Technology, Derek Hanekom, at Expo Science Internationale 2007, at the
International Convention Centre, Durban
9 July 2007
Programme Director
Chairperson and members of the board of International Movement for Leisure
Activities in Science and Technology (MILSET)
Chairperson and members of the board of Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
Director of Electronic Supply Industry (ESI) 2007, Ms Priscilla Moodley
Representatives of Eskom and other sponsoring organisations
Distinguished guests
Young scientists from all over the world
Ladies and gentlemen
It is an honour to be here today, in the presence of our future Einsteins,
Darwins and Freuds. After accepting the invitation to speak at this event, I
gave myself an assignment of researching the habits of successful people
especially those who tasted success at a young age.
Through this research I made two discoveries, the fist one was that there is
no formula for success. That's bad news for me because I would really have
loved to have been able to reveal the secret of success to you. The second
discovery was that successful people invariably do have distinctly identifiable
habits. Few people, if any, become successful or even achieve their goals
through sheer luck. There are some habits that seem to be a precondition for
success. Ranging from Albert Einstein to Bill Gates, Richard Branson to Mark
Shuttleworth, there seem to be six habits that set them apart form their peers.
Capacity to work, as Thomas Edison puts it, "Genius is one percent inspiration
and 99 percent perspiration, competence (not settling for mediocrity),
confidence, consistency, conviction and courage. These are the six big Cs.
Allow me to quote two successful authors to illustrate this.
The first is the author Henry David Thoreau who said the following, "I have
learned that he who advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and
endeavours to live the life he has imagined, will meet with a success
unexpected in common hours."
The next is a quote from Mark Twain, "Twenty years from now you will be more
disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So
throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds
in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
The good thing about these habits is that they are acquired and not innate,
which means that all of us in this hall have the capacity to develop them and
the best time for you to start is now! These six habits will keep you in good
stead ask Mark Shuttleworth; today he is widely known as the first person from
the African continent to go into space. In 1995, at the tender age of 22, an
age when a lot people are trying hard to find their feet in the competitive
world of work he started a company which specialised in digital certificates
and internet security. Four years later he sold it for R3,5 billion. Today at
34, he is a sought after business leader and motivational speaker.
Expos have a wonderful habit of cultivating young minds and producing a new
generation of geniuses. South Africa will be hosting a number of these
prestigious events in the near future, including the fifth Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM) Science Centre and Museum International Workshop in 2008, the Pan African
Mathematics Olympiads in 2009 and the 11th Science Centre World Congress in
2011.
These events are part of the Department of Science and Technology's Youth
into Science Strategy which aims to nurture youth talent and attract young
people into science, engineering and technology based careers. We fully support
the local competition, known as the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. Through
it, opportunities have been given to thousands of young learners and
prospective scientists to expose their considerable talents and dedication.
This exposure had an exciting recent outcome. Three young South African
scientists, who could be regarded as prospective leaders in their fields,
entered the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in New Mexico,
United States of America (USA). All three were awarded not only first prizes
but also best in their respective categories.
Let me now take this opportunity to thank all you young scientists who
travelled the length and breadth of the globe to visit this beautiful land.
Make use of this opportunity to learn more about South Africa. Enjoy the open
skies and breathtaking scenery of KwaZulu-Natal. Enjoy the golden beaches. And
I will even cautiously encourage you to enjoy some of Durban's nightlife. You
can prove once and for all that it is a myth that scientists can't dance! Above
all though, take full advantage of this opportunity to get to know each other,
exchange stories and life experiences and inspire each other!
This wonderful international event would not have happened without the
support of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. In particular, I would like to
thank Ms Priscilla Moodley for the sleepless nights she spent putting together
this event. Of course she was not alone in this taxing journey. I would like to
thank all the members of her team, the sponsors and all organisations that
supported this event.
With these words it is my pleasure to declare the 2007 Expo Science
Internationale officially open.
Thank you!
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
9 July 2007
