The ninth annual National Festival of Science, Engineering and Technology is under way at Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape. The event, run from 16 to 22 March, pays tribute to Albert Einstein this year.
"Most of the shows were sold out yesterday and many are sold out for today and Friday (especially laser shows) so things are going great," says Alexa Kirsten, media liaison officer for the event.
"We are expecting around 35 000 people at the festival this year," says Kirsten. "Festinos will have around 600 events to choose from and the events, which include popular lectures, robotic competitions, a laser show, and both local and overseas contributors, will host workshops."
The festival is geared towards all technology enthusiasts. "Literally, people who attend the festival are aged between five and 105. The ages vary as much as the events."
Kirsten says the festival was launched in 1997 as a national event to promote a culture of science in SA. "The aim of the festival is to bring science to the public - to make science simple and accessible," she adds.
The theme this year is 'celebrating science`, as well as marking the World Year of Physics, which commemorates the pioneering contributions of Albert Einstein, who published his groundbreaking theory of relativity in 1905, says Kirsten.
"Our country`s future ability to compete in challenging world markets will depend greatly on our shared efforts to continue promoting innovative scientific and technological skills based on the power of imagination," says Pieter Cox, CEO of Sasol, the main sponsor.
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