Dr Phil Mjwara, the Programme Director;
Mr Sekgobelo Magashule, the Premier of the Free State province;
Mr Tate Makgoe, MEC for Education;
Councillor Thabo Manyoni, the Executive Mayor of Mangaung;
Dr Choice Makhetha, the Vice Rector of the University of the Free State;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen.
National science week is fifteen years old.
We launch the National Science Week on university campuses, because universities are major contributors to knowledge creation and to offer our children exposure to the university environment.
Science week is held annually, we hope it will stimulate your interest in science and in pursuing higher education studies.
Some of you are still in grade 8 or 9, the interaction you will have today with the laboratory facilities and staff on this campus may be enough to make you think twice about not studying mathematics and science when you enter grade 10 in a year or two from now.
On the other hand, those already in Grades 10 to 12, who have already chosen mathematics and science, will almost certainly be motivated to study hard to excel in your Grade 12 examinations. That is the only way to pursue your ambition to become a scientist.
I encourage you all to choose to study mathematics and physical science, since this widens the options available to you when you leave school.
Careers in Science Engineering and Technology are demanding, they require a high level of perseverance and precision. As a department we have programmes that help us to discover pupils with talent and potential for science, engineering and technology careers.
Of course, not all of you will study for science-based degrees at universities. However, just passing Grade 12 mathematics and physical science still offers you an opportunity to contribute to South Africa’s scientific and technological development.
This year we celebrate science week under the theme, "Today’s Science, Tomorrow’s World". Tomorrow's scientific discoveries and innovations grow out of the research and education pursued in today's science councils, universities, and schools. We in the DST value science today so that we can look forward to young scientists shaping our country’s science-based future.
Of course, for the youth of today to become the scientists of tomorrow we need to foster awareness among learners of the various careers that are available in the world of science, engineering, technology and innovation.
We start early and we start well. In 1999, South Africa first began sending high-school-learners research projects to the world’s most prestigious science fair, namely, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the USA. We began with 2 projects in 1999 and this year we sent 11. We have done well every year. The highlight was in 2007 when all our three participants received best project in their categories and first prizes.
This year we received 5 awards for our 11 projects. Our standing as a country has improved - we are now regarded the 5th best country at this event. These learners are all former participants of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, a project that my department supports.
This year is UNESCO's International Year of Crystallography. It is for that reason that Crystallography is the sub-theme of this science week. The aim is to expose South Africans to a science field that is useful in the design and improvement of drugs. I am told that UFS will, in collaboration with some world institutions, host a crystallography workshop and summit that will bring science policy makers in Africa together to explore ways to promote the expansion of science in Africa.
The Department of Science and Technology is involved in various public awareness initiatives during the calendar year, but National Science Week is by far the most significant. My department collaborates with science councils, universities, science centres, and other government departments and agencies, with a view to exposing our youth to the world of science.
We believe we can achieve more through partnerships than by working alone and so various stakeholders and role players in the national system of innovation take part in National Science Week.
We believe that this is what enriches National Science Week and makes it an invaluable public-awareness initiative.
With these few words, I invite all our citizens participate in week-long science activities in throughout the country.
Thank you.
