Mr Ian Neilson, Deputy Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town;
Mr Robin Carlisle, the MEC for Transport and Public Works;
Ms Belinda Walker, Councillor at the City of Cape Town;
Members of the Science and Technology Portfolio Committee;
Madame Elisabeth Barbier, Ambassador of France in South Africa;
Ms Erica Barks Ruggles, US Consulate General;
Mr Roland Herrmann, German Consulate General;
Mr Brian Schreuder, Chairman of the Cape Town Science Centre Board;
Ms Julie Cleverdon, Director of the Cape Town Science Centre;
Professor Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan, University of Cape Town;
Prof Brian O’Connell, Rector, University of the Western Cape;
Members of the Cape Town Science Centre’s Scientific Advisory Committee;
Young science learners;
Members of the media;
Ladies and gentlemen.
I’ve only been here for just over half an hour or so and I’ve already seen enough to convince me - not that I needed any convincing that this Science Centre is here to stay. Thank you, Julie, for so eloquently sharing with us the journey of this Centre, and to Professor Chinsamy-Turan - I was very intrigued by your story of the CTSC time capsule, and I look forward to the burying ceremony for the capsule later on this evening.
On an occasion such as this, our thoughts extend back to individuals and organisations that in their different ways contributed to the establishment, 12 years ago, of the former MTN ScienCentre, at Century City, just a few kilometres from here. I would like to use this opportunity to thank MTN for its generous sponsorship of the centre for all of ten years.
Those who came up with the idea of establishing that science centre deserve accolades for their ingenuity and for working so hard to ensure that the project ended up being the unqualified success that it was. Over the years, the science centre grew in reputation and popularity, eventually putting it on par with some internationally renowned science centres.
It became a pillar of relevant knowledge and experience, setting the benchmark for other emerging centres. In fact, the MTN ScienCentre spawned a number of other new science centres across the country and was central in the development of a science centre movement in South Africa.
In 2011, our country hosted a successful 6th Science Centre World Congress here in Cape Town. This MTN ScienCentre played host to that Congress, and the event proved to be a great success despite numerous challenges that confronted the centre and its staff at the time. The management and supporters of the centre deserve to be commended for that.
Given the challenges that faced the science centre we are opening tonight, this occasion could well be considered a celebration of the fruits of perseverance. There were times when the situation looked very bleak for the science centre, with no real home from which to operate, forcing it to limit its operations to outreach projects only.
The never-say-die attitude of Julie and her team, supported by their board of directors and the Centre’s Scientific Advisory Committee, enabled the science centre to navigate this minefield and to come out on top.
I am proud that my department played a role by providing the much-needed funding support towards revamping these new premises. To date, the department has spent over R5 million on the Centre, which I’m sure we will all agree, has been money well spent.
And I say this not just because we can see all around us here this evening the excellent results of that funding, but also because it is money spent on the education of our young people. The value of this cannot be emphasised enough, as reflected in the words of the great OR Tambo who said: “A country that does not value its youth, does not value its future.”
The Western Cape Education Department was instrumental in making sure that while the refurbishment of the new building progressed the science centre did not just tread water, but in fact vigorously continued with its outreach work.
I commend the department for that and would strongly suggest that they explore the valuable supportive role that science centres can play in teacher empowerment and in training mathematics, science and technology teachers on the best ways to bring their subjects to life in the classroom.
The Scibono Science Centre in Gauteng serves as an inspiring model of the useful supportive role of an effective science centre. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) looks forward to facilitating this process.
Today, our country is host to 30 science centres, at different stages of development. These centres are all tangible examples of Government’s proven resolve to convert its visions into practical solutions that lead directly to a better life for our citizens.
This is why our funding support for science centres has been rising over the past ten years. Currently, the department spends more than R20 million per annum on science centres, and we plan to increase that amount in years to come.
Together with the National Department of Basic Education and the Eastern Cape Provincial Department of Education we have recognised the potential contribution of a Science Centre in a pilot that the DST has introduced in the Cofimvaba District of the Eastern Cape.
The pilot aims to introduce and test technologies in a rural school system that could lead to the improvement in the quality of learning and teaching.
Amongst the technologies that are being tested is the use of Tablets as a means of making text and information available to teachers and learners. Some of the research questions will include: Which are the most appropriate devises? What text? How is this integrated into the work of the teachers and schools? What sources of energy are most appropriate?
The Science Centre that is to be established in the Cofimvaba District will be a new one and will in itself demonstrate the application of appropriate technologies in its design, including energy efficiency and minimising waste.
It is clear that schooling is not the role of DST but we, together with every citizen, have a vested interest in the next generation of scientists. The Cofimvaba Science Centre, as well as this science centre and all other centres are part of the commitment to ensuring that every child in our country has the opportunity to be exposed to the world of science and technology, to explore and to discover the marvels of science.
Whereas the planned increase in government funding to science centres may be good news, the science centre communities need to understand and appreciate that it does come with responsibility on their side. The same principles apply with funds received from the corporate sector. The obligations of science centres which benefit from both government and corporate sector support include:
Science centres should define their strategic focus areas and establish ways of addressing them. In this regard, the DST and the local science centre community agreed in 2004 that science centres that are aligned to and supported by the department should respond to four strategic focus areas:
- promoting science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation awareness among the youth and the general public;
- Contributing to mathematics, science and technology curriculum support;
- Contributing to identifying and nurturing youth talent and potential; and SET career education.
- Science centres must also be able to monitor and demonstrate the impact of their work on their target beneficiaries. It is therefore important that we determine performance indicators upfront.
- Science centres should uphold corporate governance standards.
The DST is keen to assist science centres in meeting expectations of both government and corporate sector funders – hence my recent approval of the Framework for the Promotion of Excellence in a National Network of Science Centres.
I would like to appeal to various corporate sector organisations to consider the good work that science centres in the country are doing and to include these centres in their corporate social involvement and other strategies.
And of course I would like to use this opportunity to thank the corporate sector organisations that have contributed to the reconstitution of this centre. I sincerely hope that your generosity sparks others into action.
Government has shown in word and deed that it is committed to these science centres, and with the corporate sector on our side, we can bring science and technology so much closer to many more young South Africans.
So, well done to the management of the reconstituted Cape Town Science Centre! We wish you every success as you continue to demystify science and make it exciting to young people. To conclude, allow me to share with you an excerpt from Jheni Osman’s wonderful book, 100 Ideas that changed the World.
The excerpt is about the discovery of the atom, which shows how the simplest of experiences, not necessarily experiments, can lead to life-changing, eureka moments. When the ancient Greek philosopher Democritus smelt the scent from a freshly baked loaf of bread, he deduced that in order for the smell to reach his nostrils, there must be some minute particles of bread actually separating from the loaf and wafting through the air.
From this he surmised that a piece of cheese could be cut in half, repeatedly, until eventually there would be a tiny piece that could not be halved, not because the knife was too blunt but because the final particle was something that could not be sliced. He called this particle an “atom”, which means “uncuttable” in Greek.
On that note, ladies and gentlemen, it now gives me pleasure to cut the proverbial ribbon and to declare the Cape Town Science Centre officially open.
Thank you!
