NSTF and SKA SA celebrate and encourage youth
THE National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), through its Brilliants programme, has collaborated with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa to reward the country’s 2016 top matriculants in mathematics and physical science.
This was primarily in the form of a national astronomy tour from 22-29 June which ended at last night's NSTFSouth32 awards gala dinner.
The NSTF Brilliants programme recognises first-year students studying in the fields of science, medicine and engineering and the female and male matriculants from each of the nine provinces were selected based on their marks in mathematics and physical science in the most recent National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) Examinations.
Besides being recognised, the Brilliants awardees were introduced to the SET and innovation community and NSTF’s Executive Director, Jansie Niehaus, said, “This has value because top results in Grade 12 do not guarantee success. Many school leavers and even graduates struggle to find appropriate work and direction in their lives. It is a concern for SET industries because young people are our future innovators.
“By honouring the Brilliants top performers, these youths feel more encouraged, motivated and inspired to pursue their goals and realise their dreams.
“They also have a clearer understanding of the many interesting and fulfilling positions and possibilities that the National System of Innovation, which includes scientific research, engineering and industry, can offer”
The tour exposed students to new fields of study and careers in SET, bursary opportunities at SKA SA, and role models in SET as well as innovation in South Africa.
“Our hope,” says Niehaus, is that the students will be inspired to promote astronomy and elated tourism in South Africa.
She added that the tour and the gala awards events were scheduled in Youth Month to celebrate: the brilliance and potential of the South African youth; as well as the excellence of South Africa’s SETI professionals and their standing as role models for the youth.
The events were also a nod to the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and the outstanding contributions that research has made to support this.
The various astronomy sites, including the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory outside Johannesburg, the SKA site outside Carnarvon, South African Large Telescope (SALT) outside Sutherland, and South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town.
The awardees, who were trained to assist during stargazing outreach events in the Karoo, also participated in an introduction to big data workshop by Google, and visited various scientific tourism sites in Cape Town.