Programme Director;

The Vice-Chancellor;

The Acting Director-General;

The MEC;

Deputy Directors-General of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation;

Heads of our Science and Academic institutions;

Senior Government officials;

Educators;

Members of the media;

Members of the Community;

And, most importantly, learners from various schools:

I am honoured to deliver this keynote address on the occasion of the official launch of the inaugural edition of our country’s National Science Month (NSM) initiative.

This launch takes place just a few days after the Minister formally announced our Department’s decision to introduce National Science Month as our country’s premier science engagement programme, and also coincides with the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Vaal University of Technology.

From National Science Week to National Science Month

Today marks a significant milestone in advancing science, technology and innovation in South Africa, and I think it is appropriate that I start by outlining some of the factors that informed our decision to transition from National Science Week to National Science Month.

As some of you may know, since 2000, our department has implemented National Science Week (NSW) as the country’s premier science engagement programme. Over more than two decades, National Science Week has made important progress in advancing our country’s Science Engagement Strategy.

However, because science, technology and innovation are increasingly central to addressing the complex challenges facing our world today, we believe South Africa needs a broader and more sustained science engagement programme.

We view science as more than a driver of discovery. It is also a powerful engine of economic transformation, industrialisation and national competitiveness. Around the world, countries that have successfully advanced to high-income status have done so by placing science, research and innovation at the centre of government policy, industry and education.

South Africa has world-class scientists and globally recognised research institutions. Yet our investment in research and development (R&D) remains stubbornly low, at approximately 0.61% of GDP.

This level of investment is significantly below the National Development Plan target of 1.5% and far behind leading innovation economies. South Korea invests more than 4.5% of GDP, Israel invests more than 5%, and the OECD average is about 2.7%.

It is for this reason that our Department adopted a new mantra: “Placing Science, Technology and Innovation at the Centre of Government, Education, Industry and Society.”

Our mantra reminds us that fulfilling this responsibility cannot be business as usual. We must significantly raise public awareness of the value of science in everyday life, while elevating science, technology and innovation as key drivers of South Africa’s socio-economic development.

It is against this background that, under the guidance of the Minister, the department decided to introduce National Science Month as an expanded, more inclusive platform for public engagement with science.

Objectives and key features of National Science Month

1. The second area I wish to highlight is the core objectives and key features of today’s programme. Through National Science Month, we seek to:
2. Demonstrate the power of science as a tool for understanding the natural and social world;
3. Create and harness new technologies to resolve societal challenges such as social inequality, social justice and ecological sustainability;
4. Promote informed decision-making and public access to scientific knowledge; and
5. Instill a culture of deliberate knowledge exchange between scientists and the public.

Informed by these objectives, today’s launch takes place under the theme: “Science, Technology and Innovation Are for Everyone.” Through this theme, we seek to communicate that science, technology and innovation belong to all people, regardless of ethnicity, class, gender, belief or location, and that they must serve society as a whole.

Today’s launch event will set the tone for a comprehensive, month-long programme of meaningful public engagement with science.

It will include an exciting science exhibition comprising 132 stands and more than 100 exhibitors from participating institutions and partners.

Participating institutions include the host institution, Vaal University of Technology; as well as the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the University of Cape Town, North-West University, the University of Limpopo, Stellenbosch University, the University of Venda, Tshwane University of Technology, Durban University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Sol Plaatje University and Nelson Mandela University, among others.

The entities of our department such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the South African Council for Natural and Scientific Professions (SACNASP), will also part of the exhibitors and will also host science engagement programmes throughout the month of July.

A key feature of this inaugural edition of National Science Month is its broad range of themes, including technology and innovation, health, environmental management, service delivery, education, journalism, human rights, climate change, space science, decolonising knowledge systems, science diplomacy, decision-making, public awareness of research institutions, and youth engagement.

Telling South Africa’s Science Story

I also wish to highlight is the importance of using National Science Month to tell South Africa’s proud and remarkable science story. During the month of July, we must tell the public about the groundbreaking and transformative we are doing in space science and astronomy through some of our country’s mega-science projects such the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).

We must also tell the public about the contributions of some of our country’s most advanced scientific infrastructure platforms, including iThemba LABS in the Western Cape, which is the largest particle accelerator-based science facility in the Southern Hemisphere, generating radioactive isotopes for medicine and conducting materials research.

Another example of our country’s world-class science infrastructure is the SANSA Space Weather Centre in Hermanus, Western Cape. Managed by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), it is Africa’s only 24/7 operational regional space weather warning centre. This state-of-the-art facility monitors solar activity and provides early warnings and forecasts to protect vital ground- and space-based technologies across the continent.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists

The final point I wish to highlight is the importance of inspiring the next generation of scientists. We must also use National Science Month to inspire our learners and young people to pursue careers in science, technology and innovation with confidence.

By doing so, we can help South Africa develop more scientists, researchers and innovators in the fields that are most critical to our country’s future growth and development.

Our young people must know about the work of Professor Mashudu Tshifularo and his team at the University of Pretoria, who pioneered the use of 3D-printed titanium implants to reconstruct the broken bones of the middle ear and restore a patient’s hearing.

Another example is Dr Sandile Ngcobo, who invented the world’s first digital laser at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), one of our department’s entities. This breakthrough enabled researchers to digitally control the shape of a laser beam on a computer, rather than by manually adjusting physical mirrors.

Drawing from these breathtaking examples of South Africa’s science, technology and innovation capabilities, my message to the learners here today is simple: your dreams are valid, and you must never allow anyone to tell you that you cannot become a scientist.

Some of you may recall that, on Monday, the Minister formally unveiled the official logo for National Science Month. This logo will serve as the principal symbol of this premier science engagement initiative.

The Minister has also requested me to express his sincere gratitude to the leadership of Vaal University of Technology for agreeing to host this historic inaugural launch of National Science Month.

Following this address, colleagues who adjudicated the logo selection process will provide further details on how the final design was chosen. There will also be a symbolic handover of the baton to the host institution for the 2027 edition of National Science Month, North-West University.

I am informed that the baton will be received by Prof Linda du Plessis, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at North-West University.

In conclusion, let us join hands in taking the message of science to every town and village in our country. Let us tell every community that science, technology and innovation are for everyone

With these words, it is my honour and privilege to formally declare National Science Month officially launched as South Africa’s premier science engagement initiative.

Thank you for your attention.