccessful,thankstotheeffortsoftheorganisersand thecooperationwith theprovincialDepartment of Basic Education. The MothibistadScienceCentrehostedthefestivalintheirvenuewithexcellentfacilities.

Careersinagriculturalresearch“Ifyouthinkagricultureisjustaboutplantingseedsandtendinganimals,thinkagain.Agricultureisaboutprovidingsafe,affordableandnutritiousfood–fortodayandforthefuture–whilealsoprotectingournaturalenvironment.”

Thisisaccordingtotheintroductiontoabookletoncareeropportunitiesinagriculturalresearch,developedbySAASTAincollaborationwiththeAgriculturalResearchCouncil(ARC).Thebookletwillbeusedtoinspirelearnerstofollowcareersinthisimportantsectorwhichaimstodevelopimproved crops, healthier animals and moreproductivefarmingmethodswhileprotectingourcountry’spreciousbiodiversity.

InnovativecommunicatorwinsNSTF-BHPBillitonawardSAASTAistheproudsponsorofthecategoryCommunication for Public Awarenessofthecompetition.ThisawardismadeannuallytoSouthAfricanjournalists,researchers,writers,educators,academics,specialistsciencecommunicatorsorsciencecentrestaffwhoexcelincreatingawarenessofscience,engineering,technologyandinnovation(SETI)issuesamongthepublic.

Thewinneroflastyear’sNSTF-BHPBillitonAwardwasProfessorValerieCorfield,forheroutstandingcontributiontoSETIthroughsciencecommunicationforpublicawarenessoverthelastfiveyears.ProfessorCorfieldreceivedtheawardforapackageofinnovativeSETI-basedpublicengagementactivitiessheproducedandsharedwithotherscientistsandsciencecommunicatorsthroughtrainingworkshopsandprinted/electronic/DVDresources.

havingbeeninvitedtositontheadvisoryboardoftheCentreforHigh-resolutionTransmissionElectronMicroscopy at the Nelson Mandela MetropolitanUniversity(NMMU).Thefacilityservesasaresourcehubtopromoteknowledgeandhumancapitaldevelopmentinareasofstrategicimportancetothecountry,suchasenergy,nanotechnology,generalandadvancedmaterialsciences,medicine,forensicsciencesandhydrogenfuelcell technology.Thetechnologyalsomakesitpossibletoperformimportantresearchintonationalpriorities,whichincludecleanwater,energy,mineralbeneficiationandmanufacturing.

Theadvisorypanelaimsensure that theoutreach,awareness,scienceadvancementandcommunicationobjectives of the centre are fully supported. TheinitiativeisafirmexampleofhowtheNationalSystem

ofInnovationisprioritisingsciencecommunicationinordertoensurethatinvestmentinR&Disparalleledwiththeinvestmentinthetranslationofthatresearchfor itsbenefitacrossall relevantstakeholders.Thescienceadvancementactivitiesensurethatinformationanddataareprovidedthatimprovehumanknowledgeandunderstandingoftheresearchbeingconducted.

InitiativesthatSAASTAhasaccomplishedsincetheopening of the centre include the development offactsheets thatassist inpopularising thecomplexresearchactivitiesconductedatthecentre,facilitatingatourofthefacility,aswellasdiscussionsexploringpotentialcollaborationsbetweenthecentreandtheHydrogenSouthAfricainitiative.

SAASTAisgrowinginstature…

Professor Valerie Corfield (centre), winner of the 2012 NSTF-BHP Billiton award sponsored by SAASTA, with the former Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor (right) and SAASTA Managing Director Dr Jabu Nukeri.

The Centre for High-resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy serves as a resource hub to promote knowledge and human capital development in areas of strategic importance to the country. (Image: NMMU)


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ScienceandsocietySAASTAhasidentifiedtheSouthAfricanSociologicalAssociation(SASA)asanimportantpartnerinitsaimstodevelopinterestandcapacityinthefieldofscience,technologyandsocietystudies.Sociologistsarepartof a vibrant social science community in southernAfricathatcanmakeameaningfulcontributiontotheanalysisofsocietyinthecontextofongoingchangesandchallenges.

SAASTAsponsoredonelocalandthreeinternationalexpertsinthefieldofscience,technologyandsocietystudies to serveaskeynotespeakersat the2012annualSASAcongress,wherethetheme–Knowledge, Technologies and Social Change–spannedperfectlythe worlds of science awareness and sociology.ProfessorHarryCollins isadistinguished researchprofessorofsociologyandDirectoroftheCentrefortheStudyofKnowledge,ExpertiseandScienceatCardiffUniversityintheUnitedKingdom(UK).ProfessorCollinsdeliveredapresentationonthesociologyofexpertiseduringtheopeningsessionofthecongress.

Duringaplenarylecture,ProfessorDorothyRoberts,ProfessorofLaw,Sociology,andCivilRightsattheUniversityofPennsylvania,UnitedStatesdiscussedherresearchontheperpetuationandentrenchmentof race through new technologies and science.Her lecturehighlighted the roleofsociologistsandscientistsasagentswhoshouldensureaccountabilityand counter the outbreak of racial classification

supportedbymainstreamscience.ProfessorMartinBauer,ProfessorofSocialPsychologyandResearchMethodologyat theLondonSchool ofEconomicsandPoliticalScienceintheUK,deliveredaplenarylectureonScienceCultureIndicatorsandworkbeingdonetocreateinternationallycomparableindicatorsinthesocialstudiesofscience,technologyandsocietywithinandacrossdifferentcultures.

As part of the conference, SAASTA and SASAcollaboratedinhostingaworkinggroupsessionwhichfocusedon the underdevelopment of science andtechnologystudiesinSouthAfrica.Thesessiontooktheformofavibrantdiscussiononthecurrentstateofscience,technologyandsocietystudiesinSouthAfrica,currenteffortstodevelopthisfieldofresearch,the importanceof thisbroadfieldofresearch,andsuggestionsformeasurestosupportdevelopments–particularlyhumancapacityand interest– in thisfieldofresearch.

Internationalkeynotespeakersandacademicsfromvarious institutions contributed to the discussions.Theinternationalexpertscouldprovideacomparativeoverviewofthesituationintheirrespectiveinstitutions,orothercountriesthattheyhaveworkedin,inrelationtotheSouthAfricanscenario.Furthermore,variouspresentationsweremadeby individualsduring theHigher Education and Science Studies workinggroupsessionsthatprovedtobebothinterestingandinsightful.Feedbackfromcongressgoerswasverypositive,withdelegatescommentingontheinsightthattheygotfromthekeynotepresentations.

SAASTAhostedaCriticalThinkers’ sessionat thecongressaimedatoptimisingtheavailabilityofthelocalandinternationalspecialists,andtotaketheirexpertise to a broader community outside of thesociology sphere. The theme for this forum wasResearching the interaction between science and society.AmongtheattendeeswerenaturalandphysicalscientistsfromvarioushighereducationinstitutionsintheWesternCape,NationalResearchFoundation(NRF) and SAASTA staff, science communicationandjournalismspecialists,aneducatorandanartist.

Prof. Dorothy Roberts highlighted the role of sociologists and scientists as agents who should ensure accountability and counter the outbreak of racial classification supported by mainstream science.


BravenewworldsThefrontiersofsciencerangefrom“listening”toouterspace,whichiswhattheworld’slargestandmostsensitiveradiotelescope–theSquareKilometreArray(SKA)–willdo,tothemanipulationofmatteronanatomicandmolecularscale,ornanotechnology.The21stcenturyfrontiersofsciencealsoincludebioprospecting,thebioeconomy,ICTsandevensocialmedia.

SAASTA is involved in all of the above.

Theseexcitingideasattheforefrontofhumanity’sscientificendeavourmakeSAASTA’sworkeasier.Whatcouldpossiblybemoreexcitingthantheideaofmassivegalaxies–comprisinghundredsofbillionsofstarsandspanningseveralthousandlightyears–careeningthoughspaceandcolliding?

IfSouthAfricaistobeaforceinthenanotechnologyera,ithastoignitethefireofinnovationwithintheyoungmindsoftoday.This isacriticalstepindevelopingtherequiredskilledworkforceoftomorrow.Youngpeople,especiallylearnerswithscientificaspirations,arebuoyedbythepossibilitiesofthesebravenewworlds.WhentheSKAtelescoperevealsgiantoutburstsfromabinarystarsystem,youngmindswillbuzzwithexcitement.4Mega-scienceprojectsliketheSKAarehappeningrighthereinourbackyard.AsScienceandTechnologyMinisterDerekHanekomputit,“SKAAfricaisnotonlyaninnovationenginebutalsoaninspirationengine”.

Exploringthebiggestlaboratoryofall:SpaceWhat do we really know about the universe? Mankind’sunderstandingoftheuniversewasthemaintopicofdiscussionatatransdisciplinary,internationalastronomyconferencewiththetheme“There-emergenceofAstronomyinAfrica”thattookplaceatMaropengConferenceCentreinSeptember2012.Theaimoftheconferencewastobringtogetherscholarsfromdiversedisciplinesandacademicbackgroundstodiscussthehistoricaluseandimpactofastronomyinthedevelopmentofmankind’sunderstandingoftheuniverse.Theconferenceprovidedaplatformformeaningfulsciencecommunication,builtonconversationsbetweenthe80delegatesandonmultimediainteractions.SAASTAparticipatedbyexhibitingandsponsoringatourfordelegatestoHartRAOandmediaattendanceoftheconference.

Our intrepid missions to the new frontiers

4 SouthAfrica’snewradiotelescoperevealsgiantoutburstsfrombinarystarsystem,16May2013,http://www.ska.ac.za/releases/20130516.php,accessed31July2013

The SKA project is corroborating South Africa’s position as a hub for technological investment, creating local job opportunities, investment in human capital and directly increasing the uptake of science among young people.

Dr Mike Gaylard, Managing Director, takes delegates on a tour around the HartRAO site. SAASTA sponsored the delegates’ tour to HartRAO.

The conferencehosted speakers from the naturalsciences, the social sciences and the humanitiesandwasopenedwithakeynoteaddressbythethenMinisterofScienceandTechnology,NalediPandor.ResearchersfromtheSKAprojectreportedonthesubstantial long-termbenefits forSouthAfricaandAfrica resulting from theproject, corroboratingourcountry’spositionasahubfortechnologicalinvestment,creatinglocaljobopportunities,investmentinhumancapitalanddirectlyincreasingtheuptakeofscienceamongyoungpeople.

Toassistinmeetinggovernmentobjectives,speakersattheconferencewererequestedtogiveattentiontotheperformanceindicatorsthatwereidentifiedinrelationtothe‘SpaceScience’thematicprogrammeandGrandChallengeoftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnology:• Generateindependentearthobservation,high-

resolutionsatellitedataavailableforallofAfricafromaconstellationofsatellitesdesignedandmanufacturedinAfrica;

• UndertakeatleastonelaunchfromSouthAfricanterritoryinpartnershipwithanotherspacenation,andhaveinplacea20-yearlaunchcapabilityplan;

• Specifyandco-buildadomestic/regionalcommunicationssatelliteandsecurealaunchdateandITU(InternationalTelecommunicationUnion)slotforitsoperations;

• Becomethepreferreddestinationformajorastronomyprojectsandassociatedinternationalinvestmentinconstructionandoperations;and

• Constructapowerfulradio-astronomytelescopeanduseitforworld-classprojects.

Theconferenceprovidedopportunitiesforhumancapitaldevelopmentthatwillspanacrossdisciplinarydivides.Studentswereinvitedtoattendandparticipateintheconferenceproceedings.Theintentionisthatthesestudentswillgainabetterunderstandingofvariousdimensionsofspacescienceandastronomy,which

inturnwillpointthemtoarangeofpossiblecareerfieldsrelatedtoscienceandsciencecommunication.

An exploration of space science SAASTA,inpartnershipwithSANSA,participatedinthe secondSouthAfricaGeospatial Forum,whichfocusedontheroleofgeographicinformationsystem(GIS)technologyindeliveringlong-termprosperitytotheregioninastable,sustainableandinclusiveway.Theeventwasan idealopportunityforSAASTAtoshowcaseandpromoteitsspacescienceoutreachandawarenessproductsandactivities.

Theaimofthetwo-dayeventwastobringtogetherpeople working in the South African geospatialdomaintoexploreexistingopportunities,deliberateontechnologies,shareknowledgeandlearnfromvariedexperiences.Participantsincludedacademics,policymakers,industrialists,usersofgeospatialinformation,peopleinthedefencesector,thosewhocreatemaps,andsurveyors.

Space Science road showswereheldintheEasternCape, Limpopo and Gauteng from April 2012 toMarch2013.Duringtheroadshowspresentationsonspacescienceandastronomyweredeliveredandlearnerswerealsoexposedtoothersciencefieldssuch as nanotechnology, hydrogen fuel cells andbiotechnology.Atotalnumberof4334participantswerereached(excludingthosewhoparticipated inScienceFestivals).

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InspiredbyoursolarsystemSince the dawn of time, the night skies have inspired humanity to reach for the stars. Our solar system continues to reveal amazing facts once thought to be fantasy. In the same way, since the first-ever competition in 2005 at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg, the annual AstroQuiz has become a favourite on the school science calendar, inspiring more than 3 200 grade 7 learners from 817 schools in nine provinces to participate in the 2012 quiz.

Puttingtheirknowledgeofallthingscelestialtothetest,theteamsofgradesevenlearnerscompetedinfoureliminatingroundsofthecompetitionat10centres:HartebeesthoekRadioAstronomyObservatory(HartRAO)andSci-BonoDiscoveryCentreinGauteng;BoydenScienceCentreintheFreeState;theSouthAfricanAstronomicalObservatoryintheWesternCapeandtheSouthernAfricanLargeTelescopeintheNorthernCape,UnizulScienceCentre inKwaZulu-Natal,MondiScienceCentre inMpumalanga,NorthWestUniversity'sMafikengScienceCentreinNorthWest,theUniversityofLimpopo'sScienceCentreandtheGrahamstownFoundation(SciFestAfrica)intheEasternCape.

TenteamsofyounglearnersfromallaroundSouthAfricabattleditoutintheeighthroundoftheAstroQuizfinals.TheoverallwinnerwasLaerskoolLynnwood,ateamfromPretoriathatcompetedinfourgruellingeliminatingroundsattheSci-BonoDiscoveryCentreinJohannesburg.

The winners of the 2012 AstroQuiz for grade seven learners. From left: Hans-Peter Fechter, Inge-Mari Alberts, Zahn Rijnen and Chris-Jasper Jooste from Laerskool Lynnwood in Pretoria. The team won an eight-inch mounted telescope with accessories for their school, as well as laptop computers and trophies for each member.

Itisparticularlyhearteningtonotethatapproximately75%oftheschoolsparticipatinginroundoneofthe

AstroQuizarefromdisadvantagedcommunities.

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SKA enters the classroomSouthAfricahassucceededinbringingthelion’sshareoftheSKAprojecttoAfricaandsecuringmostofthefundingrequiredfortheproject,butnowweneedtobuildasustainablepoolofengineers,scientistsandtechnicianstoworkonthedifferentaspectsofradioastronomy.SouthAfrica’sSKAprojectcreatedabuzzinclassroomsthroughoutthecountrybywayoftwohigh-profilecompetitionstoraiseawarenessamonglearners-oneaimedatlearnersingrades4-7andanotheratlearnersingrades8-11.LearnershadtoanswerfivesimplequestionsabouttheMeerKatandSKAradiotelescopes.Prizeslikelaptops,printers,digitalcamerasandorganisedtourstotheirnearestastronomyobservatorywereupforgrabs.

Itisdifficulttoteachradioastronomy,whichdetectsinvisibleradiowaves,tostudents.Itisnotlikeopticalastronomywhereyoucanpointadishattheskyandstareatastar,saysAnitaLoots,associatedirectoratSKASouthAfrica. “The concepts are abstractbecauseyoucan’tseethespectrum.”

Despitethischallenge,SAASTAisforgingaheadwithbuildingslowandsteadyawareness.During2012theorganisationdistributed200000entryformstoprimaryschools,highschools,sciencecentresandtheDepartmentofBasicEducation’sprovincialandselecteddistrictofficesaroundthecountry.Theaimofthecompetition,whichwasinitiatedbytheDSTandcoordinatedbySAASTA,wastoincreaseawarenessaboutAfrica’sbidtohosttheSKAandtoensurethatSouthAfricanswereawareofthebid,especiallyatschoollevel.ItalsoaimedtoattractyoungpeopleandlearnerstocareersinSET.

Considerablehypewascreatedinthemediaforthiscampaign,includinginterviewsoncommunityradiostationssuchasLesediFM,IkhweziFM,UkhoziFMandPhalaphalaFM.Thecompetitionclosedon31March2012andwinnerswereannouncedattheendofApril2012.Atotalof36456entrieswerereceivedfromallnineprovincesofSouthAfrica.

SAASTAcontributedtowardsanationalinnovationsystemthroughthe

developmentoflearnerandeducatorresourcesinthecriticalareasofscience,andthrough

SAASTA’sscienceadvancementoutreachactivitiesinPUB,HySA,Nanotechnologyand

theScienceCentreDevelopmentProgramme.

The SKA will be a mega radio telescope,consisting of about 3 000 dish-shapedantennaespreadoveranareaofover3000km.InAfrica thecoreof the telescopewill beconstructedinCarnarvonintheKarooregionoftheNorthernCape,withoutlyingtelescopestationsinotherpartsofSouthAfricaaswellasBotswana,Ghana,Kenya,Madagascar,Mozambique,Mauritius,NamibiaandZambia.MeerKatisSouthAfrica’sownworld-classradiotelescopethatisbeingbuiltneartheproposedsitefortheSKA.Itwillconsistof64dishes,ofwhichsevenhavebeencompletedandareoperational.

Did you know?


Smallwonders:Nanotechnology,aerospace,medicine,energyThefirstPan-AfricanSummerSchool inNanomedicinewasheld inPretoria inNovember 2012. The event was hosted by the CSIR’s Pan-African Centre ofExcellenceinNanomedicine,oneofthe32ANDI(AfricanNetworkforDrugsandDiagnosticsInnovation)CentresofExcellenceinhealthinnovationinAfrica.Theaim was tobridge the gap between the sciences, health and development inAfrica-byeducatingyoungAfricanscientistsontherelevanceandapplicationofnanomedicine.

About120delegatesfromSouthAfrica,AfricaandEuropeattendedtheSummerSchool.FacultymembersincludedCEOsofcompanies,deansofuniversitysciencefaculties, heads of departments and senior researchers. Delegates includedseniorlecturersandpostgraduatestudentsfromarangeofdisciplinessuchasbiochemistry,chemistry,physics,microbiologyandpharmacology,aswellassciencecommunicatorsworkinginnanotechnologyandnanomedicine.

TheNanotechnologyPublicEngagementProgramme(NPEP),managedbySAASTAonbehalfoftheDST,participatedintheeventbymeansofapresentationandasciencecommunicationworkshop.NPEPalsoprovidedinformationresourcesaswellasinteractiveexhibitssuchasNationalSystemofInnovation(NSI)andA Biotech Worldtouchscreens.

NPEP’spresentationanddiscussionswerewellreceived,tosuchanextentthatrepresentativesfromsomeAfricancountriessuchCameroon,NigeriaandKenyahaverequestedSAASTA’sassistanceinsettingupsciencecommunicationandpublicawarenessstructuresintheircountries.ItwasencouragingthatEuropeandelegatessuchasProfessorRuthDuncanfromCardiffUniversityintheUKpubliclyvoicedtheirappreciationofresourcesdevelopedbyNPEP,suchasposters,factsheets and educator manuals aimedat raising public awareness. Itwas evenmoreencouragingtohearlocaldelegatessuchasProfessorJanVerschoorfromtheUniversityofPretoriaapplaudingSAASTAforitssterlingworkinraisingpublicawarenessofnanotechnologyinSouthAfrica.

Nanomedicine is a rapidly advancing area of biomedical research that has revolutionised treatments for diseases like cancer.

Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka (centre) receives a certificate of recognition for the role played by SAASTA in the Summer School. He is flanked by Dr Hulda Swai, host and the organiser of the Summer School (left) and Professor Ruth Duncan from Cardiff University in the UK.

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Journalists and scientists meet to discuss drought-tolerant maize Africaisadrought-pronecontinent,makingfarmingriskyformillionsofsmall-scalefarmerswhorelyonrainfalltogrowtheircrops.Maize,inparticular,issusceptibletodrought.Asclimatechangeisresultinginshorterandmorevariableseasonsforcropproduction,thereisanurgentneedforcropsthataremoreresilientandwillsustainfarming.

InFebruary2013,biotechnologists,governmentrepresentatives,stakeholdergroupsandjournalistsmetataMediaRoundtableinLutzvilleintheWesternCapetodiscussthedevelopmentandcultivationofdrought-tolerantmaize.ThishighlysuccessfulmeetingbetweenroleplayersintheWaterEfficientMaizeforAfrica(WEMA)project,apublic-privatepartnershipthatwasformedspecificallytodevelopdrought-tolerantmaizevarietiesforusebysmallholderfarmers,wasorganisedbythePublicUnderstandingofBiotechnologyprogramme,managedbySAASTAonbehalfoftheDST,andtheAgriculturalResearchCouncil.

TheMediaRoundtableprovidedaplatformforfruitfuldiscussionsaroundGMregulations,processesandpolicy,aswellasthesafetyofGMtechnology.Avisittotheconfinedfieldtrialssiteincorporatedintotheeventprovidedinsightintosomeofthechallengesfacedbyscientists;andputintoperspectivetheconcertedeffortrequiredindevelopingaGMcrop.SAASTA’sworkshopinvolvingjournalistsandscientists,whichwasheldonthesameday,assistedscientistsengagedinthisprojecttohonetheirskillsincommunicationandmediarelations.Journalistsalsobenefitedbygainingdirectaccesstothescientificknowledgeandfindingsresultingfromthisproject.

QUICKFACTSAgeneticallymodifiedorganism(GMO)isaplant,animal,bacteriumorviruswhosegeneticmakeuphasbeenmodifiedforaparticularpurpose.

Geneticallymodified(GM)plantsarecultivatedascropsandconsumedbyhumansandanimalsworldwide.

170.3millionhectaresofGMcropsweregrownby17.3millionfarmersacrosstheworldin2012.90%ofthesearesmall,resource-poorfarmersfromdevelopingcountries.

Geneticengineeringmeansnewimprovedcropvarieties can be produced in a shorter periodthanwithconventionalbreeding.

Crops can be modified to display valuablecharacteristicssuchas:

• tolerancetodroughtandherbicides,

• resistancetodiseaseandinsects,or

• improvednutritionalcontent.

InSA,GMmaizeisgrowninabout72%ofthecultivatedlandareaofmaize.

SAGMmaizecarriestraitsofherbicidetolerance,insectresistance,orboth.

Dr Kingston Mashingaidze, Manager at the Agricultural Research Council, explained the maize varieties in the field trials.

A visit to the confined field trials site provided insight into some of the challenges faced by scientists.

Unearthingnewusesfornature’sgifts:Bioprospecting,mappingbiocapital


HySAcompetition-WinningdesignuseshydrogenfuelcellstopoweraeroplaneHydrogen fuel cells are expected to play an important role in meeting the world’s growing demand for clean energy. SAASTA manages the Hydrogen South Africa Public Awareness and Demonstration Platform on behalf of the DST.

In2012,SAASTAinvitedthePotchefstroomScienceCentreatNorthWestUniversity’sPotchefstroomcampus to runacompetitionaimedat creatingawarenessofthesignificanceofhydrogenfuelcells.Thecontestantswerechallengedtoplananddesignasystemthatwouldbringawarenessoftheimportantroleplayedbyhydrogenfuelcellsinmeetingthegrowingdemandforcleanenergy.ThesciencecentredecidedtoparticipateasaresearchteamledbyDrDmitriBessarabovoftheDepartmentofChemistry,whohasbeencontractedbytheNRFtoresearchvariousaspectsofhydrogenfuelcells.

DolfJansenvanRensburgwasannouncedthewinnerofthisstudentcompetition.HereceivedR5000inprizemoney,sponsoredbySAASTA.VanRensburgdidacomprehensivestudyofhydrogenandfuelcells,includingproductionstorageanduses, toproducea radio-controlledaeroplane.Hismodelaeroplanewasdisplayedattheuniversity’ssciencecentre,wheremorethan10000visitorshadtheopportunitytointeractwithrealsmall-scalefuelcelldevicesandwitha5kWelectricitygeneratinghydrogenfuelcelldonatedbySAASTA,whichillustrateshowafuelcellcanelectrolysewaterandrecombineittoproduceelectricityandwater.

SecondplacewenttoaprojecttitledHydrogen fuel cell technology;whilethethirdplacewasatiebetweenthreeprojects-Hydrogen fuel cells in a nutshell: A South African angle; Operation costs of a hydrogen fuel cell;andThe Hyrunner Fuel Cell Cart.Theseprojectsdemonstrated,amongotherthings,thattheunderlyingtechnologyshowedpromisenotonlyforhydrogenfuelcells,butalsoforuseasasourceofheatandelectricityforbuildings.

The winning project, a radio-controlled aeroplane, uses hydrogen fuel cells as energy source.

Lorenzo Raynard (SAASTA), winner Dolf van Rensburg, Mthuthuzeli Zamxaka (SAASTA) and Professor Kobus Pienaar (North West University).

Hydrogenhasthepotentialtoendtheworld’s

relianceonoil.Itwilldramaticallycutdownoncarbon

dioxideemissionsandmitigatetheeffectsofglobal

warming.Andbecausehydrogenissoplentiful,people

whohaveneverbeforehadaccesstoelectricitywill

beabletogenerateit.–JeremyRifkin,FoundationonEconomicTrendspresident

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TheCritical Thinkers’ Forum on stem cell research and therapythatwasorganisedbyateamfromthePublicUnderstandingofBiotechnologyprogramme,whichismanagedbySAASTAonbehalfoftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologybroughttogetheracademics,policymakers,industrypartners,themediaandmembersofthegeneralpublicon7November 2012 to discuss the state of stem cellresearchandtherapyinSouthAfrica.Duetotheuniquenatureofstemcellstheyarepotentiallyvaluableforthetreatmentofdiseaseandreplacementofdamagedtissue, in addition to providing greater insight intotheprocessofdevelopment.Currentuses(formanyyearsalready)areforbonemarrowtransplantation,tohealfractures,andforchronicwoundsandburns.

A strongcasewasmade for establishingapubliccordbloodbank inSouthAfrica,whichcanassistgreatlywiththeprovisionofstemcellslocally.Cordbloodreferstostemcellsfromtheumbilicalcordandplacenta,analternativesourcetobonemarrow.Theprocessofcollectingcordbloodisnon-invasiveandcan increase thepool of local donors significantly.Onlyprivatecordbloodbankscurrentlyoperate inSouthAfrica.ADepartmentofHealth-fundedfeasibilitystudyforsuchapublicbankiscurrentlyunderway.

QUICK FACTStemcellshavetheremarkablepotentialtodevelopintomanydifferentcelltypesinthebodyduringearlylifeandgrowth.Inaddition,inmanytissuestheyserveasasortofinternalrepairsystem,dividingessentiallywithoutlimittoreplenishothercellsaslongasthepersonoranimalisstillalive.Whenastemcelldivides,eachnewcellhasthepotentialeithertoremainastemcellorbecomeanothertypeofcellwithamorespecialisedfunction,suchasamusclecell,aredbloodcell,orabraincell.

Amajorworryinthecontextofthenew‘bioeconomies’ofthepostgenomic‘race’togainglobalmarketsharesinnewindustriessuchasrecombinantDNAtechnologiesiswhetheryetanotherchapterinthe

‘voyagesofdiscovery’genreisalreadyunderway.–SarahFranklin,Mappingbiocapital:newfrontiersofbioprospecting,CulturalGeographies

Due to the unique nature of stem cells they are potentially valuable for the treatment of disease and replacement of damaged tissue.

Speakers at the Critical Thinkers’ Forum included (back row, from left): Prof. Susan Kidson, Deputy Dean: Health Sciences, UCT; Dr Earl Prinsloo of Rhodes University; Prof. Michael Pepper, Director: Institute for Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Pretoria; Dr Antonel Olckers, CEO: DNAbiotec. In the front are Dr Marnie Potgieter, Postdoc, University of Pretoria; Prof. Kathy Myburgh of the University of Stellenbosch and Dr Marco Alessandrini, Postdoc, University of Pretoria and ME Enterprises.


Viral advertisingisawholenewballgame.Andifsciencewantstobenoticed,itwillhavetojointhefrenzy.Aviralcampaignisoutoftheboxmarketingthatissocoolandhipthatpeoplewanttopassitontofriendsviasocialnetworksandotherelectronicmedia,hencethecomparisonwiththespreadofviruses.

TheHydrogenSouthAfrica(HySA)PublicAwarenessandDemonstrationPlatform,managedbySAASTAonbehalfoftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnology,isnowusingthisinnovativewaytoinformpeopleaboutresearchintohydrogenpoweredvehicles.Theviraladisfun,butprovidescorrect,responsibleinformationonhydrogenandfuelcellsresearch.ThisclipisavailableonYouTube.5Thevideofeaturesscientistsengagedinaracewithtworadio-controlledcarsinalaboratory–oneaconventionalradio-controlledcarandtheotherusinghybridfueltechnology.

ItisSAASTA’sresponsibilitytoensurethatallmessagesremainaccurate,responsibleandreliable.Forthisreason,thecontentoftheinformationwascirculatedamongcontentspecialiststoensurethatallscientificreferences,howeverbrieforminiscule,remainaccurate.TheteampresentedthefinalproductionataSouthernAfricanAssociationofScienceandTechnologyCentres(SAASTEC)conferenceworkshopinNovember2012.Feedbackfromtheworkshopparticipantspromptedtheteamtomakeafewadjustmentstothecampaign.

New media, new ideasInaworkshopattheSAASTECconference,theteamdemonstratedhowthescienceoutreachandawarenesscommunitycanuseviralmediaasatooltocommunicatescience.Inthegroupactivitywiththedelegates,viralmediaconceptsincludingflashmediaandviralmediamarketingplatformswereexploredwiththeobjectivetobreaktheice,demystifyviralmediaandlookathowitmaypossiblybeusedinthesciencecentreenvironment.

Newwaysofcommunicating:Pioneeringsocialmediainscience

5 Scientistsraceradiocontrolcars,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6WRy6d_WSQ,accessed20August2013

Viralmediahasthepotentialtoreachamassiveaudience throughsocialmediaplatformsata lowcost.Thechallengeistodevelopaviraladthatwillgainenough

appealtowarrantsuchexposure.–LorenzoRaynard,ManagerofSAASTA’sScienceCommunicationUnit

The video features scientists engaged in a race with two radio-controlled cars in a laboratory - one a conventional radio-controlled car and the other using hybrid fuel technology.

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A science-literate, knowledge-based society fosters innovation and creativity

Scienceandtechnologyplayanincreasingroleineveryaspectofourdailylives,pushingbacktheboundariesofourknowledgeandunderstandingoftheworld.Embracingascience-literateandappreciativecultureisanimportantcatalysttostimulateaknowledge-basedsociety,topromotedevelopment,andtofosterinnovation,creativity,andbettercitizenshipamongtheyouthinparticularandsocietyatlarge.SAASTAplaysanimportantroleinmakingscienceaccessible,understandableandinspiringtoallSouthAfricans,withaparticularemphasisontheyouth.

Byattractingmoreyoungpeopletopursuescientificcareers and become science performers, SouthAfrica’sfutureabilitytogenerategrowthandjobsisimproved.TheflagshipNationalScienceOlympiad,TechnoYouth,NaturalScienceOlympiadandNationalSchoolsDebatesprojectsofSAASTAarealldesignedtocaptivatetheyouth.

Theorganisation’sscopeofactivitiesincludesbuildingthequantityandqualityofmathematicsandscienceoutputsatschoollevel(developingSEThumancapital).

Exploring the future, inspiring the youth

AtSAASTAwestronglybelievethatSouthAfricahasthepotential tobecomea richsourceofscientificexpertise;butthiscanonlybeachievedifthesystemisfedwithahealthysupplyoflearnersandstudentswhohaveapassionforscience

andmathematicsandthewilltoexcel.–DrJabuNukeri,ManagingDirector,SAASTA


Nowinits49thyear,theNational Science OlympiadcontinuestobeoneofSAASTA’sflagshipprojects.Since2005,theprojecthasbeenofferinglearnersingrades10-12anopportunitytocompeteinthesciencearenawithfellowlearnersfromacrossallthenineprovincesandSADCcountriessuchasNamibia,Zimbabwe,MalawiandLesotho.TheOlympiadtestpaperconsistsofanumberofcurriculumbasedandgeneralscienceandtechnologyquestionsinPhysicalandLifeSciences.PrizesareawardedtothelearnerswhoperformbestinvariouscategoriesoftheOlympiadaswellastothetopperformingschools.Thetopnationalperformersalsostandachancetowinanall-expenses-paidtriptotheLondonInternationalYouthScienceForumandtheAustralianNationalYouthScienceForum.

Themainaimofthecompetitionistoencourageexcellenceinscienceeducation,yetalsotostimulateinterestinthesciences.Itseekstoinspireyoungpeopletoconsidercareers inscienceand technology.Over theyears,participationandperformanceintheNationalScienceOlympiadhasincreasedsignificantly–fromapproximately700learnersin1967toover22000in2013.

HarmonyGoldMiningCompanyLtd(Harmony),oneofthelargestgoldproducersintheworldhasbeenthemainsponsorofthecompetitionforthelastfouryears.Harmonyalso sponsorsparticipation in theOlympiadof schools in theareasclosetotheirmines,coachingofthese learnersandtheirteachers,aswellaseducationalmaterialtoassistthemtoparticipateandexcelinthecompetition.TheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologysponsorstheparticipationoflearnersinsomeoftheir“adopted”DinalediSchools.

Flagshipprojects

The winners of the 2012 National Science Olympiad, with the organisers and sponsors of the competition. From left: Dr Jabu Nukeri, Managing Director of SAASTA, Mr Graham Briggs, CEO of Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd, Dzulani Thanyani, Dr Nonhlanhla Nduna-Watson, Director (FET), Department of Basic Education, Bevuya Mahamba, Rishen Singh, Thiolan Naidoo and Jessica Breet.

The 104 best achievers in the National Science Olympiad attended a science focus week in Gauteng. The learners were treated to lectures, excursions and industry visits to a Harmony Gold mine, the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Necsa, Denel, the Agricultural Research Council, Sci-enza Science Centre, the Johannesburg Observatory, Nissan and Forensic Laboratories. Whereas the main objective of the National Science Olympiad is to nurture potential scientists, the youth focus week exposes the youngsters to careers in science, engineering and technology.

ThroughprojectsliketheNationalScienceOlympiad,oneofourflagshipprojects,weidentifyandnurturetalenttoinspiretheselearnerstofurthertheirstudiesinSETandsoincreasetheSEThumancapitalinthecountry,whichwillultimatelycontributetowards

thegenerationofknowledge–DrJabuNukeri

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Yearsago,asayounglearnerfromasmallschoolinLimpopo,TshilidziMarwalawontheNationalScienceOlympiad.Aspartofhisprizehehadtheopportunityto joinotherwinnersonavisit to theLondon International Youth ScienceForumwherehewasexposedtomanyexcitingscientificideas.TodayProfessorTshilidziMarwalaisExecutiveDeanoftheFacultyofEngineeringandtheBuiltEnvironmentandDeputyViceChancellorattheUniversityofJohannesburg.DrFulufheloNelwamondo,fromasmallvillageinVenda,holdsaBScandaPhDinelectricalengineeringintheareaofComputational Intelligence from WitsUniversity.Hewasonly26whenhewasappointedactingmanageroftheCouncilforScientificandIndustrialResearch’sModelling and Digital Sciences’informationsecuritycompetencyarea.FulufhelosaysthatparticipatingintheNationalScienceOlympiaddefinitelyhadaninfluenceonhiscareer.Itpresentedhimwithchallengesthatmadescience

moreinteresting,andmotivatedhimtotrytobetterunderstandscienceconcepts.

Dr Busisiwe Vilakazi from Evaton inGauteng,whocompletedherdoctorateinelectricalengineeringattheUniversityofOxfordonaNelsonMandelaScholarship,wasanOlympiadfinalistin1999.ShesaysthattheOlympiadandhertriptotheLondonInternationalYouthScienceFestivalgaveherahugeappreciationof the importance of science in thebettermentofhumankind.

Therearemanymoresuchexamples.

Former National Science Olympiad winners on the road to success

Bright sparks win big prizes in Natural Science Olympiad

TheaimofSAASTA’sNatural Science OlympiadistoidentifyandnurturetalentinNaturalScience,LifeScienceandAccountingandtoincreasethenumberoflearnerswhooptforthesesubjects,aswellasMathematicsathighschools.ThecompetitionalsoactsasafeederforSAASTA’sNationalScienceOlympiadforgrades10-12,whichisnowinits49thyear.

The second yearof theNaturalScienceOlympiadattractedentries from28000learnersfrom473schoolsaroundthecountry.The23topperformersand16educatorswereinvitedtoPretoriaforafun-filledprogramme,whichincludedavisittotheNationalZoologicalGardensofSouthAfricaandtheNaturalHistoryMuseum.Attheawardsevent,whichwashostedbySAASTA,thewinnersreceivedanarrayofexcitingprizessuchaslaptops,iPodsanddigitalcameras.Thetopperformingschoolswonscienceequipmentandbookvouchers.

Lorenzo Raynard, Manager of SAASTA’s Science Communication unit (centre) is flanked by the best achievers in the Olympiad per grade (grades 4-6 and 7-9). These bright sparks are - back row, from left: Jeremy Wilkinson (left) and Jaco Schoeman (right). Front row: Thandeka Mokoena, Miscar Mbhalati, Jonas Olyn and Tatum Van Rooyen. The best achievers each received a R1 000 book voucher.

Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala


Withitsemphasisoncriticalthinking,effectivecommunication, independent research andteamwork, debate teaches skills that serveindividualswellinschool,intheworkplace,inpoliticallifeandinfulfillingtheirresponsibilitiesascitizens.Oncestudentshavelearnedhowtodebate,theyarebetterabletomakeinformedjudgmentsaboutcrucialissues.

InAugust2012,thefinalroundoftheSAASTANationalSchoolsDebatesCompetitionendedingrandstyle,withtheteamfromCrawfordCollege in Pretoria out-debating the otherfinalists in the nanotechnology and spacesciencetopics.Theirperformancewonthem

thegrandprizeofafour-daytriptoNewYorktovisittheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory.The runners up were Northern Cape HighSchool(inthirdposition)andStMary’sDSGHighSchoolfromKwaZulu-Natal,whichwasplacedsecond.

Nine schools (one from each province)participated.Thethemeforthe2012SchoolDebateswasthesameasthatoftheUnitedNations: International Year for Sustainable Energy for All.Theprovincialtopicwas“Cangeneticengineeringmakebiofuelsasustainablealternativeenergy?”

Did you know?• ThisSAASTA

competitionstartedin2007.

• Itfocusesonsecondaryschoollearners.

• Learnerscompeteinteamsbydebatingonasciencetopic.

• Sixthousandcopiesofeachofthefollowingresourcesweredistributedtoschoolsandlearnerstoassistthemintheirpreparationsforthecompetition:Biofuelsbasicfactsheet;Biofuels–benefitsandrisksfactsheet;Currentstatusofbiofuelsfactsheet;EnergyandbiotechnologyMiniMagarticle;Studentarticle:Biotechnology’sroleinsustainableenergyforall.

SAASTA’sNationalSchoolsDebates

The winning team from Crawford College in Pretoria with their educator, Mrs Reddy and Dr Beverley Damonse, Group Executive: Science Advancement of the NRF. Back row, from left: Zola Shokani, Dr

Damonse, Thato Nyenbe and Kirra Evans. Front row: Boitumelo Senoamadi, Mrs Reddy (educator) and Kiara Soobrayan.

Honestdisagreementisoftenagoodsignofprogress.

–MahatmaGhandi

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FameLab,theinternationalcompetitionthatgetspeoplearoundtheworldtalkingscience,hascreatedconsiderable excitement among South Africanparticipantsandaudiences.Thenail-bitingfinalstookplaceatScifestAfrica inGrahamstownon15March2013.Injustthreeminutes,thefinalistshadtoexplainascienceconceptusingonlywhattheycouldcarryontothestagewiththem–andnoPowerPoint.

SAASTApartneredwith theBritishCouncilandJiveMedia–alongwithfellowsponsorstheSouthAfricanSpaceAgencyandtheCSIR–toincreasethevisibilityofthecompetitionandtoencourageparticipation. FameLab was open to entrantsbetween21and35yearsofageworkingorstudyinginscience,technology,engineeringormathsandwho are passionate about their science. Theparticipantsalsoattendedatwo-daymasterclasstrainingsessionwithinternationalFameLabtrainerMalcolmLove.

ThewinnerofFameLabSouthAfrica2013,MichelleKnights,willrepresentthecountryattheinternationalfinalsattheCheltenhamScienceFestivalintheUK,whereyoungscientistsfrom25countrieswillbecompeting.MichelleisaPhDstudentfromCapeTownandabursaroftheSKASAproject.Hertalkinthefinalroundswasaboutthesearchforlifeonplanetselsewhereintheuniverse.

TogettothetopinSouthAfrica,MichellehadtobeateightotherregionalwinnersfromJohannesburg,Durban and Cape Town in front of a capacityaudienceatScifestAfrica.NotonlydidshewinthetriptotheCheltenhamFestival,allexpensespaid,butalsopocketedaR10000cashprize.FirstandsecondrunnersupwereFebeWilken,abiotechnologystudentfromtheUniversityofPretoriaand JohnWoodland, a chemistry student fromtheUniversityofCapeTown.TheyeachreceivedR3000incash.

The aim behind the competition is to encourage young scientists to talk about their work; improving their communication skills to enable them to engage with the public or any non-science audience, which is of critical importance as science and technology impacts society as a whole. The competition also seeks out new spokespeople for science ... to inspire a new generation of scientists and challenge public perceptions about what it means to be a scientist.

Getfamous...“sell”yourscienceatFameLab

AspartoftheScienceCentreCapacityBuildingprogrammethatSAASTAmanagesonbehalfoftheDST,35sciencecentrestaffmembersattendedaneducationaltoybuildingworkshopattheJohannesburgObservatory.

Thepresenter,HideoNakano isaJapan InternationalCooperationAgency (JICA) volunteer at theOsizweniScienceCentreinSecunda,Mpumalanga.NakanohasbeensecondedtoOsizwenibytheJapaneseGovernmentforaperiodoftwoyearstoassistandtransferknowledgeforscientificinventionsandisaverypopularpresenterofthistypeofworkshop.Nakanousesreadilyavailableitems to make low-cost educational toys and taughtsciencecentrestaffmembershowtohandleandusethesetoolssafelyandeffectivelywheninteractingwiththeiraudiences.Thetrainingonthedesignandmanufacturingof educational toys received excellent feedback fromparticipants.

ToysfromtrashFameLabcertainly

challengesyoungscientiststomaketheirworkexcitingata

newlevel!–MichelleKnights,winnerofFameLabSouth

Africa2013

Hideo Nakano, Science Specialist and JICA Senior Volunteer at Osizweni Education and Development Centre (right), explains to the workshop participants how to build a rubber band propelled straw kite.


TheYoungScienceCommunicatorsCompetitionrunbySAASTAencouragesyoungscientistsand science students under the ageof 35tocommunicatetheirwork,eitherthroughanewspaperarticle,aradioscriptoraviralvideo.

The competition received a total of 60entriesfromalloverSouthAfricaacrossthethreecategories.Thejudgesapplaudedtheenthusiasmoftheentriesandcommentedonsomeofthewonderfulexamplesofimageryused for communicating complex scientificconcepts.

Theoverallwinningarticlewasaunanimouschoiceacross the judgingpanel.LeonVanEckscoopedtophonoursforhis“fascinating,accessible and entertaining” article entitledJungle fever: Brazil nuts, bees and orchids6.Morgan Trimble was the runner-up for herarticleWhy Conserve Biodiversity? Your life could depend on it.7DaneMcDonald,NikkiLeRoex,NicoChungandMichelleRobinsonwerecommendedfortheirefforts.

In the broadcast category, entrants wererequiredtowriteascriptabouttheirscienceforafive-minuteradiobroadcast.ThewinningentrantwasMichelleKnights for her scriptentitledThe Great Debate.Runner-upwasBonganiThabetheforhisscriptentitledWho could have thought there could be room at the bottom (thinking in the nanometre dimension).MelissaBoonzaaierandMorganTrimblewerecommendedfor theirefforts.The“People’sChoice” award went to Bongani Thabetheforhisradioscript,Who could have thought there could be room at the bottom (thinking in the nanometre dimension).

IntheViralvideocategory,thejudgesfeltonlyonevideohad thecapacity togoviralandthereforeawardedjustoneplace–toMorganTrimbleforthevideoWhat is biodiversity?TheoverallwinnerofthisroundofthecompetitionwasDrLeonVanEckfromtheDepartmentofGeneticsattheUniversityofStellenbosch.Hewillbeattendinganinternationalsciencecommunication workshop to fine-tune hisalreadyimpressivecommunicationskills.

Youngsciencecommunicatorsshowtheirmettle

6 Junglefever:Brazilnuts,beesandorchids,getSETgo,April2013,http://www.saasta.ac.za/getsetgo/issues/201304/06.php,accessed23August20137WhyConserveBiodiversity?Yourlifecoulddependonit,http://www.saasta.ac.za/images/stories/YSCC/vote/newspaper%20Why%20conserve%20biodiversity.pdf,accessed23August2013

The overall winning article was a unanimous choice across the judging panel. Leon Van Eck scooped top honours for his “fascinating, accessible and entertaining” article entitled Jungle Fever: Brazil Nuts, Bees and Orchids (Photo by Daniel Jimenez; reproduced with kind permission)

In the broadcast category, the winning entrant was Michelle Knights for her script entitled The Great Debate. Michelle also won the 2013 national FameLab competition.

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Science ruled the day at the SNSET Institute’sInternational Innovation Indaba which was heldat Klerksdorp. With the theme of “Unlocking YourCuriosity”, the Indaba aimed to demonstrate howscientificapplicationscanbeusedtobetterpeople’slives. Young innovators were encouraged to usea fun approach to inform other youngsters aboutSET inanengagingmanner so thatdelegates feltfree to interact with people they perceive as theirpeers.Someof thepresentations,workshopsanddiscussiontackledtopicssuchasnanotechnology,hydrogenandfuelcelltechnologies,themillenniumdevelopmentgoals,thezestforSET,howtobecomean innovator, biotechnology, twelve innovations of

theyearandeducationinnovations.ThehighlightoftheconferencewastheKeyIndabaChallengewheredelegatesworkedrightthroughthenighttocreateaninnovativenewproduct.

TheIndaba,whichwassponsoredbytheTechnologyInnovationAgency,wassupportedbySAASTA,theNationalYouthDevelopmentAgency,theDepartmentsof Basic Education, Water Affairs, Science andTechnology, the City of Matlosana’s Public SafetyDepartmentandITWeb.TheSNSETInstitute isanorganisationthatpromotesscience,engineeringandtechnologyinnovationamongyoungpeoplethroughintegratedprogrammes,projectsandproducts.

Tomorrow’sleadersbrainstormsolutionsforabetterfuture

I’m interested in how technology contributes to jobs, innovation and the economy. We live in a fast-paced world where we are all affected by technology – Walala Wasala

(you snooze, you lose).–StuartNtlathi,co-founderofSNSETInstitute


Touchinglives

Averyanxiousgrade10girlsteppedoffabusfromPolokwaneatthePretoriastationbackinMay,2006.Beingoneofthewinnersofanationalcompetitiondidnotseemmuch funat the time-herfirst timeawayfromhomeinSeshego.JeridaMathipacametoPretoriatoreceivespeechtraining,organisedbySAASTA,sinceshewasabout to representSouthAfricainaspeechcompetitiontobeheldinJapan.Atthatstageshedidnotrealisethathersteppingoffthebuswouldchangethewholedirectionofherlife.

Jerida was the winner of the category for seniorhighschoollearnersinacompetitioninitiatedbytheDSTinpartnershipwiththeScienceandTechnologyOfficeintheSouthAfricanEmbassyinJapan.TheAfrica-JapanEssayandSpeech(AJSE)CompetitionwasheldbetweenlearnersandtertiarystudentsfromJapan,SouthAfricaandZambia.ThethemeofthecompetitionwasMaking science and technology a foundation for partnership between Africa and Japan.

Thatyear,SAASTAhadbeenrequestedbytheDSTto implementandadminister theSouthAfrican legof the competition. Participants were required towrite an essay based on the competition themeandthewinnerswouldparticipateonthistopicinaspeechcompetitioninJapan.ThecompetitionwassimultaneouslyimplementedinSouthAfrica,ZambiaandJapan,involvinghighschoollearnersingrades8to12,aswellasuniversitystudents(includingatunder-andpostgraduatelevels),whohadaninterestininternationalrelationsandscienceandtechnology.

A fewweeks later,herspeech trainingcompleted,Jerida stepped on the airplane with Zia Maharaj,a junior high-school learner fromGauteng (now inherthirdyearofmedicalstudiesattheUniversityofPretoria),andJasmeerRamlal,anhonoursstudentinengineeringattheUniversityofPretoria(nowworkingforSasol),theothertwowinnersoftheSAlegofthecompetition.Allthefinalistsfromthethreecompetingcountriespresentedtheir15-minutespeechesinJapanon21July2006.Theoverallwinnerswereselectedonthebasisofthespeechesgivenforthisinternational

legofthecompetition.FromSouthAfrica,ZiawonafirstprizeandJeridaandJasmeerbothwonsecondprizesintheirrespectivecategories.

The story continues …Backhome,SAASTAstaffkeptincontactwiththecompetitionwinnersanditwaswithgreatshockthattheyreadaboutthetragicdeathofJerida’smotherinthepaperayearlater.JeridawasinGrade11atthetimeandwassharinganinformalhomewithhermotherandsister.Thetwosisterswereleftdestituteaftertheirmotherhadpassedaway.Throughcontributionsinkindandfinancially,SAASTAstaff,theirfriendsandfamilysupportedthetwogirls,butintheAprilofhermatricyearJeridaindicatedthatshehadnochoicebuttogooutandlookforwork.InaRoos,CorporateEditoratSAASTAreceivedthecallfromJeridawhileshewasawayonalongweekendandsharedthesadnewswithherfriends.Fortunatelyoneofthefriendshadapossiblesolution.HecontactedEskom’ssocialservicesinPolokwane,whosteppedinandprovidedassistancetogetJeridathroughhermatricyear.Shepassedwell,withtwodistinctions,andwasofferedanEskombursary.

The happy ending SixyearsaftertheAJSECompetition,inDecember2011,anecstatic20-yearoldJeridagraduatedfromtheUniversityofCapeTownasanenvironmentalscientist.She is nowworking for Eskom inPolokwaneandhasenrolledforanhonoursdegreeinenvironmentalscienceatUnisa.

This report was produced by

The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA)

Didacta Building, 211 Nana Sita Street, Pretoria, South Africa

PO Box 1758, Pretoria 0001

For copies, contact SAASTA on

T: +27 012 392 9300 l F: +27 012 320 7803

E: [email protected] l W: www.saasta.ac.za

ISBN: 978-0-620-57957-5

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