Christine Walters, mayoral committee member for community development, roads and parks encourages young people to take up science (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)

A science demonstation at the launch of the City libraries' Pysched for Science campaign

RELATED LINKS: Libraries JOHANNESBURG opened its first city-operated libraries in 1924. Originally they were traditional book-lenders, but they later extended their facilities to include a wider range of information-related services. Read more Get psyched for science MORE youngsters need to opt for maths and science as their subjects of choice if Joburg is to keep up with the fast pace of modern technology. To persuade them to do so, the City's libraries launched the Psyched for Science Programme. Read more Diepsloot careers expo meets its mark A WORLD of opportunity was opened to school pupils in Diepsloot at the Careers Expo held in the township, at which government departments and tertiary institutions manned information stands. Read more

The Hillebrand sisters, Charlotte and Pippa: winners in the 2005 competition (Photo: Enoch Lehung, City of Johannesburg)

Time for kids to get psyched for science The City's library services has launched its Psyched for Science campaign in a bid to boost interest in the field among students and learners. February 17, 2006 By Emmanuel Mulaudzi and Shamin Chibba SCIENCE and maths are vital subjects in today's technology-driven world, and the Psyched for Science campaign gives youngsters an insight into the opportunities to be found in these fields. The City of Johannesburg's library and information services unit launched the campaign, run by its libraries unit, at the Florida Library on Thursday, 16 February, following a pilot project in 2004 and 2005. "Young people will become aware and get educated about the opportunities available for them in the world of science," said Christine Walters, mayoral committee member for community development, roads and parks. "They will also be given the opportunity to explore and showcase their scientific and technological abilities. "The city of Joburg has a skills gap, resulting in a high rate of unemployment," continued Walters, stressing the importance of mathematics and science in the working environment. The library and information services unit brings together universities, science institutions, the City's utilities as well as learners and educators to interact and share knowledge about science, technology, engineering and maths. Set to kick off in March, the Psyched for Science campaign is supported by Johannesburg Water, Pikitup, the Johannesburg Roads Agencies, City Parks, various universities and the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), among others. SAASTA's Dr Jabulani Nukeri urged parents to encourage their children to take maths and science as school subjects. He added that SAASTA supported the library and information services campaign. Exhibitions, workshops involving science demonstrations, and special book collections for science, technology, engineering and mathematics form part of the campaign. It also encourages youngsters to apply the theories learned in class to practical use, and during the campaign learners will be able to exhibit their projects in the Science Model Competition. Entry forms will be available at the libraries. Two of last year's winners were the Hillebrand sisters, Charlotte (14) and Pippa (12), in the senior secondary and junior secondary age groups, respectively. Charlotte won for her model displaying electromagnetism; Pippa won for her Charles's law model, which experiments with the rising of hot air. Both intend to enter this year's competition, with Pippa wanting to create a fire extinguisher. However, Charlotte is undecided, saying, "I will keep researching until I find something." At the launch representatives from Sci-Bono, the science centre in Newtown, demonstrated experiments, like an acid base reaction by mixing vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. "The government needs to invest more money in the science and technology field," said Sci-Bono's Mbulelo Ngwenya, adding that young people should be the main focus for empowerment in the science sector. As a provider of knowledge, Johannesburg's library and information services was committed to improving its book stock through this campaign, Walters said. According to the deputy director of the Library and Information Services, Atilla Lourens, the budget had received a R5-million boost to buy books – some would be used to obtain books on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. She urged teachers, parents, the government, tertiary institutions and science experts to become involved in the campaign. "I think it is a beautiful project. I think people underestimate it and people do not know the value of it." Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za