Keynote address by Minister Mosibudi Mangena, at the awards ceremony of the national finals of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists

Master of proceedings
Chairperson of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Professor Ian Jandrell
Members of the Board of the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists
Director of the Electronic Supply Industry (ESI) 2007, Priscilla Moodley and staff of the Expo
Representatives of Eskom
Representatives from the Office of the Mayor of Tshwane Municipality
Presenters and contributors
Awards Recipients and Young Scientists
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

Anthropologist Margaret Mead claims that we should "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

As Patron of the Expo for Young Scientists, and on behalf of government, it is my honour to address the awards ceremony of the 2007 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, which also marks the 27th Anniversary of the launch of the project, in 1980.

Just yesterday at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg, we launched the national Youth into Science Strategy, our blueprint for promoting a culture of science and technology in our country, and for increasing the pool of school learners to follow careers in science, engineering and technology.

In July this year, South Africa hosted the International Science Fair, ESI 2007, in Durban. I have just received letters of thanks and congratulations from a host of role players, including the overseas organisers, Milset, attesting to the fact that ESI 2007 was their best event ever.

We can now state without any fear of contradiction that the Expo is increasingly becoming the best place for young innovators and scientists to test their new ideas and solutions for the market place. The Expo now attracts thousands of participants every year from 27 regions within South Africa. This has accordingly become a premier programme for promoting a culture of problem solving and innovation among the learners, and public awareness for science, engineering and technology.

While the numbers by themselves do not signal a revolution for science, we believe this growth in stature and impact attests to our national drive to produce more school leavers who are suitably equipped to pursue set careers, and strengthen our competitiveness in the global market.

The fact that the winners of last year's Eskom Expo went on to scoop three double first awards, that is First Prize and Best in Category, in New Mexico, United States of America (USA), in May this year is sufficient proof of the effectiveness of this programme. It was the first time that a country other than the US obtained such a result at the Intel International Science and Engineering Faire.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the young South Africans and celebrate their achievements. Siyabulela Xuza, who addressed a wide audience yesterday, developed a new fuel propellant for rockets, while Tanja Kellerman, the young lady from Citrusdal, developed a substance extracted from indigenous plants to control ticks. Raeez Lorgat, a schoolboy from Cape Town, used his skills in computers to develop a tool for a technologically advanced classroom.

Motivational speaker, Anthony Robbins, claims that: "There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that once unleashed can make any vision, dream or desire a reality." I believe the Expo is another process able to unleash that driving force within individuals. Our three international winners are examples of this maxim, and I am confident we have more such individuals here today. We are also pleased to note that the standard of entries keeps improving every year.

It is an indication that we are beginning to close the gap between the science learned within formal settings, and that learned in non-formal settings. This indicates that through a creative and well structured programme, we are firmly on course in promoting science for non-scientists, and giving those who attend festivals a look into many different aspects of science, engineering and technology.

A pride of place in the Youth into Science Strategy we launched yesterday is occupied by the Support Framework for Science Olympiads and Competitions, such as this Expo. Programmes within this framework promote co-ordination, synergy and complementarities among science competitions, and ensure linkages with other science awareness interventions.

In this regard, government mainly plays an enabling and supporting role, while the corporate sector is eminently placed to sponsor such events. By their very nature, science competitions contribute towards achieving the two goals of our Youth into Science Strategy, namely the promotion of science and technology literacy; and encouraging more youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

May I, in closing, convey our sincere gratitude to Eskom and other partners for their unwavering determination in promoting science, technology and innovation among our youth. They are playing a vital role in the development of a much needed 'culture' of appreciating the value of science in our country. Eskom and Intel have generously added their support to the event, and we encourage them to grow their support from strength to strength.

I would like to leave you with these words from Bertolt Brecht, German playwright and poet: "The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to set a limit to infinite error."

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
29 September 2007