Professor Anton Stroh, Dean of Science, University of Pretoria
Dr Steve Lennon, Director, Corporate Affairs, Eskom
Professor Ian Jandrill, Chairperson, Board of Directors, Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
Mrs Priscilla Moodley, National Manager of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
Representatives of other sponsors
Adjudicators
Participants
Expo Volunteers and organisers
Parents and teachers
Ladies of gentlemen
Can innovation be taught? Can we teach young people how to change the world? Eskom thinks so. Those of us in government certainly think so. And so do young people.
Teenagers appear to be optimistic about their ability to change the world. Three out of four South African teenagers believe that technological or scientific innovation can solve the problems that global warming is creating. If only adults and politicians held the same belief!
Moreover, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) social attitudes survey reveals that science and technology equipment is the top spending priority, among respondents of all ages, for extra resources in high schools.
However, considering the extraordinary projects on display here today, you have been extraordinarily innovative with what you have to hand.
South Africa desperately needs innovators. Innovation is not a foreign or frightening concept. It’s not elitist. It’s not beyond the normal person in the street. Innovation starts at home in our daily lives.
It is as simple as a preventative measure for something as mundane as a protruding belly-button. It is easily prevented. The moment a baby is born, the moment the stump of the umbilical cord drops off, the mother takes a large coin, wraps it in cloth, and secures it round the waist of the baby, and this prevents the belly button from protruding. It is a typical local solution that is simple and simple solutions are the foundation of innovative and problem solving.
Eight reasons the Department of Science and Technology (DST) supports Eskom Expo
The Department of Science and Technology is a strong supporter of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists programme. Why?
We believe that innovation is critically important to South Africa’s future and particularly for the promotion of start-ups and small and medium enterprises. Even big business is a beneficiary.
We need to establish ongoing contact with young innovators. Every year more than 30 000 learners participate in Eskom Expo at school, district, regional and national level, and these represent the core group of young scientists and innovators of the future.
The top performers at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists will represent South Africa overseas at selected events. This is the training ground for our national representatives.
The numbers of black learners from disadvantaged backgrounds is increasing every year, but even more are needed, and this required ever-greater encouragement.
We believe that the process of meeting fellow participants and having sight of their projects is crucial to spurring you to even higher achievement. To be as good as you can be. Just like partnership, networking is important in the world of work, the world of science and the world of solving problems especially those with uniquely South African flavour.
We also believe that interacting with the judges and the judging process is a very good learning experience for all participants. And finally, my department believes that competitions and Olympiads are ideal vehicles for identifying youth with talent and potential, and encouraging them to do more and better.
Many of you are here with a friend or are exhibiting a group project. You will often find that two brains are better than one. This is because individuals, no matter how talented, have different strengths, and when they work together as a team, they tend to enhance each other’s work.
I am particularly pleased that Eskom Expo group projects gave you opportunities to develop and learn life skills like teamwork and collaboration. The recognition of the value of teamwork is impressive aspect of Eskom Expo.
Follow a career in science, engineering or technology
I would like to make a special appeal to all the young people present here today.
Follow a career in science, engineering or technology.
The fact that you are here at the national finals of an important contest shows that you have what it takes to be student of and practitioner in the world of science and technology!
You are here either because you are able to design an experiment to test a hypothesis or because you are able to design a new method of investigating a new solution to a problem. You have what it takes to be a scientist.
I would like to challenge you, young scientists and innovators, to make your mark.
We need workable scientific and technical solutions. And not just any solutions, but answers to some of the specific challenges facing our country.
Climate changes and global warming are far more threatening to poor than to rich countries. Can you innovate to find an African solution to spreading deserts, floods, famines? Renewable energy is vital if we are to replace the burning of fossil fuels like coal. Can you think of a way to make this more of a practicality? We have plenty of sun here. How can we use the sun? Can we trap the energy in the winds that sweep across our mountain tops or the waves that beat constantly on our 3,000 kilometres of coastline? Are you the one who can see a way through this? Are you up to this challenge?
I thank the leadership of Eskom, for their vision and foresight in identifying the need for Expo for Young Scientists, and for their ongoing sponsorship and support, even during difficult economic conditions.
Thanks for creating the opportunity for our young people to display their scientific endeavours to their peers and the public in general.
I congratulate you all on reaching the national finals of Eskom Expo for young scientists, 2009.
To the winners, I wish you all the best. To those who do not win, take heart and learn, then come back here and win next year. And wish all participants success with your examinations and in your future careers, which I sincerely trust will be in the sciences, engineering or technology.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
3 October 2009
