Monday, July 30, 2012

News:

NRF CEO visits SAIAB

SAIAB recently had the honour of hosting the NRF Managing Directors’ meeting. The meeting was attended by the Managing Directors of other National Facilities. NRF CEO, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, addressed SAIAB staff on the performance of the NRF and the call for reviewing the placement of National Facilities. Van Jaarsveld also touched on the NRF’s vision 2015, stating that we’re two 3rds of achieving the goals set out. “In terms of the targets we’ve set, some we’re doing quite well and others need some reviews, especially around issues of transformation within the NRF”, he said. At the moment it seems unclear as to what the future of SAIAB is in terms of placement, but Angus urged SAIAB staff to continue doing the good work which is done and improve on areas of improvement. “What we need to remember is that a rock-up in the system isn’t necessarily bad”. In closing, Van Jaarsveld said “this is quite an exciting time for our science system so let’s see this as an opportunity”.

Science and Multilingualism

SAIAB was recently visited by multilinguists Professor Esther Ramani and colleague Michael Joseph from the University of Limpopo. Ramani is a recent recipient of the Mail and Guardian Woman of the Year Award for ground breaking work she has done in the field of African languages. She and Joseph are well known for having worked on the introduction of the first multilingual degree at the University of Limpopo. Although their visit wasn’t ‘professional’, they were very interested in the communication of science in African languages.
Joseph was particularly interested in the type of outreach the institute is involved in considering that we’re based in a largely isiXhosa speaking province. The pair met with Angus Paterson and were taken on a tour of the facilities by Sherwyn Mack. They were particularly fascinated by the artwork by Linga Diko at the entrance to the library.

Ramani said they thought the only thing they're going to see was the coelacanth, "we had no idea there is so much going on at SAIAB".
In 2003 Ramani and colleague Michael Joseph founded a BA in contemporary English and multilingual studies at the University of Limpopo’s School of Languages and Communication Studies. It is the first dual-medium BA programme using an African language (in this case Northern Sotho) at any South African university. Ramani suggested that we produce a publication in IsiXhosa and distributing to the local grahamstown community.
National Science Week
National Science Week is here and SAIAB has a range of activities planned for the week which will run from Monday 30 July to Saturday 4 August under this year’s theme: The Role of Science in Economic Development. Karen Binning has been organising all the SAIAB activities which will all be taking place in Port Elizabeth. Activities include presentations about the marine environment, what are estuaries and why are estuaries important, discussion on climate change and a presentation of current research taking place in Algoa Bay and the Swartkops Estuary. We’ll also be having a SAMREC (SA Marine Rehabilitation and Education Centre) open day Penguin care educational walk in the Cape Receif reserve.

Penny will be facilitating a workshop how prehistoric rock paintings survived the elements and what we can do to conserve these paintings for another thousand years. The workshop will also be looking at the symbolism behind colours used on traditional and modern homes. Albany Museum resident archaeologist, Celeste Booth, will also be teaching participants how to make their own paint. The workshop will be at the  BUCO Workshop, 34 Bathurst Street on 4 August and entrance fee is R10. For more info contact Busi Phongolo at 046 603 1106 or busisiwe@scifest.org.za

National Science Week is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and is a countrywide celebration of science involving various stakeholders and/or role players conducting science-based activities. National Science Week is run in all nine provinces simultaneously at multiple sites per province. The National Launch will be on 28 July in the Gauteng province. National Science Week promotes the greater awareness and appreciation of the contribution that science and technology makes to the nation. In addition to contributing to science, engineering and technology among various sections of the population, the National Science Week is intended to expose the public, educators and learners to science-based careers, particularly disadvantaged sections of the population.
SAASTA is the national project manager of National Science Week and the website can be access here: http://www.saasta.ac.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=30










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