It’s all systems go for this year’s Scifest Africa, as organisers confirm that sponsorship has been secured for South Africa’s National Science Festival, and work continues toward a vibrant festival to be hosted in Grahamstown from 4-10 May 2011.
It’s all systems go for this year’s Scifest Africa, as organisers confirm that sponsorship has been secured for South Africa’s National Science Festival, and work continues toward a vibrant festival to be hosted in Grahamstown from 4-10 May 2011.
Scifest Africa Director, Anja Fourie, has confirmed the lead sponsor of Scifest Africa 2011 will be the Sasol Inzalo Foundation, while generous sponsorship from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Department of Science and Technology, and Old Mutual, has also been secured.
“Scifest Africa appreciates the successful relationships it has enjoyed with these quality institutions, all of whom believe in the project’s value to the public awareness of science in South Africa. These generous sponsorships will allow us not only to host a quality festival and our various outreach programmes in 2011, but also to implement a more secure sponsorship model, review the role of the festival in the public awareness of science, and re-launch the festival in 2012,” said Fourie.
The theme for Scifest Africa 2011 is “Science across cultures” and the festival will celebrate the contribution of different cultures, past and present, to the development of modern science and technology and science education. Scifest Africa will also join in celebrations of the International Year of Chemistry by hosting interactive events which celebrate the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.
The festival programme will host a high-profile lecture series on a variety of topics, including the perception of facial beauty, computer reconstructions of virtual fossils, the science of “ubuntu”, how we know what we know about the universe, the genetic origins of hypertension in ethnic communities, and optical tweezers.
The programme will also see the return of legends, including the Embassy of France Micro-rocket Workshops, Laser-X Laser Show, and Popular Mechanics Soap Box Derby, but will also host exciting new events such as the Afrobot South Africa Robotics Competition, iRhini Festival, Science Café Series and Quiz Nite. Download your electronic programme online at www.scifest.org.za from 31 March 2011. Bookings open 1 April 2011 at 046 603 1106.
