As part of the German-South African Year of Science (YoS), the German Embassy will be participating in this year’s National Science Week (NSW) organised by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The science week, July 30  to August 4  2012, will kick-off with a launch event on July 28 at the University of Johannesburg’s Soweto campus. This event will be honoured by Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor. German Ambassador to South Africa, Dr Horst Freitag, will also be present.

Enlarge image German Research Minister Schavan and South African Science and Technology Minister Pandor (© BMBF)

At the launch event, science exhibitions will entertain, motivate and inspire learners to engage in scientific discovery and enquiry. Five German institutions and the German Embassy are amongst the 70 exhibitors invited. To date, 56 exhibitors have confirmed their participation.

The 6000 expected visitors include 4000 school learners from Dinaledi schools, i.e. dedicated maths and science schools. The audience will be diverse, comprising parents, educators, UJ students and dignitaries.

To ensure country-wide coverage, media interviews will be conducted throughout the morning. Expected media are: SABC TV (South African Broadcasting Corporation), YFM, Kaya FM, Metro FM as well as UJ FM (University of Johannesburg) and VUT FM (Vaal University of Technology).

Since 2000, the NSW has been celebrated annually. It is aimed at celebrating the important role that science and technology play in people’s daily lives. This year’s theme is “The Role of Science in Economic Development”. Various events will take place in all nine provinces during this week. Germany’s participation in this important series of events underlines our commitment to supporting South Africa on its path to becoming a knowledge-based, innovative society. The German institutions present at the launch event will display successful examples of science education and hands-on exhibits.

Other YoS related events in South Africa planned for August are the initial meeting for the research and further education network for VET-professional educators in South Africa (VET Net) from October 8 to 12, 2012 as well as the DST’s Women in Science Awards on August 24, 2012.

More info available on www.germansouthafrican-scienceyear.co.za