The City of Grahamstown and visitors to Scifest Africa, South Africa’s National Science Festival, were bid thank you and farewell with breathtaking five-ship aerobatics by the Silver Falcons during the festival’s closing ceremony on Tuesday 18 March.
The City of Grahamstown and visitors to Scifest Africa, South Africa’s National Science Festival, were bid thank you and farewell with breathtaking five-ship aerobatics by the Silver Falcons during the festival’s closing ceremony on Tuesday 18 March.
The Silver Falcons are the display team of the SA Air Force.
The display supported the festival’s 2014 theme, “Into the Space”, which explored the endless possibilities of space.
Spaces explored included architecture to astronomy, biotechnology to the brain, nanotechnology to underwater exploration, and parking spaces to space sciences.
The display was a result of negotiations between Scifest Africa and the SA Air Force over the course of two years.
Falcon 5 and crew leader, Major Beau "Dusty" Skarda said it was the first display by the Silver Falcons over Grahamstown.
Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and a growing number of embassies and sponsors in kind, Scifest Africa continues to grow from strength to strength.
It welcomed 68,500 visitors from Southern Africa, contributors from 12 countries, and 22 new contributing organisations.
A highlight of the festival was the keynote address by Captain Barrington Irving Jr, the youngest person to fly solo around the world.
He received two standing ovations after his lecture during the festival’s opening ceremony last week Friday.
Visitors identified other highlights which included the exhibition of Mark Shuttleworth’s space suit and a travelling exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Space Agency, as well as appearances by Jim Adams, NASA’s Chief Technologist; Dr Wanda Diaz Merced, a blind astronomer with the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development; and Mandla Maseko, the first black South African scheduled to travel to space in 2015.
“Being the leading science festival on the African continent does come with a responsibility to maintain a certain standard, but Scifest Africa turned 18 in 2014, and we felt it was time to change gear.” says Scifest Africa Director, Anja Fourie.
“We have had tremendous fun putting together the 2014 festival, which I think shows in the quality of the programme," she said. "We look forward to challenging ourselves even further for the 2015 event.”
Scifest Africa 2015 will be held in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape from 18-24 March 2015 and will celebrate the International Year of Light.
Look out for updates on www.scifest.org.za, Facebook and Twitter, or contact Scifest Africa on 046 603 1106 or info@scifest.org.za for more information.
