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REVEALED: The world of the very small
The tour, a first of its kind, was developed to create awareness of nanotechnology by providing students, educators, the media, industry as well as the general public the opportunity to visit the facilities and learn more about the science and resources available. The Nanotechnology Public Engagement Programme (NPEP) which SAASTA manages for the Department of Science and Technology (DST), developed the tour in partnership with the DST/CSIR Centre and Jive Media, a KwaZulu-Natal-based company that specialises in science communication. The tour enables members of the public to view special presentations, fact sheets and equipment that introduce them to nanoscience and nanotechnology and their potential applications in our day-to-day lives. It also aims to encourage industry to be involved in the development of nanotechnology and take the lead in nanotechnology innovation. Science for society "The role of science communication is to open science up to society to enable more informed debate and discussion on science matters that are central to our lives," says Beverley Damonse, Group Executive: Science Awareness of the NRF. "With the support of the Department of Science and Technology, we are proud to bring science communication to the fore as an intrinsic part of this emerging science. The tour will open the communication channels to facilitate dialogue between the scientists, the public and industry partners so that the science is not practiced in an ivory tower," she continued. Science and technology powerhouse Also speaking at the launch was Imraan Patel, Deputy Director General of DST. "We have to learn to sell our country as a science and technology powerhouse and a location for research and development," he commented, adding: "Our researchers provide extremely good value for money. For a small science system, our research outputs are extremely cost-efficient." Patel stressed that scientists should become more aware of the basic problems that South Africans are faced with daily, and should communicate what science can provide in the form of solutions to these problems. The tour includes information hand-outs, a 10-minute audio-visual presentation on nanoscience and nanotechnology, as well as access to nine stations in the Centre where participants can learn more from the scientists themselves about the various nanostructures created at the facility, and the devices that are used to observe them. The tour is structured in two parts. The first, an audio-visual presentation, aims to familiarise the viewer with the science of nanotechnology - its origins, potential applications and potential risk. The second part, a physical tour conducted in the labs, aims to encourage engagement with the Centre and to look for opportunities for support or collaboration.
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