M Mangena: Launch of Science Tunnel Exhibition

18 May 2007

Programme Director
Ambassador Harro Adt
Representatives from the German Federal Ministry of Education and
Research
Representatives of SASOL and BMW South Africa
Exhibitors, educators and learners
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

The Max Planck Science Tunnel is arguably the world's greatest travelling
science exhibition of our time. South Africa is delighted and honoured to host
this giant exhibition through which all of us can gain an insight into what
scientists in the world, including South Africans, do to develop and advance
the whole of humanity through science and technology.

As you have doubtless seen, this 1 000 square metres interactive exhibition
is divided into 12 subject areas, each with an especially composed acoustic
sound backdrop. It is here that you will experience how galaxies merge; black
holes bring stars off course and gigantic sun storms rage, as well as learn
about the latest satellite missions. And through scientific and technological
manipulations, you will walk through the cells of the human body and the world
of our senses.

Ladies and gentlemen, technological and scientific innovations have
rightfully become the core of our hopes, precisely because they can act as
accelerators for the much needed economic growth. This means, among other
things, that the more we innovate, and the faster we can do it, the richer our
lives can be, and the sooner we can meet our national priorities, including the
goals of the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa.

You will further be delighted to learn that today in space science, for
example, South Africa boasts advanced astronomical instruments such as the
Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). However, to fully exploit
scientifically the volume of data that we can obtain from this instrument
demands the deployment of more human capital than we currently have.
Nevertheless, this gap is being filled through our collaboration with
scientists from elsewhere in the world, and they in turn have begun to benefit
and grow by gaining access to our instruments.

Over millennia, and particularly in today's world, the capacity to innovate,
and the speed with which we can do that, have been and are what count. This is
essentially why our scientists and technologists should always be alert to even
the smallest developments that can make South Africa's materials, services and
work processes affordable and better.

As you view the work of science encapsulated by this exhibition, we are
hoping you will discover new things about science, and learn a lot about how
development is being advanced.

We understand that this fascinating travelling exhibition on frontier
scientific research was produced by the Max Planck Society for the Expo 2000 at
Hanover, Germany. Subsequent to its premiere show in the Expo 2000, the
exhibition has been staged at Beijing, Shanghai, and Manchester in the UK,
making South Africa the second country outside Europe to host this exhilarating
display.

This 170-metre long multimedia tunnel leads visitors through the new
dimensions of cutting edge research, spanning from the smallest particles, all
the way to the largest structures in the universe. It shows an array of
challenges that today's researchers face in the various dimensions of our
existence, including what holds our world together; how life functions in the
realm of cells; how our brains work; how we humans interact in society; what
makes life on Earth possible, and what our place in the universe is.

In addition, the Science Tunnel is a new and exciting method of building
human capacity and raising awareness about science and technology within the
country. Through the multi-media presentation of more than a dozen wide-screen
projections and hundreds of sensational photos, the visitors here will have an
insider look into the fascinating worlds of atoms, matter, planets and outer
space.

For a period of two months you will have an opportunity to go through these
exhibits - many of them interactive - to observe and discover what scientists
explore through complex computer simulations and the most powerful microscopes
that the world of science offers.

During this exhibition, South Africa will also have an opportunity to
highlight the evolution of our own scientific landscape, our pioneering work
and activities, groundbreaking research, achievements and discoveries,
including SALT, the Square Kilometre Array and SumbandilaSAT, which will be
launching in Russia in a few weeks time.

Naturally, our hosting this breathtaking science extravaganza would not be
possible without our country's sound relations with the people and the Federal
Republic of Germany. It is to those bonds of relation that I shall now
turn.

Since 1994, the historical, political and economic links between Germany and
South Africa have developed to such an extent that the relations between the
two countries could be described as a formidable strategic partnership.

Germany is one of South Africa's most important trading partners. She is our
most important supplier of imports such as capital goods and technology, and
ranks second as a purchaser of South African exports, after the United Kingdom.
Germany is a major direct investor in South Africa, with an investment volume
of around R18-billion, the main sectors being the automotive industry, the
chemical industry, and mechanical and electrical engineering. More than 450
German companies provide around 60 000 jobs in South Africa.

A special project for Africa has been introduced between the Volkswagen
Company and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) by establishing an
International Chair for Automotive Manufacturing at the Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. Amongst others, the Chair promotes
study programmes of DAAD for young South African engineers by offering one-year
study and practical experience programmes at German Universities and
industries. Funding in this regard has been disbursed in the form of bursaries,
grants, scholarships and co-operative activities for the development of the
human capital in science and technology. Our respective Ministries' funding
mechanism currently provides grants for at least 75 postgraduate researchers in
a range of scientific research areas.

Visits to Germany by our former President Nelson Mandela and current
President Thabo Mbeki, as well as the visits of former Chancellor Kohl and
former Federal Presidents Herzog and Rau to South Africa in recent years have
all contributed to the intensification of these relations.

In 1996 South Africa and Germany signed an inter-governmental bilateral
agreement on co-operation in the fields of science, research and technology, an
agreement jointly implemented and administrated by the National Research
Foundation in South Africa, and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research
in Germany.

Although this agreement has already resulted in the funding of more than 300
joint research activities between the two countries to a total amount of almost
R20 million, thus far it has operated outside the fixed structure of an annual
call for proposals, a procedure which is set to change this year.

We are extremely proud to say that the relationship in science and
technology between South Africa and Germany is well established, and covers a
wide range of activities. In particular, the following areas of co-operation
were identified, and co-operative programmes developed: New Materials and
Manufacturing, Renewable Energy, Environmental Issues, Integrated Community
Development and Health Programmes, Biotechnology.

These co-operative efforts do not only indicate the need to be competitive
in global markets and to be at the forefront of certain scientific endeavours,
but it also demonstrates clearly that science and technology play a strong
developmental role in our country and mutually beneficial role between our two
countries.

My department will continue to play a vital role in ensuring that all
players in the country's science and technology system are sensitive to social
and economic needs and that together we should address such needs and give our
scientists the resources to resolve our social challenges.

A few of the joint projects between South Africa and Germany deserve mention
here. They include the best known Coelacanth Project - the fossil fish research
project on our eastern seaboard.

Two other major initiatives are Inkaba ye Africa and Biota South. Inkaba ye
Africa is a research project closely scrutinising climate, biodiversity,
natural hazards and the resources of Africa to facilitate better planning for
the future. The project presents a unique opportunity to train a new generation
of South African and German post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers from
multicultural backgrounds in cutting edge Earth System Science. On the other
hand, Biota South is one of the largest ongoing scientific activities in Africa
directed at the sustainable use of Africa�s biodiversity.

Of further big economic and technological importance is the role that
Germany plays in research and technology transfer in the automotive industry.
Among others, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft (FhG) has developed intensive activities
with different South African partner organisations, particularly with the
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. These partnerships resulted in
the establishment of the Automotive Supplier Park, which encourages the
increased competitiveness of the South African automotive industry.

In a multilateral context, the two countries enjoy a very productive
relationship in the projects conducted under the various Framework Programmes
of the European Union. I am certain that within the framework of these
excellent relations between our two countries, the stage has been set for many
more joint efforts in science and technology.

We are delighted that South Africa will host the Science Tunnel Exhibition
during this month of May 2007, and this launch coincides with our annual
National Science Week. The Science Tunnel we are opening to the public today
will remain in South Africa during a time when we are holding our biggest
science Imbizo, the National Science Week.

This is the time when we intensify all our efforts to attract our youth, our
communities and our women to Science, Engineering and Technology careers by
highlighting the important role that science plays in everyday life.

I am certain, therefore, that the Science Tunnel will have a positive
contribution towards fostering interest in and attitudes towards science during
this intense period of marketing and promoting science across our country.

I wish all of you a most enjoyable and instructive exposure to the Max
Planck Science Tunnel.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
18 May 2007