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By Levy Masiteng
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande is on a mission to change the face and landscape of the country’s public science system so that it truly reflects the demographics of South Africa.
This week, the country is celebrating National Science Week, which aims to close the gap between society and science.
Over the past 25 years, the programme has grown significantly, and from next year it will become the National Science Month.
Nzimande, who kicked off celebrations at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, spoke about his department’s plans for science.
“We intend to upscale our science centres project. In the past, we donated mobile lab units in the form vans which were customised to serve as labs. This intervention has proven to be quite impactful and with the experience we have gathered, we intend to scale up this programme,” he said.
The department was currently considering the establishment of two forms of science centres. One was a national flagship science centre, which would comply with the highest global standards, and the other was limited-scale science centres that were service delivery focused and strategically located within localities for easy access to the public.
“Our decision to upscale our science engagement interventions is informed by a number of considerations. One is my dream of seeing each of our provinces having a high-quality science centre before the end of my term,” Nzimande said.
Other interventions, including aligning science engagement interventions with national priorities, are focused on increasing the number of learners with higher pass rates in maths and science.
The aim is to help more young Black children, especially in rural areas, gain the confidence and skills for science careers.
“From an epistemic perspective, our interventions are also aimed at making sure that we produce young academics, scientists and researchers, who don’t merely see themselves as consumers of the knowledge that others produce (especially the Global North), but see themselves as producers of knowledge,” he said.
The week-long programme is coordinated by the SA Agency for Science and Technology Advancement. It forms part of the government’s efforts to contribute to the development of a society that engages critically on science, technology and innovation.
The countrywide events include science and career exhibitions at schools, lectures, science discussions and online science events.
There will also be exhibitions at taxi ranks to demonstrate how inclusive science can drive social cohesion, economic growth and sustainable development.
“The department’s goal is to make science accessible to everyone, regardless of background, class, or geographic location,” Nzimande said.
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