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Grocott’s Mail Friday, 31 July 2009
News
9
Science staying alive ‘365
days of the year’
Guy Martin
Grahamstown is on its
way to becoming the
site of the first science
centre in the Eastern Cape.
On Monday a group led by
Scifest Africa held a round table
meeting to plan the future
of the centre.
The initiative will take off
in three months time while
a concept document is being
drawn up, which will come up
with a proposal for funding
the centre. “We have taken
the first step in a very longterm
process by establishing
a working committee,”
said Vera Adams, Director
of Scifest Africa. The working
committee is made up of
roughly a dozen stakeholders,
including Scifest Africa,
Rhodes University, the
Department of Education,
Makana Municipality and
various outreach projects run
by Rhodes.
The idea of creating a science
centre in Grahamstown
was formulated several years
ago by Brian Wilmott, the
former director of Scifest.
“The working committee is
trying to get the process going
again,” Adams affirmed.
Grahamstown is an ideal
choice for a science centre
because of its close proximity
to large towns such as
Port Elizabeth and its many
existing science outreach initiatives,
including the Mobile
Science Laboratory, Albany
Museum, the South African
Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity
(SAIAB) and various
Rhodes University projects.
With the establishment of a
science centre, these will all
be brought together under
one roof.
The plan is to establish
a permanent facility that
provides informal education
in science, technology, engineering
and maths through
interactive exhibits, displays
SCIENCE FOR
AFRICA...This
exhibit from
the Singapore
Science Centre
will serve as the
inspiration for
Grahamstown’s
very own
science centre
and the first
in the Eastern
Cape. Photo:
Wouter Holleman
and programmes. These institutions
are a common sight in
more developed countries – for
example, everyone in the United
Kingdom is within an hour’s
drive from a science centre.
However, there are only twenty
science centres in the whole
of South Africa and not a single
one in the Eastern Cape.
Unlike week-long events
such as Scifest Africa, the science
centre would be open
to everybody throughout the
year and would include workshops
and support groups.
“We need to make science
awareness sustainable to target
learners and teachers 365
days of the year,” Adams said.
She added that the centre
will “have a good impact on
science and maths,” and will
“provide a resource centre
both for teachers and learners
in Grahamstown”.
According to Adams, the
centre will also be “a massive
boost for the local economy,
creating jobs and skills
training.” Some of the job opportunities
include those in
creating and manufacturing
exhibits which may be used
elsewhere. A science centre
in Grahamstown will put
much-needed science education
into the hands of the
people of Grahamstown and
the larger Eastern Cape and
boost its educational facilities.
“This is an exciting opportunity
for Grahamstown,”
said Steve Prevec, the head
of the Geology Department at
Rhodes.
Making a dent in
Grahamstown’s
waste
Lauren Minnie
In keeping with the Integrated Waste Management Plan
(IWMP) for Makana Municipality, the Masihlule Project
was launched on 2 March this year, allowing Grahamstown
residents to have recyclable materials collected from their
homes.
The Masihlule Project is a public/private partnership
between the Department of Social Development, Makana
Municipality and local recycling businesses and aims to reduce
our carbon footprint while helping to employ locals desperately
needing work. Recyclable materials such as paper,
cardboard, tins, plastics, cans, and bottles are placed in an
orange or clear refuse bag, and are collected along with your
other refuse.
Local recycling businesses then pay the Masihlule
Project sorters according to the weight of the materials collected,
plus 10% which goes to the project itself.
“People have responded amazingly well,” says Angie
Thomson of the Masihlule Project, “although there have
been problems”. She says there have been discrepancies between
the number of orange and clear bags that are picked up,
and the number that arrive at the site: “People are at the waste
site looking for things such as tins, and they know they can find
these in the orange bags, so often the bags are torn open and
the contents strewn before we can get to it,” she says.
The project also made huge efforts to encourage recycling
during this year’s National Arts Festival, with recycling
bins available as well as a stall to inform locals of the project.
Three Masihlule employees also to clean up the Village
Green once all the festinos had left town.
Despite the few challenges, Thomson says that they have
“grand plans” and that they “have had incredible support
from the municipality” who cleared the site for the project,
and who supply the site with water and electricity. A new,
larger transformer has also been ordered to allow the site to
operate its more heavy-duty machinery, and they also have
plans to extend their storeroom, allowing them to create office
and ablution facilities. Thomson hopes to collaborate
with the junior Rotarians in attracting more local businesses
and restaurants to work with the project, helping prevent
food waste as well as explaining the benefits of recycling: “It
takes a while to get peoples’ heads right, but there are ways
and means and we just have to improve!” says Thomson
passionately.
Visit www.grocotts.co.za
St Andrew’s College, an exciting
educational environment and a
school with immense tradition, invites
applications for the position of:
GRAHAMSTOWN
TEACHER REQUIRED
Applications are invited from suitably qualified teachers for
the following full-time post:
Grade 10 to 12 MATHEMATICS
This post is an SGB or a Department of Education post. A
full contribution to this school’s extramural programme
will be a requirement. Applicants are requested to supply
certified copies of qualifications, proof of SACE registration,
at least two contactable referees and co-curricular areas in
which a contribution may be made.
Appointment date : January 2010
Apply to:
The Headmaster
Graeme College
P.O. Box 281
Grahamstown
Enquiries : 046-6227227
GRAEME COLLEGE
GRAHAMSTOWN
Closing date:
Friday 14 August 2009
Applicants who have not heard
from the school by 21 August
2009 should assume that their
application was unsuccessful.
St Andrew’s College and the Diocesan School for Girls, exciting educational
environments and schools with immense tradition, invite applications for the
position of:
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST
The schools seek the services of a qualified, experienced and committed psychologist
to fill this new exciting position.
Job Responsibilities:
• Liaise with existing pastoral structures and work actively in developing the
pastoral component of the school’s life.
• Career guidance.
• Screening of educational and or psychological referrals.
• Administering and or referring pupils for educational tests.
• Setting up academic support structures.
• Liaising with universities and advising pupils on tertiary entrance
requirements.
• Working closely with the Head of Life Orientation and the Life Orientation
Department.
Applications, including a detailed CV and the names and contact
details of two referees, should reach Mrs Fran Gradwell by
28 August 2009 at PO Box 194, Grahamstown, 6140. E-mail:
f.gradwell@dsgschool.com · Tel: 046 603 4300 · Fax: 046 636 2363
All applications will be treated in strict confidence. The schools reserve the right
not to proceed with the filling of the post. An application in itself does not entitle
the applicant to an interview. The successful candidate will be required to start in
January 2010
www.sacschool.com
www.dsgschool.com
PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHER/HOD
The successful applicant should
• be a suitably qualified graduate
• hold a professional teaching qualification
• be a member of SACE
• be an exceptional teacher who inspires children to enjoy the
wonders of the physical world
• preferably have experience in teaching Physics from Grades 8 - 12
• have a particular interest in LO1 with a focus on research and
laboratory work
• have vision, people skills and energy to lead and to develop a
dynamic Department.
St Andrew’s College enjoys a unique co-ordinate relationship with the
DSG, and classes from Grades 10 - 12 are co-educational.
Applications, including a detailed CV and the names and contact details of
three referees, should reach Mrs Kay Robinson by Friday 31 July 2009 at
PO Box 182, Grahamstown, 6140 •E-mail: k.robinson@sacschool.com
• Tel: 046 603 2302 • Fax: 046 603 2381. Applicants are advised that,
should they not have been contacted for an interview by Friday 14 August
2009, their applications have been unsuccessful.
We reserve the right not to fill the post should operational requirements change in the
meantime.Please note that the submission of an application does not automatically
qualify for an interview. The successful candidate will take up the position from January
2010, or sooner, if possible.
www.sacschool.com