October 2011

SPECIAL FEATURE   A week of wow! NRF Facilities and other organisations made a special effort for National Science Week 2011, with activities across all nine provinces focusing on the theme of “The Role of Science in Economic Development”. Here are some of the highlights of this year’s campaign. read   OUT AND ABOUT   Unlocking potential: The Nanotechnology Public Engagement Programme took centre stage at Lab Africa 2011, where more than 80 exhibitors gathered from around the world. read First-hand inspiration: In theory, practice is simple. But, is it simple to practice theory? Students attending the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity’s annual Winter School found out. read Science club excitement spreads: A brand new science club has been launched at Ivory Park High School in Thembisa, with more than 450 mathematics and science learners joining in the launch event. read Green ideas for a greener future: The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa asked Gauteng’s youth to be part of a debate around the conservation of biodiversity – and they jumped at the chance. read Science programme is electric: Enthusiasm for SAASTA’s Primary School Science Intervention programme is spreading like wildfire across the Western and Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga and Venda. read The art of selling science: Here’s how 16 PhD, postdoctoral and Master’s students from the Science Postgraduate Students' Association at the University of Cape Town are learning to sell their science to the public. read Sweet, sweet astronomy: Just thinking of Astros, Mars Bars, Milky Ways and Milky Bars makes the mouth water. So, why not use this to the advantage of astronomy education? read   IN THE NEWS   For words so good you could eat them … look no further than the debating team from Hudson Park High School in the Eastern Cape, which won the SAASTA National Schools Debates Competition in August. read They’re good! Better than good! Meet South Africa’s top science learners who were lauded at a gala dinner earlier this year, in recognition of their first-class performance in the 2011 National Science Olympiad. read Take a walk on the wild side: Here’s how learners from 19 schools in and around Pretoria took up the challenge in the “Urban Wildlife” life science competition. read Whizzing their way to London: Each year, the London International Youth Science Forum brings together over 300 students of the sciences, this time from 45 countries on five different continents. And South Africa’s top science learners were sure not to miss it. read Spreading wings to Maputo: Some of the country’s top experiences and activities in science, technology and innovation occupied centre stage at this recent science exhibition in Mozambique. read Why serious topics deserve a playful approach: What does it take to excite learners about astronomy? Nothing more than Prestik, a toilet roll, a bathroom scale and a few hoola hoops, it seems … read Top honours for head of Sci-Bono centre: The French Government has awarded David Kramer the prestigious title of Knight of the French National Order of Merit. read Point, click, shoot! Photographers have once again risen to the science challenge by entering their best work into this year’s Southern African Science Lens photo competition. This year it includes a special category to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry. read     NAMES & FACES   Part of the family: GetS.E.T.go! meets Dr Maritza Macdonald of the American Museum of Natural History, and finds out why she feels such a part of the South African science awareness family. read   UPCOMING EVENTS   Reach for the stars: The AstroQuiz Finals will take place at Boyden Observatory and Mazelspoort, Bloemfontein, on 28 October 2011. For details contact Bafedile Kgwadi at kgwadib@saasta.ac.za. read   JUST SAY IT   Send your queries or comments on this newsletter to Ina Roos at roosi@saasta.ac.za     91% of readers strongly agree that social media platforms could play a key role in attracting younger generations of South Africans to SET fields of study. 3% say they are not sure (too many learners still don’t have internet access). 6% disagree (the time and money could be better spent on outreach projects).     It’s like a real-life movie . . . Scientists plan to smash a spacecraft into an asteroid - so they are prepared for the possibility they will have to stop one hurtling towards Earth. The news came as Nasa moved to calm fears that a comet is on a collision course with our planet. Read more   Incentives such as prize tickets to the International Youth Science Forum are a valuable way of encouraging participation in initiatives like the National Science Olympiad.