Opening speech by the Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, Derek Hanekom, at Expo Science Internationale 2007, at the International Convention Centre, Durban

Programme Director
Chairperson and members of the board of International Movement for Leisure Activities in Science and Technology (MILSET)
Chairperson and members of the board of Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
Director of Electronic Supply Industry (ESI) 2007, Ms Priscilla Moodley
Representatives of Eskom and other sponsoring organisations
Distinguished guests
Young scientists from all over the world
Ladies and gentlemen

It is an honour to be here today, in the presence of our future Einsteins, Darwins and Freuds. After accepting the invitation to speak at this event, I gave myself an assignment of researching the habits of successful people especially those who tasted success at a young age.

Through this research I made two discoveries, the fist one was that there is no formula for success. That's bad news for me because I would really have loved to have been able to reveal the secret of success to you. The second discovery was that successful people invariably do have distinctly identifiable habits. Few people, if any, become successful or even achieve their goals through sheer luck. There are some habits that seem to be a precondition for success. Ranging from Albert Einstein to Bill Gates, Richard Branson to Mark Shuttleworth, there seem to be six habits that set them apart form their peers. Capacity to work, as Thomas Edison puts it, "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, competence (not settling for mediocrity), confidence, consistency, conviction and courage. These are the six big Cs.

Allow me to quote two successful authors to illustrate this.

The first is the author Henry David Thoreau who said the following, "I have learned that he who advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavours to live the life he has imagined, will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

The next is a quote from Mark Twain, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

The good thing about these habits is that they are acquired and not innate, which means that all of us in this hall have the capacity to develop them and the best time for you to start is now! These six habits will keep you in good stead ask Mark Shuttleworth; today he is widely known as the first person from the African continent to go into space. In 1995, at the tender age of 22, an age when a lot people are trying hard to find their feet in the competitive world of work he started a company which specialised in digital certificates and internet security. Four years later he sold it for R3,5 billion. Today at 34, he is a sought after business leader and motivational speaker.

Expos have a wonderful habit of cultivating young minds and producing a new generation of geniuses. South Africa will be hosting a number of these prestigious events in the near future, including the fifth Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Science Centre and Museum International Workshop in 2008, the Pan African Mathematics Olympiads in 2009 and the 11th Science Centre World Congress in 2011.

These events are part of the Department of Science and Technology's Youth into Science Strategy which aims to nurture youth talent and attract young people into science, engineering and technology based careers. We fully support the local competition, known as the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. Through it, opportunities have been given to thousands of young learners and prospective scientists to expose their considerable talents and dedication. This exposure had an exciting recent outcome. Three young South African scientists, who could be regarded as prospective leaders in their fields, entered the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in New Mexico, United States of America (USA). All three were awarded not only first prizes but also best in their respective categories.

Let me now take this opportunity to thank all you young scientists who travelled the length and breadth of the globe to visit this beautiful land. Make use of this opportunity to learn more about South Africa. Enjoy the open skies and breathtaking scenery of KwaZulu-Natal. Enjoy the golden beaches. And I will even cautiously encourage you to enjoy some of Durban's nightlife. You can prove once and for all that it is a myth that scientists can't dance! Above all though, take full advantage of this opportunity to get to know each other, exchange stories and life experiences and inspire each other!

This wonderful international event would not have happened without the support of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists. In particular, I would like to thank Ms Priscilla Moodley for the sleepless nights she spent putting together this event. Of course she was not alone in this taxing journey. I would like to thank all the members of her team, the sponsors and all organisations that supported this event.

With these words it is my pleasure to declare the 2007 Expo Science Internationale officially open.

Thank you!

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
9 July 2007