UNISA and DST promote STEMI as a career

UNISA in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology hosted the 2018 National Science Week on the 30 July to the 4 August. The event which was attended by over 120 international delegates aims to promote science, engineering and technology as tools to economic freedom.

This way the project encourages students to consider STEMI as a preferable career choice by making Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation appealing to them.  According to reporters Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama and Patricia Gouws, the project also showcases local innovations in science and technology, the leadership role of DST and other government departs in enabling research, development and innovation.

The participating departments presented a number of impressive exhibits on Tuesday and Friday, from geography, astronomy and 3D scanning to robotic workshops, engineering labs and horticulture centre.

The event also highlighted one of the most important issues right now in the world, cyber security and safety. As technology advances and is becoming a more prominent part of our daily lives, crime is escalating as well; it is becoming easier to access peoples personal information.

Prof Bobby Tait a cyber security and safety expert from the School of Computing, talking to Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama and Patricia Gouws said, “By participating in this cyber world we are also exposed to criminal elements that aim to steal our identities, money and other digital assets. All cyber users should understand these cyber threats as well as what to do to create a safe and wholesome digital world”.

The presentation even touched on safety on social media and ways to become a responsible digital citizen. There were other speakers at the event who talked about important issues such as the effect of social media and children, the role of electronic sports in education just to name a few.

The event was a huge success and opened doors to a brighter future. According to Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama and Patricia Gouws, “There was a greater participation and this provided increased access and an even greater awareness of the deepening of our democracy through science. Such an effort has really exposed the Science Campus to the world’s best scholars and experts in the fields of membrane science and technology.”