Science Centre volunteers scale dizzy heights

	One of the volunteers finds her way up the climbing wall in the Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre

At the Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre, host of a group of Department of Science and Technology National Youth Service (DST-NYS) volunteers, unique skills are put to the test. The volunteers are given training on rock-climbing, using the climbing wall located in the Centre.

The wall is an extension of a time line illustrating the formation of the Earth, through its geologic and evolutionary changes to more modern times, including the major advances in science, mathematics and innovation. "The climbing wall represents challenges of the future," says Chris McCartney, Education Manager and Acting Director of the Centre in Uitenhage. "There are four climbing sections on the wall, varying in degree of difficulty," he explains.

Seven volunteers were recently trained to scale this wall safely by the head of the Eastern Cape Mountain Club's rescue team, Rob MacGeoghegan. They received basic safety training, also on the use of climbing equipment, safe use of harnesses, and much more. They had to continue practicing and after a month their competency was checked before they were allowed to assist the public in climbing the wall.

The wall and the Centre's human gyroscope are both very popular with visitors to the Centre, who use it in various ways, such as for teambuilding exercises, obstacle races, and lately also "Amazing Race" type of activities organised by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism. "We recently had to put the clue (directions to the next objective) right on top of the wall for one of these races, and the participants obviously depended heavily on our trained volunteers to assist," says Chris.

The Centre also uses sections of the wall for learner maths activities, such as measuring distances. Learners can relate their height to the spacing of the hand grips on the various sections of the wall and postulate whether taller or shorter climbers have an advantage.

About the DST-NYS Programme

The DST-NYS programme identifies and reaches unemployed science, engineering and technology (SET) graduates and places them at host institutions in SET fields to ensure that they are given an opportunity to gain work experience and life skills, which will make them more marketable and employable. SAASTA was appointed as the programme's project manager by the DST in April 2011.