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42% of getS.E.T.go! readers think that the development of a 3D touch screen is a great idea and an exciting development for science. |
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17% are indifferent. |
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40% think it’s a waste of money and a gimmick. |
It is estimated that South Africa’s new Science & Technology Train, which is currently under development, will reach 14 000 learners each year.
Transnet Rail Engineering at Koedoespoort will complete the train’s renovations.
Our very own social network
Who needs other social networks when we’re creating one centralised location for all SET-related communication and knowledge sharing?
As part of our mission to make science funky, fun and interesting to all science engineering and technology (SET) stakeholders, SAASTA has gone one step further and provided a platform for direct interaction between those in the field.
SAASTA's new SET Community is the “facebook” of the South African SET awareness world. It allows for maximum interaction on SET-related topics between anyone in the sector, from learners contacting scientists, educators reaching wider learner audiences, and journalists getting information directly from scientists, to interested members of the public finding that extra bit of clarity on a hot topic.
SAASTA’s SET Community also promotes the building of communities of practice across the sector – for example allowing science centres to pool ideas together and gain the sector's opinion on those ideas.
The great benefit behind a community such as this is that, for example, once you’ve registered as an educator you will be able to view content that is available exclusively to educators and learners. Content will be tailor-made to speak to each type of SET stakeholder and this information will be permanently available on the SAASTA website.
How it works
- Register on the SAASTA site, providing the necessary details.
- Indicate your user category (ie, learner, professional in SET sector, educator, science communicator, and so on).
- Activate your account according to the instructions received.
- Build your awesome "sciency" profile.
- Finally, connect with other SET Community members and share knowledge.
With this SAASTA aims to become the central point of contact for all communication in the SET awareness sector, the central outlet for the most recent developments in the field, and the platform on which communities of practice can be built in the SET sector. It will become the “facebook” of the SET world, with all those interested in SET spreading ideas and communicating freely, without needing to track each other down.
Early days
“This is a first attempt from our side to create a community of practice on the Internet,” says Nick de la Hunt, ITC programme manager at SAASTA. “Please be patient. If you experience a few initial hiccups let us know so that we can improve the system. I believe this is going to become a tool no one wants to be without in future.”
Future developments
As a future addition the current SASCON network will be integrated into this community, but will remain exclusive to those on the network.