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Background

National Science Week (NSW) is an annual event aiming to exhibit and communicate awareness in science. It is an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), a countrywide celebration of science involving various stakeholders and role players conducting science-based activities during the week.

The NSW 2021 will be conducted through information and communications technologies (ICT). Investigation conducted has revealed interesting association of South Africans with various ICTs, which if adequately exploited would exponentially expand the reach of the science engagement campaign. It has become a tradition that the NSW takes place during the first week of August. Sustaining this practice, the NSW 2021 will take place from 1 – 7 August 2021. The focus week activities will be preceded by a media launch led by the Minister of Science and Innovation to mark the beginning of the event. 

Theme

The NSW 2021 will be conducted under the theme “Making it possible through science”.

Objectives

The objectives of celebrating the NSW 2021 under the aforementioned theme are to:

(a) illustrate the role of science in tackling problems and challenges encountered in creating and sustaining a prosperous society;
(b) demystify the myths surrounding some of the innovations that are important to the advancement of society;
(c) display that South Africa is a home of some discoveries and innovations that influence the world; and
(d) raise science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career awareness.

Keeping up with the practice of recognising the United Nations (UN) international observances, the NSW 2021 will incorporate activities to celebrate the UN’s International Year of Fruits and Vegetables (IYFV) 2021. Attention will be given to local discoveries and innovations in plant production or sciences.

Implementation Plan

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