NSW 2007 - Western Cape

12 to 19 May 2007
Tomorrow's Science & Technology is in our Youth's Hands

Remember to call the contact numbers provided and book your spot. You will not be able to arrive on the day and participate, unless you have booked in advance.

• MTN ScienCentre, Cape Town
• Science Show For the whole family, Zoob Workshop, Soduko Competition, Sailboat Workshop, Marabaraba & Mankala focus: Learn to Play the games. Competitions For the whole family, Volcanoes Workshop, Mindcube competition, SUN Satellite Workshop, Phat Physics Competition, Techno-Junk Parent and Child Competition, Street Wire Workshop, Excursion: Intaka Island Wetland Hike. Led by Intaka Field guides For the whole family. IPY 2007 Living consciously: Be environmentally in-tune in your homes, a talk by Anthea Torr.
• On the hour For the whole family: Pedal Power for Africa, Play 2 Learn, Exhibitions by Partners, Career exhibitions by tertiary institutions, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Forensic Constructionist Laboratory.
• Kirstenbosch, Mini Exhibition Medicinal Plants, Durbanville Wine Making - Mini Exhibition, SA Breweries – Mini exhibition, Skin Deep – Valerie Corfield.
  Educators, Learners, Members of the general public, Tertiary students.
  Ms J Cleverdon, tel: 021 529 8100 or 083 276 9501
  
  
• Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO)
• International Polar Year (IPY) Day: Interactions with researchers and students from HMO Space Physics Groups. Learners will plot sunspot cycles, HMO electronic weather station Communicate with HMO engineer Zama and other researchers at the SANAE base using Amateur radio.
• Open Day: Science Show, A fun interactive demonstration of science. Lötter Kock, The Antarctic Experience Living and working at the SANAE base. He will share his living and working experiences as an Electronic Engineer. Communicate with HMO electronics engineer Zama and other researchers at the SANAE base in the Antarctic using Amateur radio.
• Khoisan Magic The humble ALOE plant A hands on IKS activity. Learners will use indicators litmus, universal indicator and pH meters to test the pH of ALOE leaves. The pH values will be compared with branded ALOE products.
• Fishing with magnets: A hands on activity where learners use magnets as a hook on a fishing rod consisting of a 1 metre dowel stick. Learners are provided with magnetic materials (e.g. paper clips) and non magnetic materials (e.g. copper).
• Fruit and Vegetable battery Learners will construct their own electric cells using oranges, lemons and potatoes. Different electrodes such as copper, zinc and magnesium will be provided. The learners will measure the voltage of the cell with a multimeter Constructing an electric organ Learners will be supplied with an electronic organ kit. The kit will be soldered by the learners. The learners will take their completed instrument home.
• Open Day: Talks by head of Geomagnetism Group Dr Pieter Kotze Living on a giant magnet in the atmosphere of a star, SANAE researcher Lindsay Magnus, The Antarctic Adventure, Lindsay Magnus spent three months in the Antarctic. He will share his experiences as a scientist and on life in the Antarctic. HMO Amateur Radio: Talk to the scientists in the Antarctic using HAM radio.
• Science Show: A fun , interactive science demonstration.
  Mrs E Fraser or Gayle Overmeyer, tel: 028 312 1196
  
  
• iThemba Labs, Faure
• General Public Open Day: public invited to visit the facility. They will be shown the short, 12 minute video which gives an overview of what goes on at the facility. Visitors over the age of 18 are then taken on a tour – including the control room, physics research areas, cancer treatment facilities, radionuclide production and materials research. People under the age of 18 are edutained with hands-on, fun, workshops, science games as well as science-related movies.
• School visits. Fun, hands-on, curriculum-aligned, outcomes-based workshops (either on static electricity, the motor effect, electro magnetism, light, friction & gravity etc). Visits start off with the 12 minute overview video of iThemba LABS, learners then visit the control room and interact with the scientific operators. iThemba Xplora and workshop.
• Educator Workshop on how to write science press releases (by Christina Scott). We find that there is much negative publicity about activities at school usually violence and drug related. It is our intention to equip educators with skills and information on how to write a press-release about positive happenings in the school and have them published in local newspapers, thereby creating positive publicity for the school. It is hoped that the department of Education will advertise this workshop amongst the schools. Educators will be given templates to assist them.
  Adults, children, educators.
  Ryan Linden, tel: 021 843 1021 / 1000
  
  
• South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Observatory
• Opening Event: Launch of National Science week on 12 May and will be a combined Western Cape and Northern Cape event. Special guests will address members of the public and this will be followed by a star-gazing evening. Public. Contact: I Bassett
• School visits WC. Science Show: The show will entail not only astronomy-related demonstrations but also general physics principles. It is intended that only very basic equipment is used to demonstrate some of the biggest concepts in astronomy and physics. Learners will be encouraged to try similar experiments at school/home.
• Presentation on African Astronomy: This will be a talk on some of the work being done at the SAAO relating to the history of astronomy in Africa and the contribution of African people to Astronomy.
• Workshopsbased on astronomy and space science. They will be built on what learners have seen on the Earth and Beyond theme and will seek to extend and elaborate this through hands-on demonstrations of the general principles of physics involved.
• Facility Tour: A tour of the Sutherland site is a fantastic experience for any learner and will entail a visit to SALT as well as a walk through the visitor centre which contains models and explanations of various astronomical phenomena. Role Models: Learners will be addressed by some of our most inspiring astronomers who will talk about what they do and how they got to where they are. This is also meant to be a motivational session.
• Educators’ Workshop: A special teachers’ workshop which will target both Western Cape and Northern Cape teachers - Introduction to the concept and relevance of indigenous knowledge systems (specifically related to astronomy); talk by local astronomer; Workshop to produce IKS materials; Telescope viewing during a special open night.
  Mr K Govender, tel: 021 460 9350 or 082 487 8466.
  
  
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
  IKS Activities at the MRC – highlighting scientific research with practical examples of issues closer to our communities Researching IKS, with special reference to TRM. Demonstration of simple science principles on TRM research and tour laboratories Community involvement in IKS research. Research ethics, Research careers, Social impact, Job creation and wealth generation Advocacy and Educational Seminar.
  Mr P Legoale Ms N Mooketsi Ms M Javu Dr S Bareetseng
  
  
• SAASTE
  Learner and educator workshops, fun experiments, role models and industry visits.
  Trevor Daniels tel: 082 370 9472