The South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) has been mandated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) to administer funds for the enhancement of science centre programmes in South Africa.

In 2004, the Department of Science and Technology established a Programmatic Support Intervention facility to benefit science centres in delivering a science awareness service to pupils and the public.

The National Roll-out Plan for a Network of Science Centres in South Africa details how the Department intends to provide support to science centres. However, implementation of the operational support package defined in the National Roll-out Plan cannot take effect at this stage hence the Department of Science and Technology will continue to provide programmatic support funding through SAASTA to qualifying science centres in conjunction with the other stakeholders in the various science centres.

This support is part of the global strategy of using science centres as the instrument of delivering science awareness to the public. The aim is to increase the number of youth, especially those from previously disadvantaged areas, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Objectives


The overall aim of the Programmatic Support Grant Intervention (PSGI) is to contribute to an environment that enables science centres to respond to the following objectives of the Youth into Science Strategy (YiSS):

  • promotion of science and technology literacy among the youth and the general public;
  • enhancement of learner participation and performance in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM);
  • identification and nurturing of youth talent and potential in STEM; and
  • promotion of STEM career education.

Specific activities and items that are funded


  • Interactive Exhibits – Exciting, attractive exhibits that actively engage participants (tell me I’ll forget, show me I’ll remember, involve me I’ll understand). Exhibits that address scientific concepts in a fun, exciting and memorable way.
  • Computers – People are given the opportunity to learn computer skills after hours at the centres.
  • Mobile Labs – Mobile labs are used to reach remote rural villages with science outreach activities. Mobile labs make it possible for learners in the rural schools to perform scientific experiments hands-on. Mobile labs helps to eliminate the problem encountered by many first year university students who only get the opportunity to see and touch laboratory equipment at university for the first time and then have a distinct disadvantage when compared to students from urban areas.
  • Learner Activities – Learner activities range from transporting learners to the centre to participate in programmes, conducting learner workshops, camps for learners, and assisting science clubs in the vicinity of the centre. It is a challenge for most learners to pay travel costs to science centres, therefore the centres often use grant funds for transport. Popular educational activities are rocket building and telescope building workshops.
  • General – Centres also use the funding for libraries, where learners are encouraged to read and do research since some centres do not have Internet facilities for research purposes. Career guidance centres are also being introduced in order to address problems related to a lack of information on career choices. Centres have acquired funding to build laboratories to enable learners to perform prescribed experiments.

Contact

Thandamanzi Mtsweni
Email thandi@saasta.ac.za
Call (0)11 551 5946