Making science come alive lights the fire for more learning
The Goethe Institut in Windhoek was a hive of activity last week when about 270 learners from various schools visited the campus for science demonstrations and a celebration of science as part of World Science Day for Peace and Development.
Organised by the Goethe Institut in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Namibia University of Science and Technology, University of Namibia, the Namibia Scientific Society and the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, the week-long science week culminated in the formal World Science Day celebration on Friday.
Goethe Institut Director, Mr Daniel Stoevesandt (pictured) said the partners have been working on Science Week 2017 and the celebration of World Science Day for Peace and Development since last year and he hopes to expand the initiative beyond Windhoek in the near future.
Part of the activities consisted of the screening of some 20 films from the international Science Film Festival in Thailand.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Grade 5 learner from Van Rhyn Primary School, Charlotte Namuhuya thanked the Institute and its partners for the initiative, saying “We did a lot of great hands-on activities like making elephant toothpaste and learnt more about energy and how scientists work.”
Live science demonstrations captured the children’s imaginations, igniting in them a yearning to understand the mechanics of the physical world. The demonstrations were augmented with presentations and science films.
Johannes Namupala of Combretum Trust School said he now has a better perspective on science and technology. “Science Week was an inspirational experience as it made me aware of not only the big problems in the world but also the smaller ones that are not easily noticed but should be addressed to live in a cohesive society and for the betterment of our future,” he said.
At the closing ceremony, the chairperson of the Scientific Society, Mr Theo Schoeman called for more investment in scientific research. “If you are going to do research, don’t always think of the great and grand things. People are trying to get to Mars. I don’t know how much money they are wasting while less than 10% of the oceans have been researched and it’s right next to us. Our future depends on the oceans and not Mars or those great things,” he said.
