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| News in Brief - 2003 |
Here you'll find the News in Brief as published on our homepage during 2003.
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Download the latest EasyScience |
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December 2003 - SAASTA has formed a partnership with the magazine MiniMag, which now incorporates EasyScience as a four-page part of this very popular magazine. The two magazines decided to combine efforts, since their audience and broad educational goals are similar. You can download the EasyScience supplements free of charge on this site, or you can purchase MiniMag at Woolworths stores in South Africa.
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Enter the 2004 Science Olympiad |
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December 2003 - Educators, we need you help to motivate and coordinate your learners to experience the thrill of competing with others from around the country in the National Science Olympiad. Learners in grades 10 - 12 may enter to compete for a range of exciting prizes.
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No leisure holidays for South Africa's budding female Einsteins |
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December 2003 - There are no leisure holidays for South Africa's 300 budding female Einsteins as they participate in a mathematics, science and technology camp at the University of Cape Town between 7-16 December 2003. These girls are members of an innovative R9 million project to destroy the myth that girls can't do maths and science and therefore are discouraged to take the requisite courses that would open career opportunities in maths and science.
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Call for proposals to take science to rural communities
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November 2003 - For the third year running, the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), is calling for proposals from individuals/organisations to take science to rural communities. The ultimate goal of the awards is to contribute to the upliftment of rural communities and to encourage their participation in the fields of science and technology. Funding may range from R50 000 up to R100 000 per project and will be awarded on a competitive basis for projects to be implemented during 2004. The closing date for submissions of application forms is 20 November 2003.
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Take up the Southern Skies Challenge
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October 2003 - Young South Africans (5 - 23 years) are invited to enter the Southern Skies CHALLENGE to celebrate World Space Week in South Africa. You could win computers, cash prizes and a guided tour of the new Southern African Large Telescope! All you need to do is submit writing, drawing, other art work (such as a model), or a digital entry (such as a web site), or a combination of any of these in one of the competition categories. The closing date is 15 December 2003.
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Visit us at the Blue IQ Smart Industry Expo
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October 2003 - The NRF's role in creating new knowledge and developing new skills in biotechnology will be showcased at the Blue IQ Smart Industry Expo, to be held from 22 - 24 October 2003 in Sandton. The stand will also focus on the important aspect of public understanding of biotechnology, and how SAASTA is creating opportunities for public dialogue and debate about biotechnology and its applications in society. SAASTA will also host an exhibition, in collaboration with the British Council, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA.
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Celebrating World Space Week in South Africa |
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October 2003 - World Space Week will be celebrated in South Africa with a variety of activities from 4 - 11 October 2003. Participate in an event or download a free online resource to learn more about space. Enter the Southern Skies Challenge, download The Solar System Board Game, find out Who's who in South Africa's space zoo, see what events are taking place or visit the website for more exciting information.
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Observatory in Johannesburg turns 100!
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September 2003 - This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Johannesburg Observatory. To commemorate this milestone in South African astronomy, the National Research Foundation and SAASTA will be hosting an evening function for invited guests on the Observatory grounds on Wednesday, 8 October. In its time, the Observatory had more observations of minor planets than any other observatory in the Southern Hemisphere. It was here that 6 000 double stars were discovered, as well as the cataloguing of more than 20 000 double stars.
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World Space Week South Africa
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August 2003 - SAASTA is the national coordinator of World Space Week (WSW) in South Africa held annually from 4-10 October. Leading up to, and during WSW there will be a number of activities around the country. Visit the website to find out more about WSW, download teacher activity guides and enter the international competition.
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Enter the SA Science Lens photographic competition |
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August 2003 - Capture the world where science meets art. Photography is an art, a craft and a science. Can you use these elements to capture on film the excitement and beauty of science and technology in South Africa? Then this competition is for you ...
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Launch of Public Understanding of Biotechnology website
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August 2003 - Visit the new Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB) website at www.pub.ac.za. The programme was launched to ensure a clear, balanced understanding of the scientific principles, related issues and potential of biotechnology and to stimulate public debate around its applications in society. The site includes interesting information such as biotechnology fact files, educational cartoons and posters. Don't forget to join PubNet, the email news list!
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South Africa's young Einsteins jet off to the London International Youth Science Forum |
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July 2003 - South Africa's four top science learners, winners of South Africa's National Science Olympiad, jet off to London on 22 July 2003 to attend the London International Youth Science Forum. The National Science Olympiad offers learners in grade 10 - 12 an exciting opportunity to compete in the science arena with fellow learners from around the country.
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National Science Olympiad winners to spend a day in an incubator |
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July 2003 - eGoli BIO Life Sciences Incubator in collaboration with the Public Understanding of Biotechnology Programme (PUB) is hosting a Biotechnology Day on 9 July 2003 for the winners of the National Science Olympiad as part of a week of science events organized by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA).
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"Girls cannot do maths and science" - destroying the myth
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July 2003 - The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) and SAASTA have embarked on a three year programme that focuses on the advancement of Mathematics and Science subjects among female learners. Learners who have achieved more than 55-percent on the Higher Grade in Mathematics and Science were selected from 30 secondary schools located in previously disadvantaged communities in five provinces.
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South Africa to bid for giant radio telescope
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May 2003 - In May 2003, South Africa launched its bid to host the $1-billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio-telescope project. A steering committee has been established to direct and develop South Africa’s bid to host the full-scale SKA when it becomes operational in 2015. The SKA is arguably the most important and most exciting project proposed for radio astronomy in the past 50 years.
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South Africa top in African maths olympiad
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May 2003 - For the second year running a team of four high school students from South Africa have won top honours in the Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) which was held in Maputo, Mozambique from 19 to 27 April 2003.
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National Science, Engineering and Technology Week 2003
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May 2003 - The Department of Science and Technology (DST) will host its annual National Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Week from 5 to 10 May 2003. National SET Week has become South Africa's premier celebration of science, engineering and technology; featuring events open to the public, initiated by the Department of Science and Technology and managed by SAASTA.
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SA commemorates discovery of DNA - one of landmarks of 20th century impacts on our daily lives
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April 2003 - On 25 April 2003, the world celebrated the discovery of the three-dimensional molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) 50 years ago. DNA carries genetic information and conveys it from one generation to the next. This discovery not only changed the history of genetic research, but also provided new tools for answering old questions relating to health, agriculture and the environment. Today, the application of DNA-based technology is used in diagnostic tests, cloning, genetically modified foods (GM), paternity tests, and forensic tests.
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Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad
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April 2003 - The 13th Pan-African Mathematics Olympiad (PAMO) will be taking place in Maputo, Mozambique from 19 to 27 April 2003. PAMO is an annual event organised by the African Mathematical Union (AMU) to encourage youthful talent in Mathematics and to exchange information on curricula and teaching methods in mathematics across the African continent.
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Genetic engineering: spectacular science or playing God?
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March 2003 - Download a free issue of the latest Archimedes which features genetic engineering. In this edition, we are joining world-wide celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Crick and Watson’s discovered DNA and will be uncovering why their efforts are worth celebrating so many years down the line.
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Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB) Programme
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February 2003 - A programme on the Public Understanding of Biotechnology (PUB) has been launched. FEST, which is now part of the National Research Foundation (NRF) was elected as the implementing agency for PUB by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), who are funding this three year initiative.
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FEST now forms part of the NRF
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January 2003 - The Foundation for Education, Science and Technology has been declared an Institution which shall be subject to the provisions of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Act. All the FEST assets and liabilities have been transferred to the NRF with effect from 1 December 2002. The transfer was declared in the Government Gazette on 13 December 2002. Watch this space to find out FEST's new name and identity.
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Join SASCON, a science communication network today
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January 2003 - Inspired by similar organisations elsewhere in the world, the Southern African Science Communication Network (SASCON) is southern Africa’s entry into the global network of science communicators. This free network promotes interaction and collaboration in the field of science communication.
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