South Africa’s first-ever National Science Month has officially been launched at the Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark, bringing together learners, scientists, researchers and innovators from across the country.
Led by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation under the theme “Science, Technology and Innovation Are for Everyone,” the month-long programme aims to encourage more young people to pursue careers in science while demonstrating how innovation can help solve everyday challenges.
Learners from schools across Gauteng say the inaugural National Science Month has given them a new appreciation for science and its role in everyday life. Grade 11 learner from Residensia Secondary School, Keitumetse Maseko says she is interested in the preservation of the environment.
“Instead of littering, let’s keep our water clean so that it remains a safe environment for our animals. That is what I have learned today. I also want to encourage others to participate in this kind of launch because instead of only learning at school, you can discover more through excursions where people talk about science and technology. Science is becoming part of our everyday life.”
Grade 10 learner from Katleho Secondary School, Kamohelo Khaka, says the experience has inspired her to learn more about science.
“I love it. It is something that I am really interested in. Science has helped me today and has taught me things I didn’t know about electricity. I used to think electricity was something complex and difficult to understand, but they showed me a much easier way to understand it.”
Promoting innovation & entrepreneurship
The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation says National Science Month is also aimed at promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among young South Africans. Director of Science Promotion, Issac Ramovha, says university graduates should use the knowledge they acquire to create employment opportunities instead of relying solely on the job market.
“They, on their own, based on the knowledge that they would have acquired from the universities, learning and teaching, they should be able to create employment for themselves. They would be able to gain such knowledge from the interaction they are going to have with the small industrialists that I made reference to earlier on, who are showcasing their work.”
Among the innovations showcased at the launch was a locally developed solar-powered vehicle designed to promote affordable and environmentally friendly transport. Team Manager ,Schalk Potas, says the project demonstrates that innovation does not always require large budgets.
“So, our vehicle is a classic showcase of innovation and ingenuity, using things on a shoestring budget… The idea is to overcome the use of fossil fuels, using solar power and battery power to commute and be mobile across South Africa.”
The Department says it is also working to ensure that science is accessible to everyone regardless of their background. Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina says science should no longer be seen as a field reserved for only a select few.
“We’re really trying to be very much inclusive when it comes to the issue of sciences, when we talk about science, technology and innovation, we are inclusive. It is for everyone. The mantra for the department is placing science at the centre of everything.”
National Science Month will continue throughout July with exhibitions, demonstrations and outreach programmes taking place across the country to encourage greater participation in science, technology and innovation.
VIDEO | The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is also showcasing its work at the National Science Month:
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