Sasol Scifest 2007

7 days, 568 events, 45 223 visitors, record highs in the number of tickets sold (27 631) and 260 sold out events, Sasol SciFest 2007 proved that it has what it takes to promote science in a festive way! Visitors came from as far afield as Botswana, China, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Sweden, the UK, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to take part in Africa's premier science festival.

Lectures

Sasol SciFest 2007 featured ten international and 15 South African lecturers, all acknowledged experts in their fields, who covered topics that included weight loss; climate change; space; the difference between boys and girls; forensic science; NASA Space Station mission; hypnosis and much more! The Talkshop programme featured 12 less formal interactive presentations which allow for discussion and debate, as well as increased interaction with scientists. Topics included superconductors; climate change; flies; crime scene investigation; science through toys and films.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions form the heart of the Festival, and 2007 was no different with 42 exhibitions featured in the 1820 Settlers National Monument, the Albany History Museum and the Albany Science Museum. Exhibitors included government departments, industry, NGOs, science centres, research facilities of the National Research Foundation, and tertiary institutions. Entrance to all exhibitions was free.

Workshops

The Festival offered 304 workshops for all ages and included topics such as bird-ringing; electronics; mathematics; magic and myths of science; HIV/Aids; lasers; mapwork; micro-rockets; music; polumers; recycled paper; physics; satellites; volcanoes; and (of course) the weather.

Etcetera (previously known as Special Extras)

The Special Extras section includes a wide range of activities and events which add variety to the programme. The 2007 programme featured the AMESA Inter-school Mathematics Relay; field trips at the Born Free Foundation in Shamwari Game Reserve; a church service; educational theatre; SciKidz I (for Grade R) and SciKidz II (for Grades 1 – 3); the Popular Mechanics Soap Box Derby; the Old Mutual Laser Show; schools quizzes; Science Olympics; science shows; Spoor of the Year; Sport & Science; Sunset Shows; and Grahamstown Masonics Hobbies Fair.

FilmFest

Films screened were from commercial selections presently on circuit in South Africa. Titles screened were Da Vinci Code; Eight Below; Hoot; Ice Age 2; Mission Impossible III; Over the Hedge; Superman Returns; A Scanner Darkly; Ultraviolet and X-Men III.

Fringe Festival

The Fringe Programme is planned, hosted and staged by outside organisations, as apposed to the Main Programme, which is arranged by Sasol SciFest. Rhodes University, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and St. Andrew's Preparatory School made a significant contribution to the Festival's Official Programme with 72 additional events including apprenticeships, demos, exhibitions, field trips, films, lectures, Talkshops, tours, and workshops.