The Department of Science and Technology (DST) plans to use National Science Week (NSW) as a platform to attract learners to science, engineering, and technology (SET) careers.
NSW starts on Monday and will run until 4 August. The celebrations will be conducted in collaboration with higher education institutions, science centres, other government departments, non-governmental organisations and science councils, under the theme "The Role of Science and Technology in Economic Development".
The DST says activities will take place at more than 89 sites, including science centres throughout the nine provinces.
Science and technology minister Naledi Pandor has encouraged parents, learners and teachers to make sure that learners visit an NSW site close to their homes.
"Science and technology are in everything that we do and their role in the economic development of a country often goes unnoticed. South Africans need to understand the extent to which science and technology have benefited the economy and encourage our youth to explore careers in these sectors and eventually add value to the economy.”
The DST adds that through NSW, it celebrates the importance of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation in citizens' daily lives.
Tweeting science
National Science Week 2012, according to the department, aims to focus attention on the important role that science plays in people's everyday lives.
The DST, in collaboration with many other stakeholders and role players in the science system, uses NSW to contribute to the development of a society that values and appreciates SET; provide a platform for scientists to engage with each other and with the non-scientific community; profile the work of the department, including its priorities; and attract learners to SET-based careers.
It says learners will benefit greatly from educational materials to be distributed, including science, engineering and technology career awareness information.
Young people will also be encouraged to share their thoughts about science, technology and innovation on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
“Participating in National Science Week offers communities a good opportunity to learn more about the DST's priority areas, including what informs them. The department has taken a number of key decisions to put SA on the international map and enhance its status in Africa.”
SKA discussions
It adds that a case in point is the successful South African-led bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, which will be the largest in the world.
SA, together with eight other African countries, will host the majority of the SKA infrastructure.
“National Science Week 2012 will provide the nation with an opportunity to engage in discussions about the SKA and similar other issues related to science and technology.”
Pandor will officially launch NSW 2012 at the Soweto Campus of the University of Johannesburg tomorrow.
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