Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, the Chairperson: Scifest Africa Scientific Advisory Committee
Ms Mpho Letlape, the Managing Director, Sasol Inzalo Foundation
Ms Louisa Clayton, the Executive Director of the Grahamstown Foundation
Ms Anja Fourie, the Director of SciFest Africa
Representative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Representative of Old Mutual South Africa
Representatives of the Beijing Association of Science and Technology
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It’s a pleasure to be here today.
We are fortunate to have Scifest Africa.
I would like to commend the Grahamstown Foundation, which had the foresight, as early as 1996, to establish Scifest Africa.
I would like to thank the lead sponsor, Sasol; the premier sponsor: systemic education and extra-mural development and support (SEEDS) funded by the embassy of The Netherlands; the general sponsor, Old Mutual, and all the sponsors-in-kind of this festival.
This is the 15th Scifest Africa.
It has inspired other science festivals. Last year, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) funded nine science festivals. All of them have learned from Scifest Africa’s depth of knowledge and experience.
The festivals are an important addition to the various initiatives we have developed to bring science to young people and communities.
The theme for Scifest Africa 2011 is "Science Across Cultures".
Dr Adrian Tiplady of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project will give the keynote lecture, highlighting SKA as a leading example of "Science across cultures".
Two weeks ago we launched the International Astronomy Union Office of Astronomy Development in Cape Town. This office will be an essential structure in building astronomy awareness across Africa and in attracting young people to the science of astronomy.
It is also crucial to strengthening the SKA bid.
South Africa is working hard to ensure that more people study science and mathematics. This is because we believe these are subjects that are important to the socio-economic future of South Africa. The Scifest, our DST supported science centres, and our national science week all serve the objective of expanding science access and awareness.
The African SKA bid has the full support of the Africa Union (AU) and African countries.
"Science Across Cultures" is also the theme of the 6th Science Centre World Congress that the Southern African Association of Science and Technology Centres (SAASTEC), in collaboration with a number of stakeholders, including my department, will host in September 2011 in Cape Town.
All of these initiatives affirm that the success of our endeavours depends on the development of a science, engineering and technology human-capital pipeline that starts at the schooling level.
These multi-stakeholder driven science, engineering and technology awareness campaigns, which include science festivals, are the best way to create excitement among learners.
Scifest Africa’s lecture series will feature Professor Alta Schutte, winner in the category Distinguished Young Woman Scientist in the Life Sciences in the Department of Science and Technology 2010 South African Women in Science Awards, as well as Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, runner-up in the same category.
They are role models for young people. They encourage young people to pursue careers in science engineering and technology by their own success.
South Africa joins other countries in celebrating the International Year of Chemistry 2011. Through this science festival and other initiatives yet to take place in the next seven months, South Africa will be part of a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.
I would like to congratulate Sasol in making chemistry learning and teaching at school more exciting through the distribution of its "Chemical Curricular Pack".
I would like to take this opportunity and to wish all the learners, educators and parents who will have a chance to visit Scifest Africa 2011 well.
My message to you is: take advantage of Scifest to understand science better in an informal and entertaining fashion.
If you are a learner, this festival could change your attitude towards mathematics and physical science subjects, as well as shaping your career direction towards science, engineering and technology.
If you are an educator or a parent, there is a good chance that you could influence a number of learners to start taking mathematics and physical science subjects seriously, and even start contemplating careers in science, engineering and technology.
With these words, I declare Scifest Africa 2011, officially open.
I thank you.
