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National Science Week (NSW) is one of the many ways in which the Department of Science and Technology (DST) seeks to reach out to the South African public to raise awareness of science and technology.
This countrywide annual celebration of science involves various stakeholders and role players who conduct science-based activities during the week. NSW is run in all nine provinces simultaneously at multiple sites per province. SAASTA has been appointed by DST as the implementing agency and has the role of national project manager for NSW.
The theme of NSW 2013 was “Celebrating scientific areas in which South Africa has a competitive edge”, with “International year of water cooperation” as sub-theme. The objective of this year’s programme was to raise awareness of both the potential for increased cooperation and the challenges facing water management in the context of greater demand for water access, allocation and services.
The launch took place on Saturday 27 July at the University of Limpopo’s Science Education Centre. The Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom was the keynote speaker. He told the approximately 3 000 learners attending the launch that it would please him immensely if at least half of the learners in the hall would strive to excel in mathematics and science subjects, and pursued science-related careers.
Take a peek at some of the exciting science programmes that were on offer throughout the country:
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| Settlers High School learners Don Maisels and Stephanie Less participate in the 2013 HIP2B² iTHINK Challenge. More than 7 000 learners participated in a variety of science and maths related tasks, riddles and problems in this challenge during National Science Week.
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Sci-Enza introduced 50 young learners from the science club at the Entokozweni Resource Centre in Mamelodi to Electronics. The learners enjoyed every moment of making electronic devices on the ELENCO circuit boards. The highlight was putting all the components together to make a radio that really worked!
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| Grade 7 learners from Vosburg in the Northern Cape enjoyed the SKA's planetarium shows during National Science Week
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Having fun with the Human Battery exhibit at the SANSA stand in Somerset Mall
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| Sci-Enza and BASF took Chemistry to the Kolonnade Mall in Pretoria. Learners from Bajabulile Primary School kicked off their week’s “Water” experiments with enthusiasm
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Dentist Dr Phillip Johnson from Kimberley Hospital gave Grade 6 learners a new perspective on science, engineering and technology and its role in everyday life
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| Presenter Mandisa Lebitso shows learners that Maths can be fun
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Dr Camilla Floros, a coral reef specialist based at the Oceanographic Research Institute, in conversation with Sisanda Nodada from Durban at the Village Walk display
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| Two classes from Thamsanqa High School in Port Elizabeth visited the South African Marine Rehabilitation Education Centre to learn more about fish, sharks and coelacanths. Here some of the pupils look at a model of a shark.
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Participating in Radio Teemaneng’s Talk Show during National Science Week were, from left: Ocean van Rooi (Grade 9), Bonolo Phillips (Grade 11), Pamela Basjan (Grade 10), Obakeng Kock (Grade 11) and Masego Maarman (Grade 11)
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