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Date : 05/05/2005
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
Title: Mangena: Launch of National Science Week 2005


Keynote address by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the launch of the National Science Week 2005, Mogalakwena, Limpopo Province

Programme Director, Professor Mamokgethi Setati
Premier of Limpopo, Mr Sello Moloto
MEC of Education, Dr Aaron Motswaledi
Executive Mayor for Waterberg District Municipality, Mr G Molekwa, and Mayor of Mogalakwena, Mr Bob Mmola
Manager of the Mokopane Education Multipurpose Centre, Mr Edwin Nyatlo
Executive Director of Hewlett Packard, Ms Thoko Mokgosi
Professor Tshilidzi Marwala
Parents, Educators, Learners,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

This launch of the National Science Week 2005 is a culmination of a long process of intense nation-wide consultations and negotiations by the Department of Science and Technology with a number of role players involved with the education of our youth in science and technology. The intention of the National Science Week is to showcase, celebrate, and inspire innovation in science, engineering and technology.

My department is tasked with the responsibility to create an enabling environment for the promotion of public understanding of and engagement with science, engineering and technology. In order to promote scientific literacy, it is important for our citizens to engage in the discourse about developments in science to question and ask about the content, and even try to understand the processes which take place in the laboratory. Without this dialogue there is a risk that scientists and technologists will isolate themselves from their fellow citizens. More importantly, knowledge and understanding of science and technological change strengthens confidence and self-reliance among people.

We seldom think about the way in which science and technology affects our lives. The cellular phone we now consider an essential part of our day-to-day communication is in effect a technological “invasion”. This gadget, and its capabilities, has changed communication in ways we never thought possible. But it is regrettable that South Africa has had to import most of the technological know-how and instrumentation to make cellular phones an integral part of our lives.

Because of her rich mineral deposits, South Africa has become a world leader in deep hard-rock mining, even though for decades she was predominantly an exporter of raw gold and other minerals. It is gratifying to realise that South Africa has now woken to the reality of the importance of scientific research and development. That is why in the field of casting platinum for jewellery, and the creation of hard platinum alloys we now undertake world class research at the University of Cape Town. At the University of Limpopo research on minerals and materials using computer modelling and simulation is well developed. In some of our higher education institutions young scientists are being trained in fields such a bio-informatics. We need more young people to enter the science system in order to continue strengthening the work being done.

From its inception in 2000, the National Science Week has evolved for the better. This evolution is spurred by the Department’s desire to improve its implementation and delivery of its objectives.

One key challenge in implementing the National Science Week has been to broaden its coverage, especially reaching out to people in rural areas. Our collaboration with the Department of Education has played an important role in ensuring provincial support and participation in the National Science Week. Representations from the provincial Departments of Education at this launch shows the extent to which our collaboration has strengthened since it was signed by the two Departments in July 2004.

A five-year project plan (2005 to 2009) has been formulated under the theme “Tomorrow’s Science and Technology are in our youth’s hands”. The theme is apt given the need to renew human resources in mathematics, science and technology. The presence of learners here today, re-affirms our commitment to creating a better future for our young people by encouraging them to take careers in science, engineering and technology. Young people are our future scientists. They are central to our plan to developing a critical mass of science and technology human resources, which is representative of the country’s demographics. We will spare no effort to see more of you enrolling for science and engineering studies after matriculation.

The National Science Week Five-year Plan emphasises our Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and in the context of the provinces, it will showcase scientific areas where South Africa has unique geographic and knowledge advantage. Last November, Cabinet adopted the Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) Policy. One of the key drivers of this policy is the role of indigenous knowledge in employment and wealth creation. I am particularly happy about the progress being made in this area. The bio-prospecting programme led by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is one example. The programme aims to create economic and social benefit for the nation by unlocking the wealth inherent in South Africa’s biodiversity and indigenous knowledge.

One of the success stories of the bio-prospecting programme has been the development of a novel natural method for repelling mosquitoes, including the malaria-carrying species. It is a discovery that emanated from ongoing collaboration between the CSIR and traditional healers. To date, the establishment of community-based agro-processing businesses for the production of the active substance is already underway in a number of provinces.

The discovery of this substance should be regarded as an African contribution towards a solution to one of the continent’s life threatening diseases. Malaria is one of the continent’s health scourges. According to the World Bank, while malaria affects more than 100 countries worldwide, Africa is the worst-affected region of all. At least 85 percent of all deaths from malaria are occurring here. This important development underlines the importance of collaboration in scientific research and development and provides an excellent example of the value of science in resolving important social problems.

The University of Limpopo was the first to develop a partnership between researchers and indigenous knowledge holders during 1996 and 1997. I hope that this work can grow from strength to strength using the IKS funding available through the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Amongst the challenges we have to confront as a nation is the effective use of science and technology as a means of wealth creation, and promotion of people-centred development. In order to achieve these, we require a vibrant National System of Innovation, through which social and economic progress can be achieved.

In restructuring our National System of Innovation to make it more relevant to the needs of our people, we also need to put emphasis on human resource development. This should include promoting the inclusion of women and young people from disadvantaged communities. Their familiarity with the plight of their communities will guide us in making sure that our scientific research is also conducted to address the basic needs of the truly disadvantaged.

Our country has unique scientific knowledge and geographical strengths. Properly explored and exploited, such scientific areas could generate several socio-economic benefits. Among countries bidding to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the global project that will amongst others, enable the investigation of the formation of stars and galaxies in the very early universe, South Africa enjoys definite geographical advantage. We hope that this will indeed translate into our national benefit.

This year the world celebrates the International Year of Physics. As an important member of the international community, South Africa is proud to join in this celebration. The National Science Week 2005 will also strongly feature activities to recognise this important world event. 2005 has been chosen because it is the centenary of the year in which Albert Einstein made his seminal contributions that changed physics and our view of the universe forever. At the time, except among physicists, his work was little noticed. He was an obscure patents clerk in Switzerland. But his personal vision and energy did not allow him to remain in obscurity. He was named man of the century by Time Magazine in its millennium edition.

The message is simple it is not who you work for, or even where you are working; it is your passion and commitment that will make a difference in science and technology. Through the work of Einstein we have achieved a more profound understanding of our universe, but we have also gained much in technological progress, and lost some of our innocence as humans when Einstein’s research gave rise to the development of nuclear weapons. The golden question now is how responsibly will we use our knowledge and resources for future generations.

As we launch the National Science Week, we need to acknowledge the support from various role-players. I thank the support we received from the Premier’s office and provincial Government. More importantly, I would like to thank Hewlett Packard for the role they played in supporting our preparations for the National Science Week.

The National Science Week activities will be conducted at over forty sites throughout the country during the following week. I urge all South Africans to find a way of participating in the National Science Week activities. Even those who, due to other commitments, might not make it to the sites can still make the National Science Week a practical reality for themselves and the young people of our country. It, therefore, gives me great pleasure to use this occasion to launch National Science Week 2005.

Thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Science and Technology
5 May 2005

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