NSTF AND SKA SA COLLABORATE ON ASTRONOMY TOUR FOR 2016 TOP MATRICULANTS IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE

NSTF AND SKA SA COLLABORATE ON ASTRONOMY TOUR FOR 2016 TOP MATRICULANTS IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) is proud to announce a new collaboration with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa to reward South Africa’s 2016 top matriculants in mathematics and physical science. The collaboration will see SKA SA support a national astronomy tour from 22-29 June for participants selected for the NSTF Brilliants Programme.

The programme recognises first-year students studying in the fields of science, medicine and engineering. The 2016 top-performing female and male matriculant from each of the nine provinces was selected for the programme, based on their marks in mathematics and physical science in the most recent National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) Examinations.

NSTF and SKA SA celebrate youth: The astronomy tour will conclude with the prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards Gala Dinner to be held at Emperor’s Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng on 29 June. The Brilliants Awardees will be recognised and introduced to the science, engineering, technology (SET) and innovation community. Both events were scheduled in Youth Month to celebrate:

• the brilliance and potential of the South African youth
• the excellence of South Africa’s SET professionals and their standing as role models for the youth; and
• the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and the outstanding contributions that research has made to support sustainable tourism in South Africa

Young people are our future innovators: NSTF’s Executive Director, Ms Jansie Niehaus said that 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. This is a concern for SET industries, professionals and for the NSTF.

“By honouring the Brilliants top performers, these youth 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” said Ms Niehaus.

Brilliants students to visit astronomy tourism sites: The astronomy tour hosted by SKA SA will see the Brilliants Awardees visit various astronomy sites, including the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory outside Johannesburg, SKA site outside Carnarvon, South African Large Telescope (SALT) outside Sutherland, and South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town. Awardees will also be trained to assist during stargazing outreach events in the Karoo, participate in an introduction to big data workshop by Google, and visits various scientific tourism sites in Cape Town.

The tour will expose students to new fields of study and careers in SET, bursary opportunities at SKA SA, and role models in SET and innovation in South Africa. It is hoped that a visit to the various astronomy tourism sites will inspire the students to promote astronomy and astronomy tourism in South Africa.