West Coast for National Science Week 2018: Deepening democracy through Science

The Science Learning Centre for Africa of the University of the Western Cape (UWC-SLCA) has scheduled a series of science enhancement events to promote National Science Week 2018 from Saturday 28 July to Friday 3 August 2018.

UWC-SLCA staff will conduct a science roadshow to schools on the West Coast of the Western Cape (Langebaan, Lamberts Bay, Clanwilliam and Vredendal) to promote science as an important discipline for learners to follow, and to encourage schools to develop science clubs and host science-related activities for learners and teachers.

“Science and technology are vital drivers of human progress, vital to confronting issues like global climate change, poverty and scarce resources,” says Prof Shaheed Hartley, UWC-SLCA Director.

“We need more young people who understand and are excited about science, who are willing to find new knowledge, to test what we have always thought to be true, and to help deal with the challenges we face, in South Africa and around the globe.”

The NSW theme for 2018 is “Deepening our democracy through science” and therefore most of the science activities will be geared to promote this theme.

The UWC-SLCA team will visit 11 schools – and one shopping mall – on the West Coast where a series of science promotion events, exhibitions and science-related activities will be held with school learners, and the public in general.  Other science promotion activities will be concluded on the UWC campus and in the surroundings schools.

All activities will be directed at improved awareness and involvement in science and a general understanding and appreciation for the value added by science.

National Science Week, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is an annual event aimed at celebrating the role that science, mathematics, engineering and technology play in everyday life, and encourages more young people to follow careers in these fields. A countrywide celebration of science involving various stakeholders and role players in science, engineering and technology to various sections of the population, NSW is intended to expose learners, educators, parents and the public to science careers, opportunities and events – particularly in disadvantaged sections of the population.

For more information on the UWC-SLCA National Science Week visits to schools on the West Coast, please consult Media release Science Roadshow(1).

Supplied