New science labs for local schools
Pupils at Sutherland rural schools grateful for opportunities
IN AN effort to invest in future scientists, two Sutherland schools have received new science labs, as well as combined desks, from the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO).
The donations were made to Sutherland High School and Roggeveld Primary School at the weekend.
The SAAO field station in Sutherland hosts the Southern African Large Telescope (Salt), the largest optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere.
Its home in the small rural town has sparked scientific curiosity in many young people and, through investing in education, the SAAO with the Department of Science and Technology, and the National Research Foundation hopes to provide new opportunities in science for future generations.
Sutherland High School principal Persephone van der Ross said: “The previous lab was very outdated, it was more than 50 years old. We could not do experiments with the children because the burners were not working.
“With this new, up-to-standard lab, we have a special glass case when they use chemicals that are dangerous and should not go up into the air. We can really go further with lessons.
“More development in Salt gives more work opportunities. There are already a lot of our youngsters who found work at Salt, in management and computers.
“They also have bursaries children at our school can apply for. I feel that we are privileged, because we are a small rural town and you won’t find something like that in a rural school… it’s only because we have the Observatory and the National Research Foundation who help us there.”
Grade 10 pupil Denucia Mitchell, 15, said she was ecstatic about the upgrading of their lab.
“It’s amazing, because we have all the equipment for all the experiments we have to do. I am very passionate about science. Science is my life – when I grow up, I want to be a forensic scientist. Science brought me to Sutherland because my father is an engineer at the SAAO.”
As part of the Salt Collateral Benefits Programme, the SAAO also established a community outreach centre with computers and free internet use.
Science Engagement manager Anthony Mietas said the centre was established to “nurture the pursuit of knowledge”.
“It speaks to the child who might not have access to any libraries and also speaks to the young adults who want to pursue further studies. They can come here and do that online.”
Veruschska Wentzel, mayor of Karoo Hoogland, said: “For me it’s a privilege because I was a pupil at Roggeveld Primary and Sutherland High.
“Many of those benches were broken and I never had the opportunity to use computers when I was at school. All this investment helps with the development of our children, to make them better people.”