The Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, will deliver a keynote address at 18h30 this evening at the 16th National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-BHP Billiton Awards Gala Dinner to celebrate outstanding contributions to science, engineering, technology and innovation at Emperor's Palace, Centre Court, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park in Gauteng.
Through the NSFT Awards, the Department of Science and Technology has been honouring and celebrating outstanding scientists since 1998, and, since 2011, doing so in partnership with BHP Billiton.
The objectives of the awards are to celebrate, acknowledge and promote excellence in the South African research and development (R&D) community across sectors, levels, gender and race, recognising both teams and individuals. The awards are meant to celebrate scientific research that is professional, innovative, forward looking and relevant to both South Africa and the rest of the world.
The awards are aimed at raising awareness among the youth and the general public about local research and its relevance, addressing government R&D targets and policy by involving business, drawing attention to scarce skills, profiling role models and facilitating knowledge transfer for learners and students to pursue careers in science, engineering, technology and innovation (SETI).
The theme of the 2014 NSTF-BHP Billiton Awards is United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO's) "Celebrating the International Year of Crystallography". To help raise awareness and to celebrate a century of amazing discoveries, UNESCO declared 2014 to be the International Year of Crystallography.
Media are invited as follows:
Venue: Emperors Palace, Centre Court, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park, Gauteng.
Time: 18h30
Date: 3 July 2014
For enquiries, please contact:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: 012 843 6799
Cell: 082 566 0446
