National Science Week 2022 – 1 to 6 August
Theme: Celebrating the role of basic sciences in the modern world
National Science Week (NSW) is an annual event aiming to exhibit and communicate science awareness. An initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), it is a countrywide celebration of science connecting various stakeholders and role players conducting science-based activities during the week, as well as a celebration of the role and value of science and technology in people’s daily lives.
The NSW was established in 2000 and has developed over years towards national coverage. As the coordinator, NRF-SAASTA is responsible for the national coordination of the NSW through the deployment of resources, reports and overall bringing together of the project.
The NSW 2022 will be launched on Saturday, 30 July 2022 and will run from 01 – 06 August 2022. Keeping up with the practice of recognizing the United Nations (UN) international observances, the NSW 2022 will incorporate activities to celebrate the UN’s International Year of Basic Sciences 2022.
The objectives of celebrating the NSW 2022 under the aforementioned theme are to:
(a) Illustrate the role of science in addressing problems and challenges encountered in creating and sustaining a prosperous society;
(b) Demystify myths surrounding some of the innovations which are important to the advancement of society;
(c) Display that South Africa is home to discoveries and innovations influencing the world; and
(d) Raise science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career awareness.
Share your IYBSSD activities
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is coordinating South African participation in the International Year of Basics Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD) on behalf of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and National Research Foundation (NRF). ASSAf invites organisations which are planning IYBSSD events and activities to share these through the online form created for this purpose. It will be reviewed and once endorsed, added to the IYBSSD schedule/calendar.
So far, more than 50 science entities, higher education institutions and schools from South Africa have officially committed to host events and activities to demonstrate that through mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry (and other basic sciences), various applied sciences are able to develop solutions to the many challenges as identified by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
STEM Education Discussion Forum – 29 & 30 August
An online discussion forum on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is being hosted by proSET. It will provide a platform to discuss serious disruptions to school education over the past two and a half years and possible ways to address these. The aim is also to discuss career guidance, technology, engineering and arts, all in relation to STEM.
Brilliants Edu-Tour 2022 – 17-21 July
The NSTF Brilliants programme celebrates its 21st year with 19 students this year. This unique annual programme recognises the top young man and woman chosen from each of the nine provinces based on their marks in physical science and mathematics in the 2021 National Senior Certificate Examinations (Grade 12) and their choice of studies in STEM-related courses.
This year, 19 students were selected for the Brilliants Programme, because of a tie in one of the provinces. Meet these exceptional young people on the NSTF website.
Tour to science-related facilities: The Brilliants students are treated to an educational tour every year. This year a nature conservation and biodiversity tour is being held from 17-21 July, sponsored by The Lewis Foundation. Since the tour was not possible the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all three groups from 2020 to 2022 will be joining this tour, including the 2021 BEST students (Biological and Environmental Science Top students). The tour includes visits to Maropeng and the Sterkfontein Caves, Kloofendal Nature Reserve, Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens and the Bothongo Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve.
The current sponsors of the Brilliants programme are South32, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP)
