 |
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
OUT AND ABOUT
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?
iThemba Laboratory for Accelerator Based Science (LABS) and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) combined forces recently to conduct a “Sweet Astronomy” workshop at Sivile Primary School in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. This formed part of the two NRF National Facilities' winter-holiday programmes.
For three days, learners attended science workshops, a science show and educational outings to iThemba LABS and the Iziko Planetarium. Education Officer Ambrose Yaga, from iThemba LABS, conducted the science shows and Sivuyile Manxoyi, from SAAO, managed the Sweet Astronomy workshop. Manxoyi is still celebrating the sweet success of his workshop, which received very positive feedback!
“We should all put more effort into ensuring that our young learners are exposed to science in a fun way during their school holidays,” says Yaga.
A very rewarding result of the workshop was the launch of a science club at the school, which will serve to support and expand learners’ enthusiasm in the future.