January 2012

SPECIAL FEATURE   Beauty in the eye of the scientist: This year’s Southern African Science Lens Competition gave photographers and science enthusiasts the chance to show the creative side of science, through their camera lenses. Here are the results. read   IN THE NEWS   Curing the crisis: The Annual Sustainability Energy Seminar saw bright minds and power players coming together to brainstorm solutions to our national energy crisis. read To astronomy and beyond: Graeme College came out on top at the SAASTA AstroQuiz 2011 finals, proving that when it comes to the universe, there are no black holes in their knowledge. read SAASTA head joins NRF executive: Beverley Damonse did SAASTA proud when she was recently appointed as Group Executive of Science Advancement at the National Research Foundation. With such great leaders steering our science machine, possibilities are endless. read Space visits Cape Town: The International Astronautical Congress brought an out-of-this-world experience to the Mother City last October, with five days of all things space. read NMMU zooms in on nano research: With the launch of Africa’s first high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) with atomic resolution, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University can now take a closer look at nano research. read Your go-to guide for all things nano: Nanotechnology has just reached our fingertips with the launch of the new, informative NPEP website. read Media and science get talking: To improve the communication of science, journalists and scienctists took a closer look into one another’s fields at a recent University of Stellenbosch workshop. read Genomes – why we need to know more: What do human genomes know that we don’t? The answer could have great impact on medical advancement – but seeking this answer must be done within a legally secure environment. Here’s why. read     OUT AND ABOUT   Science clubs – the new buzzword at schools: Read more about the trend that makes learning, sharing and developing science skills more fun than ever before. read Science on the move: Several science centres have recently launched mobile laboratories, which means science in South Africa is picking up speed and – quite literally – going places. read From Jabu to Beijing: SAASTA’s Dr Jabu Nukeri gets an Asian spin on science at the recent Beijing Science Festival. read Up close and personal: A new science centre in the Northern Cape promises to keep people starry-eyed, while offering new opportunities for science awareness in the province. read A universal language: Puleng Tsie visits Paris for an internship at the La Cité Science Museum, and learns that you need not speak French, to speak science. read Changing the future of farming: Here’s how the Water Efficient Maize for Africa project is empowering farmers with knowledge on genetic modification of organisms. read Boggling young minds: In celebration of the United Nations’ International Year of Chemistry, two University of Pretoria students presented a fascinating science show at the National Zoological Gardens’ ZooClub. read Top of the class: Sparks flew at iThemba LABS in the Western Cape, when more than 100 learners put their skills to the test at the Primary Science Day competition in October. read   NAMES & FACES   Christina Scott: The local science community bids a sad farewell to this much-loved journalist, editor, author, mentor and trainer. read Valerie Corfield: After a prestigious 45-year career, Valerie Corfield is still going strong and looking deep into the test tubes. She talks to GetS.E.T.go! about her love and passion for science. read   UPCOMING EVENTS   Discover the world of the (very) small: The CSIR and The Nanotechnology Public Engagement Programme are hosting an exciting Nanotechnology Facility Tour open to big and small, either and all. read   JUST SAY IT   Send your queries or comments on this newsletter to Ina Roos at roosi@saasta.ac.za     90% of readers believe that mobile technology and increasing online access make social media an ideal platform for attracting younger generations of South Africans to SET fields of study. 5% of readers say they are not sure. 5% of readers say that this time and money could be better spent on outreach projects.     Exoplanet extraordinaire… Only a few weeks into the new year and already four new exoplanets have been discovered. An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star in a solar system other than that of the earth. It looks as though 2012 is going to be a year filled with discovery. Read more   Do you think the science centre mobile laboratories and exhibitions funded by the Department of Science and Technology are a viable way of improving science across schools in South Africa?