A national Science week was celebrated nationwide here in South Africa from July 30-August 5, 2012. The event, an initiative of the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) for highlighting the importance of science for development, is intended to expose school students and teachers to science-based careers. It happens every year with emphasis given to different areas of science and technology. This year's theme was "The role of Science in economic development". The event was officially launched by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor, at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto Campus on 28 July 2012.
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) participated in the event by organising different activities both in Cape Town and Sutherland. The activities include telescope building workshops, astronomy software training such as stellarium, star gazing, career advices and visiting the historic SAAO site in Cape Town and the mechanical workshop. Together with SAAO's public outreach team, driven by The SALT Collateral Benefits Program (SCBP), I participated representing LCOGT in the different activities and programs organised both at the SAAO headquarters in Cape Town and at different schools in the city. My participation in the event was started by sharing my personal experience of astronomy career.
South Africa being the host of the lion's share of Square Kilometre Array and a site for construction of various astronomical facilities, the various career opportunities available for those who would like to pursue career in engineering, computer science and astronomy were emphasised. I made a presentation about how ground and space based telescopes are used to do astronomy observations with specific focus on LCOGT facilities both here in South Africa and else where in the world. I also participated in the star-gazing evenings. This event created a good opportunity for students, their teachers and parents to look at Saturn and the Moon; and the turn out was big. The students were very much exited and asking lots of interesting questions ranging from cosmology to astrobiology to exoplanets. There was also an exhibition and open session in which I had LCOGT section with a poster explaining the different activities and resources (such as the Agent Exoplanet and Star in a Box activities) LCOGT has made available for students and teachers for use. During this session, issues like how robotic telescopes operate and the importance of team work in astronomy were discussed.
The outcome of the event is indeed beyond expectation and the entire team reached out to a total of more than 600 students from various previously disadvantaged schools only in Cape Town in all activities. The participants learned a lot from the various activities and got vital information about career opportunities particularly in astronomy but also in science and technology in general.