Sasol Scifest 1999
SciFest
is a high profile event where scientists popularise science,
engineering and technology, thereby helping to promote a much-needed
culture of science in South Africa.
The festival was
made possible by anchor sponsorship from Sasol Limited. Sub-sponsorship
was received from the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and
Technology. The Festival was also well supported by other donations and
donations-in-kind. It took place from 17 to 23 March.
The more than 400
events on offer included 49 lectures (presented by 9 international and
29 South African speakers), 126 workshops, 38 exhibitions, 29
screenings of films, 44 field-trips/excursions, a street parade, seven
Science Olympics, two high school quizzes, daily primary school quizzes
and daily Sunset Shows. For the first time events were planned by other
organisations to coincide with the influx of visitors to Grahamstown.
These included two national events, the National Youth Water Summit and
the official launch of SchoolNet, and a special video-conference that
was set up by Rhodes University and Imperial College, London, for
school pupils in Grahamstown and London. Rhodes University also ran its
own programme of lectures, workshops, excursions, demonstrations, and
Frontiers of Science in which international speakers on the SciFest
programme gave expert lectures at tertiary level.
Promotional
publications included a flyer, poster and the official programme - all
of which were produced in print form and electronically on the
web-page. More than 20 press releases were issued and appeared in
local, regional and national newspapers and magazines. The Mail &
Guardian, Star and Pretoria News produced special supplements. Coverage
was received on local, regional and national radio and television
coverage increased. Sasol Limited flighted television advertisements.
Advertisements were sponsored in one million school diaries by the
National Water Conservation Campaign of the Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry. Media launches were held in the major cities. Rhodes
University's Department of Journalism and Media Studies produced SciCue
daily during the festival.
A pilot project,
Sasol SciFest-on-the-Road, was successfully initiated with
presentations at three shopping malls to give the festival advance
publicity.
Four permanent
staff were employed. Grahamstown Foundation staff assisted with
financial, technical and administrative support. Of the 87 temporary
staff employed 43 were science students performing interpretive
functions and 44 were semi-skilled people performing service functions.
Venues used for
the festival were the 1820 Settlers National Monument, Rhodes
University, Albany Natural Sciences Museum, City Hall, Public Library,
Drill Hall, Ntaba Maria Primary School and Archie Mbolekwe Primary
School.
More than 40 000
people attended. During the weekdays there was a preponderance of
school children whilst at weekends family groups and adults
predominated. More definite demographics will be available after the
analysis of the visitor survey by the Rhodes University Management
Department. |
2010 programme
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National Science Week
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Vacancy Director Scifest Africa
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