Africa's Newtown Cultural Precinct
18 May 2007
Imagine yourself immersed within a world of the latest global research and
technology developments - a walk through the state of the art Science Tunnel
Exhibition makes this possible. The Science Tunnel is now on show to the public
from 19 May to 29 July 2007 at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown,
Johannesburg � don't miss this one.
South Africa was awarded the honour to host this 1000m2 travelling
international science exhibition which was developed by and is managed by
Germany's prestigious Max Planck Society. The official opening of the SA leg of
the exhibition was held at a ceremony hosted by the South Africa's Minister of
Science and Technology, Mosibudi Mangena, together with the German Ambassador,
Mr Harro Adt at the Sci-Bono Science centre on 18 May 2007.
The exhibition is now open to the public for a period of nine weeks (May 19
to July 29), during which time visitors will be able to undertake a fascinating
tour of present-day as well as future scientific discoveries and innovations.
The exhibition will then move to the Seoul Museum of History, Seoul, South
Korea.
The Science Tunnel exhibits includes digital and video displays of major
scientific breakthroughs in important areas of research in all major areas of
science. The majority of these unique images, videos and artefacts originate
from the 78 Max Planck institutes. The Tunnel's thematic spectrum extends from
the search for the smallest particle to research into the basics of life and
thought through to capturing the largest structures in the universe. Multimedia
technology coupled with innovative exhibits show the status of today's
state-of-the-art research in Europe and the world, which new topics are leading
the way in research, how the different scientific fields are related to one
another and how they will affect our lives in the future.
The Tunnel will also showcase some of South Africa's leading science and
technology programmes and achievements, including, amongst others, the Southern
African Large Telescope (SALT), the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and
SumbandilaSat � South Africa's own micro satellite that will be launched off a
submarine in Russia during June 2007.
The tunnel is in South Africa following the combined efforts and ongoing
successful collaboration between the governments of Germany and South Africa
and is sponsored by: South Africa's Department of Science and Technology (DST);
the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research; BMW SA; Sasol; Siemens
and BASF.
"We believe the Science Tunnel offers us an exciting opportunity to gain
further and fascinating insights into the hidden worlds of the micro and
macro-cosmos," said Minister Mangena. "Hosting this world class exhibition
gives the Department of Science and Technology a new way to raise science
awareness in South Africa. It is therefore appropriate that the Tunnel has
arrived from Germany during our country's National Science Week, which is aimed
at highlighting the important role that science plays in everyday life, and
particularly amongst our young people," added Minister Mangena.
"The Science Tunnel impresses on visitors the excitement and appeal of
making new discoveries in previously uncharted territories. Our main intention
with this exhibition is to inspire young people. The future can only be ours by
carrying out world-class research and for that, we need the youth of today -
who are the scientists of tomorrow," says Prof Peter Gruss, President of the
Max Planck Society.
The opening ceremony included a number of presentations from German and
South African scientists and dignitaries, including Dr Phil Mjwara,
Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology, Prof Reinhard
Zimmerman of the Max Planck Institute in Germany, and Prof Theodor Hansch Nobel
Laureate 2005.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Adt also announced an official invitation by
Germany's Minister of Education and Research, Dr Anette Schavan to South
Africa's Science and Technology Minister, Mosibudi Mangena to visit Germany as
well as her intention to then visit South Africa in early 2008.
CERN, the world's largest laboratory for particle physics, the European
Space Agency, the European Southern Observatory, the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
and other organisations have also made important loans to the exhibition.
The Science Tunnel exhibition is in South Africa as a result of long
standing and successful collaboration between South Africa and Germany. Germany
is one of South Africa's most important trading partners with a total volume of
trade amounting to EUR 10,05 billion in 2005. Germany is South Africa's most
important supplier, particularly in capital goods and technology transfer, and
ranks fourth as an importer of South African goods after the USA, the United
Kingdom and Japan.
Enquiries:
Celeste Tema
Cell: 083 399 0765
Kristin Klose
Cell: 082 902 9503
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
18 May 2007
