Pretoria – The annual National Science Week is expected to excite and encourage the South African youth to develop an interest in studying mathematics and science subjects.
Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor will on Saturday launch the National Science Week (NSW) at the North-West University (NWU)’s Mafikeng Campus. The National Science Week will run from 1 to 8 August.
According to the Department of Science of Technology, the event will be attended by thousands of learners, university students, scientists and members of the community.
The 2015 theme for the National Science Week is "Light and Light based-technologies (IYL 2015)".
At the launch, light and its significance in improving lives will be showcased in different forms such as the application of laser in health, cataract surgery, industry manufacturing, car welding and security beams for deterring burglary.
The department has through the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), invested in photonics, the science of light technology of generating controlling and detecting light waves and particles of light.
This, according to the department, has led among other things, to the world’s first breakthrough in digital-laser technology.
The breakthrough at the CSIR represents a new way of thinking about laser technology and could be a platform on which future technologies are built.
The National Science Week will be held in all nine provinces simultaneously at multiple sites per province.
As part of the NSW launch, the Minister will launch the Mzansi4Science portal, which is another platform identified to profile the work of the National System of Innovation in addition to social media, television and radio. – SAnews.gov.za
