The future of South African science and innovation is in safe hands thanks to a mega-money collaboration with the UK.
Although the two countries signed a bilateral agreement on science and technology 20 years ago, the partnership was strengthened late last year with the launch of the UK-South Africa Newton Fund worth R700-million over the next five years.
Speaking at the official opening of Scifest Africa in Grahamstown on Friday night, South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) deputy director of research development and support Dr Thomas Auf der Heyde said the long history of working together was a sound foundation on which to expand, build and explore future collaborations for decades to come.
He said the two countries were already working together in the exciting fields of biotechnology, lasers and astronomy.
According to Auf der Heyde, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor had wanted to attend Scifest Africa but had been delayed in Brazil where she was attending a Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) meeting with science ministers.
Reading a speech on Pandor’s behalf, he said South Africans were in pole position to take advantage of new scientific technologies – but only if they excelled in maths and science.
He said the Dinaledi schools’ conditional grant had been replaced in the 2015 budget with a more comprehensive programme of support to schools to improve teaching and learning outcomes in maths, science and technology.
He said Scifest, DST-supported science centres and national science week all served the objective of expanding science access and awareness. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
SA science gets R700m UK boost
Although the two countries signed a bilateral agreement on science and technology 20 years ago, the partnership was strengthened late last year with the launch of the UK-South Africa Newton Fund worth R700-million over the next five years.
Speaking at the official opening of Scifest Africa in Grahamstown on Friday night, South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) deputy director of research development and support Dr Thomas Auf der Heyde said the long history of working together was a sound foundation on which to expand, build and explore future collaborations for decades to come.
He said the two countries were already working together in the exciting fields of biotechnology, lasers and astronomy.
According to Auf der Heyde, Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor had wanted to attend Scifest Africa but had been delayed in Brazil where she was attending a Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (Brics) meeting with science ministers.
Reading a speech on Pandor’s behalf, he said South Africans were in pole position to take advantage of new scientific technologies – but only if they excelled in maths and science.
He said the Dinaledi schools’ conditional grant had been replaced in the 2015 budget with a more comprehensive programme of support to schools to improve teaching and learning outcomes in maths, science and technology.
He said Scifest, DST-supported science centres and national science week all served the objective of expanding science access and awareness. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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