Taking science to the people: the iThemba LABS - SKA partnership

	Young minds are exposed to the treasures of the night sky.
	The iThemba LABS team count themselves fortunate to be able to impact the lives of young people by doing what they love - adding value and offering learning as a fun and engaging activity.
	The iThemba LABS team visit KAT-7. In the centre is Sam Rametse of the SKA.

It is 14:30 on Sunday, 28 October. While most staff members at iThemba LABS (except for the researchers working on an experiment) are at home enjoying a scrumptious meal, Ambrose Yaga, Akhona Mali, Luchricia Sidukwana and Dr Gillian Arendse of the Community Interaction and Training Division are packing the Quantum (a rental) for their road-trip to the Northern Cape.

They are off to interact with learners in the towns of Van Wyksvlei, Carnarvon and Williston, a trip arranged by Sam Rametse, outreach officer for the SKA radio telescope.

Gillian reports:

Armed with Miriam Makeba and Jimmy Dludlu we start our journey; a journey that takes us on the N7 towards Vanrhynsdorp. After passing through a number of stop-goes, we reach our final destination, Carnarvon, at 22:00. The town is quiet, not a single shop is open!

How accustomed we city-dwellers get to things; spoiled I should say. We take so many things for granted - running water, late-night shopping, fast-food outlets, access to daily newspapers, and public transport, to name but a few.

The schools in these Northern Cape towns start at 07:00, which allows them to close earlier; an attempt to counter the hot summer days. Life here seems to be lived at a different pace. Even though people are struggling they seem optimistic; trying to keep busy. Even the birds find ways to keep busy; building elaborate nests along the gravel roads we have to travel to get to these remote areas.

Our intervention starts at Van Wyksvlei Primary on Monday, 29 October. We interact with all the learners from grade R to 9 through interactive science shows, a workshop focusing on the use of everyday material to teach chemistry, and an introduction to astronomy through the assembly of a plannishere - a guide to the hidden treasures in the night sky.

The next day is spent in the town of Carnarvon where we interact with learners at Carnarvon Primary and Secondary schools. Our last day is spent interacting with the learners in the town of Williston, visiting Nico Bekker Primary and Williston High - a school offering Mathematics Literacy only.

The kids are FANTASTIC!

They are eager to learn; asking questions and volunteering answers enthusiastically. The teachers are also very appreciative and eager to get more insight into our offering. Ms Vanessa Pheiffer, Deputy Principal at Carnarvon Primary has sent an email to comment on the impact of our visit to the school and indicated that they are looking forward to our next intervention.

We are extremely fortunate to be able to impact the lives of young people by doing what we love - adding value and offering learning as a fun and engaging activity. Even though the intervention is extremely exhaustive it is also very energising and invigorating. Our trip took us along 1 816 km of road (some gravel) and we interacted with 1 040 learners during our three-day intervention.

There are so many places to visit and lives that we need to transform. We also had an opportunity to visit KAT-7. What an amazing site after a drive of roughly 80 km on a gravel road! We have so much to celebrate in our country; but there is also a need to make the science accessible to the general public through site visits and interactive talk-shops. We are looking forward to finding innovative ways of reaching even bigger audiences in 2013!