Scifest Africa, South Africa’s National Science Festival, walked away with honours at the first Science Forum South Africa, winning Best Exhibition Runner Up for their stand which profiled the project.
Scifest Africa, South Africa’s National Science Festival, walked away with honours at the first Science Forum South Africa, winning Best Exhibition Runner Up for their stand which profiled the project.
The award was presented to Scifest Africa Director, Anja Fourie, by Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor.
The forum was held at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria last week.
The theme for 2015 was “Igniting conversations about science” and it aimed to showcase the role of science, technology and innovation and its impact on Africa and create a space where various stakeholders from different spheres in science, technology and innovation could interact with one another.
Scifest Africa’s winning exhibition demonstrated how scientists can communicate their research and complex scientific concepts through interactive demonstrations such as those used by the festival at mall promotions. The team also showcased interactive ways for science educators and communicators to make use of cheap and accessible materials in order to teach abstract scientific concepts such as light and sound.
Anja Fourie said, “With both local and international exhibitors in attendance, an award of this stature at the first forum of its kind in South Africa is a remarkable achievement. Coming second to the ground-breaking discovery of Homo naledi, humankind’s newest relative, is an honour and one which we will gladly own”.
Minister Pandor said that the forum “successfully brought together scientists, government officials, industry leaders, students and representatives from broader civil society, not only from South Africa and the rest of the African continent, but also from our international partners from the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania”.
Scifest Africa aims to promote the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of science, technology and innovation in South Africa. The 2016 festival will see the event celebrate its 20th anniversary and will be held in Grahamstown from 2-8 March 2016.
For more information visit www.scifest.org.za or call 046 603 1106.
