Debates competition winners jet off to New York

The winning team of the 2013 SAASTA National Schools Debates competition and their educator paid a jam-packed visit to New York as their prize.

Ms Ngwanathaba Molepo (educator) and the five learners (Ntshephe Matlou, Lesetja Masoga, Eric Seabela, Khomotso Sebake and Keorapetse Lehlohonolo Kataila) from Northern Academy in Limpopo jetted off to the USA on 26 April 2014, accompanied by Dr Manjusha Sunil of SAASTA.

Ms Ngwanathaba Molepo (educator) and the five learners (Ntshephe Matlou, Lesetja Masoga, Eric Seabela, Khomotso Sebake and Keorapetse Lehlohonolo Kataila) at the subway exit just outside the American Museum of Natural History		The American Museum of Natural History in New York City contains over 32 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, and human cultural artefacts in its collections, of which only a small fraction can be displayed at any given time. (Source: Wikipedia)

The winning team and their educator, Ms Ngwanathaba Molepo (left) with Dr Chris Raxworthy, Head of Herpetology at the Museum (centre)		The SA team with Mike Shara, Head of Astrophysics at the AMNH (left)

American Museum of Natural History

Among the range of fascinating activities in store for them, the learners had the opportunity to explore the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world. Their visit was arranged by Dr Maritza Macdonald, Senior Director of Education and Policy at the museum. The AMNH has been collaborating with SAASTA since 2012 to arrange these annual visits.

The tour of the museum included a meeting with Dr Natasha Cooke-Nieves (Senior Specialist in Science and Teacher Education), watching the "Dark Universe" show at the Hayden Planetarium following an hour-long meeting with Dr Mike Shara (Head of Astrophysics) at the AMNH, who answered questions from the learners about the Universe and the field of astronomy.

The group spent about two hours viewing the "Power of Poison" exhibit that opened in November 2013 and took two years to complete. "It is a fantastic exhibit and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there," says Manjusha. A highlight of the AMNH visit was a meeting with brilliant science communicator Dr Chris Raxworthy, Head of Herpetology at the AMNH, who took the group through the reptiles and amphibians section and showed them his lab.

Science Genius project

At Teacher College, Columbia University, Professor Chris Emdin, Associate Professor of Science Education explained his Science Genius project to the group. The project uses hip hop as an art form to educate learners in New York City's public schools about science topics. Prof. Emdin did a short rap for the group on Newton's Laws of Motion. One of the learners, Eric Seabela, attempted a rap on the National Schools Debates Competition and some of the topics of the competition.

"The trip was a fantastic educational and cultural experience for all of us," says Manjusha.