Date: 02/10/2004
Source: Ministry of Science and Technology
Title: M Mangena: National Eskom Expo for Young Scientists


ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, MR. M MANGENA, AT THE NATIONAL ESKOM EXPO FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS, Pretoria University Sports Grounds, 2 October 2004

Programme Director
Prof Johan van Staden, Chairperson of the Eskom Expo Board of Directors
Ms Priscilla Moodley, National Manager and Chairperson of Eskom Expo,
Dr Steve Lennon, Managing Director of Eskom Resource and Strategy
Ms Mpho Letlape, Managing Director of Eskom Human Resources
Representatives from the sponsors of the National Eskom Expo for the Young Scientists
Parents, Educators
Our Young Scientists, the Learners
Ladies and Gentlemen

This National Expo for Young Scientists has established itself as a perfect vehicle for South African youth to demonstrate their inventiveness and innovation in science and technology. It provides our youth the opportunity to become original and innovative designers of science and technology projects. It provides them with a space to develop skills and competences that have eluded most of us because of our unfortunate political history.

I welcome all you young people, who have come to share your ideas and inventions with the rest of us, and hope that some would get the opportunity to showcase their work to the rest of the world. I extend a special welcome to the young participants from Nigeria, Namibia, Moscow and the United States of America.

This exciting expo gives us full confidence in the future of science and technology in the global village. I will be viewing each of your innovative projects, and learning from your creative work. Your inputs are important because they give us a reliable assessment of the impact of the lessons our teachers are delivering. We want to learn how you make mathematics, science and technology relevant, exciting and fun. Your originality and creativity in science and technology will contribute towards determining the future direction for all living things on this planet. Put differently, the future of science and technology is in your hands.

The Department of Science and Technology is continuously striving towards introducing measures that put science and technology to work. Through science and technology we aim to make an impact on our socio-economic growth and development in a sustainable manner. We also need to strive for greater excellence, particularly in areas that are relevant to the challenges facing Africa today, such as poverty, hunger, environmental degradation, conflict and economic development.

The Department of Science and Technology wishes to push the historical boundaries of science and technology into uncharted territory by supporting competitions such as this Expo for Young Scientists. We believe this will go a long way towards promoting science literacy, learner participation and performance, and providing career education.

Already we are beginning to see results. Some of the winners of the previous Eskom Expos have not only represented South Africa internationally, but they also performed well. I learn that one of our students from last year,