Children benefit from National Science Week

More than 600 school children and 79 educators partook in projects and walkabouts in the Garden Route Botanical Garden during National Science Week

(7 - 11 August).

This number is above the projected attendance required by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (Saasta), and attests to the success of the project.

At the garden’s new Science and Environmental Centre, a group of experts gave talks and practical demonstrations about the environment. Among them was Mossel Bay geological expert, Dr Peter Nilssen, who spoke about the archaeological research discoveries dating back to the ice- and stone age.

Educational talks were also given by Gibbs Kuguru of White Shark Africa (and a few interns) on shark conservation; birding expert Peter Ginn, local wildlife photographer

Colin Ralston and astronomer Case Rijsdijk. George Museum Manager Lorrinda Hakimi spoke about “Soil is Life”, Priscilla Burgoyne about microscopes and classification activity, and Karen Claxton gave a talk about people’s responsibility to the natural environment.

Spekbos plants

The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) Board in the Little Karoo delegated three members to participate in the programme - Mary Carr, Luami Zondagh and André Britz, who engaged the children in planting spekboom in tins as part of the Jobs for Carbon Project in the GCBR. Read full story at www.georgeherald.com.

Photos: Pauline Lourens During the local celebrations of National Science Week, Luami Zondagh (right) used models and visual charts to enlighten the learners on the scarcity of clean water, globally and in the region. The youngsters were visibly shocked at learning just how...

André Britz of the Gourtiz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR) Board in the Little Karoo taught the children about using spekboom as a means of carbon sequestration. The learners planted spekboom slips in tins and were very happy to take them home.