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National Science Week

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10. National Science Week
Tomorrow's Science and Technology is in Our Youth's Hands
By Lebs Mphahlele

Making science accessible and attractive to the youth, previously disadvantaged communities and women, remains a challenge for the Department of Science and Technology.

However, we are not discouraged by the challenge, because it is crucial that science is understood to be part and parcel of everyday life. Science is not only the key to our future, our advancement as a global player, but it is necessary for all South Africans to participate in the processes that inform policy and investments in the sciences.

Every year, we celebrate National Science Week (NSW), through various activities and support tutorial material for teachers in all nine provinces. Since its launch in 2000, the NSW has adopted themes that emphasised 'taking science to the people', 'excitement', 'fun' and 'celebrating ten years of democracy and freedom'. This edutainment approach was replaced by a more human resource development-focused approach, rooted in the need to radically increase the number of women and people from previously disadvantaged communities entering the sciences and remaining in the system.

It is against this background that the theme for the next five years focuses on encouraging more youth - especially those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds - to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). 'Youth', said Minister Mosibudi Mangena in 2004, are "the nucleus of the plan to transform our country in general and the South African science, engineering and technology human capital in particular."

In 2005, the Department will use National Science Week to celebrate the World Year of Physics (UNESCO declared 2005 the World Year of Physics); to exploit and showcase knowledge and geographic areas in which South Africa has added advantage; and expose the value and relevance of our indigenous knowledge systems through STEM. Participation in NSW remains high in well-resourced provinces. However, there are disparities that need to be addressed, if an event such as the National Science Week is to achieve its goal of promoting science literacy, participation and performance among historically disadvantaged individuals. It is important to mobilise all our communities to participate in the National Science Week, if its objectives are to be met. In 2005, we will achieve this by:

Children bemused by the intricacies of physics.

Mark Shuttlework looks on as the children experiment.

Using the collaboration agreement signed between the Departments of Science and Technology (DST) and Education (DoE) to involve more schools, learners and educators;
Increasing the role of universities, technikons and technical colleges in the event;
Improving the negligible involvement of science councils;
Strengthening science centre involvement (science centres have played a central role in implementing the NSW);
Increasing participation by corporate companies;
Involving more non-governmental organisations, especially in poorer provinces, where they have played a pioneering role in promoting STEM;
Maintaining high participation among Africans and girl youth; and
Increasing reach and coverage.

One could argue that a week cannot make a huge difference to science education for youth and that only a systematic, integrated and sustained programme is likely to impact positively on participating youth. National Science Week should, however, not be regarded as an isolated event, but as an integral part of a broader strategy for youth and science. A key measurement of success will be the educational benefit derived for those who participate.

For those involved in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics who help in the search for answers to our pressing socioeconomic challenges, there can be no room for complacency. Every thing must be questioned and scrutinised; every stone upturned in a voracious search for solutions. This is the passion that every young person, and the general public, should embrace wholeheartedly.

Where and When?
The Minister will launch the 2005 National Science Week on 5 May 2005. It will take place in all the nine provinces during the week of 7-14 May 2005.

Minister Mangena testing out one of the inventions during the Eskom Expo in 2004.

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Department: Science and Technology, South Africa

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National Science Week