Document Actions
Volume 3 - 13
| Contents | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 13. The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre - Another Tool To Address
Mathematics, Science & Technology Needs In Gauteng By Buyelwa Conco   One of the key focus areas for government is
developing and enhancing skills in mathematics, science and technology
– the broader aim being to bolster the country’s global
competitiveness. The proliferation of programmes designed to address
skills enhancement in these subjects, initiated and supported by the
Department of Science & Technology and the Department of Education,
is evidence of this focus.The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, a R150 million science centre project, is one of the initiatives that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has introduced as part of the department’s Mathematics, Science & Technology (MST) strategy – alongside Gautengon-Line, Schools of Focused Learning, Dinaledi Schools and Curriculum Redress. The project is being realized through the department’s project development vehicle, the Gauteng Education Development Trust. Although science centres are not a new concept for Gauteng, the Sci- Bono Discovery Centre has the added dimension of being curriculum-based, thereby forming an additional tool for educators and learners. The interactive science centre will be a significant resource to schools for the delivery of Curriculum 2005, particularly in the teaching of mathematics and science. While this may be highly satisfactory in itself, the benefits of the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre also extend to the broader community. Opportunities created by the centre include collaborating with and supporting industry and its initiatives to develop the necessary skills for economic development, as well as supporting Gauteng’s position as the economic engine room for Africa and South Africa – an economy built on science and technology. It will also support the country’s aim to increase public understanding of science, engineering and technology. The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre is located in the celebrated building currently known as the Electric Workshop in Newtown, Johannesburg. It is a building that is particularly well-suited to its new purpose as an interactive science centre. Supporters of the project include the Department of Science and Technology, Blue IQ, the Johannesburg Development Agency, and various industry partners. At the helm of the science centre is the executive team – CEO Kelebogile Dilotsotlhe, Chief Operating Officer David Kramer, and Business Development Director Hemant Waghmarae. Between them, they bring a collective expertise and experience in the science education field that spans over 35 years. The team has been significantly enhanced by the appointment of Cynthia Malinga and Stuart Hopwood as Education Programmes Manager and Exhibitory Manager, respectively. Construction is being completed in phases and the entire project will be fully operational in January 2006. The facilities will include 6 000 square metres of interactive exhibition space comprising travelling exhibition space, a news room, a "firsts" gallery, icon exhibits and a pre-school discovery centre. It will also have a career centre that will comprise an interactive career route map, aptitude testing, career guidance and mentoring, a job facility, and life-skills training including a pre-school. The centre features new and exciting areas of contemporary science and technology, and the interactive exhibits concentrate on many of the scientific achievements that will shape our lives through the century. For more information, visit www.scibono.co.za. |
Nominations of potential candidates for the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Board of Directors
