{"id":49238,"date":"2022-12-09T16:29:45","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T14:29:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnuus\/first-science-centre-opens-in-bloem-20221209-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T03:25:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T01:25:46","slug":"first-science-centre-opens-in-bloem-20221209-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/first-science-centre-opens-in-bloem-20221209-2\/","title":{"rendered":"First science centre opens in Bloem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Taking central South Africa into the future, the first Science Education Centre (Sci-Ed) in the region was opened on the Bloemfontein campus of the The University of the Free State (UFS). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sci-Ed, which forms part of the Faculty of Education, aims to advance the innovative and effective teaching and learning of mathematics and science, which is beneficial to student teachers, in-service teachers, learners, parents, and the public at large. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the opening of the event on Tuesday, 6 December, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof. Francis Petersen, said universities are about interactive spaces such as the Science Education Centre. He believes it is in spaces such as these where innovations and initiatives are created to tackle science (and the world) of the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must seek more of these spaces at the UFS. We must ensure that graduates from our university have a solid discipline \u2013 that they have their basis right \u2013 to prepare them to interact and engage in a multidisciplinary fashion, because that is what the world outside requires.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking about the role of universities in society, Petersen said the purpose of a university is to engage with society. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we can\u2019t show the public the value of what we have here, the public will ask what the value of universities is. Why do universities exist in the first place? Our role is always to look at things that we do best: our intellectual ability to understand how things work; us challenging specific things and infusing that into society. It is for this reason that we have public lectures, science centres and other platforms, allowing society to engage with us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
We must seek more of these spaces at the UFS. We must ensure that graduates from our university have a solid discipline \u2013 that they have their basis right \u2013 to prepare them to interact and engage in a multidisciplinary fashion, because that is what the world outside requires.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUniversities are places that evolve continuously, and this centre is an excellent example.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Referring to the UFS\u2019 twelve-year strategic plan, Vision 130, he said besides visibility, the university will also focus on impact. \u201cWe can only show our impact through our graduates, the knowledge that we generate, the research that we conduct, and engaging with society. This centre is all about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Tate Makgoe, the MEC for the Department of Education in the Free State, shared the sentiment that the impact of universities must be felt by the community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am inspired to know that this facility is open to the public. Government will be the main beneficiary of this science centre and we will use it profitably. Among others, I will send our Foundation Phase teachers here,\u201d he stated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Cobus van Breda, manager of Sci-Ed and programme director of the Science-for-the-Future, an initiative hosted by the UFS Faculty of Education to address the challenge of mathematics and science teaching and learning in South Africa, said that the project had 289 884 participants between 2009 and 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that this project implements mathematics and science teachers\u2019 professional development and outreach programmes across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn order to extend its impact, it was decided to establish a Science Education Centre to not only enhance its teaching and learning programmes to student educators and in-service teachers, but also to provide a platform to include science communication and engagement with the public. Sci-Ed will be open to the public and through outreach programmes, as well as formal and non-formal visits to the centre, the community can make use of the benefits of the centre,\u201d says Van Breda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"

<\/p>\n

At the opening of the Science Education Centre on the Bloemfontein Campus, were, from the left Prof. Loyisa Jita, Prof. Francis Petersen, Dr Cobus van Breda, and Dr Tate Makgoe.Photo: Supplied<\/div>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

He sees the promotion of parental and family involvement in children\u2019s learning as a priority for Sci-Ed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The centre was built in three stages. Phase one of the development involved the construction of the building. An outdoor park area was created during phase two, and interactive exhibits, programmes, and events were planned, developed, and enhanced during phase three to serve the purpose of the facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe last part will continue for about six more months, as we want to develop authentic exhibitions that support the university\u2019s teaching and learning philosophy,\u201d said Van Breda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sci-Ed Building, designed to accommodate all the crucial elements of a modern science education centre, is an extension of the existing Winkie Direko Building. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Loyiso Jita, Dean of the Faculty of Education, described the building as a dream come true. It is not just about the building, it is also about creating an intellectual space, both indoors and outdoors, to encourage students, staff, and the community to interact with science.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Taking central South Africa into the future, the first Science Education Centre (Sci-Ed) in the region was opened on the Bloemfontein campus of the The University of the Free State 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science centre opens in Bloem | BloemNews Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/first-science-centre-opens-in-bloem-20221209-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"First science centre opens in Bloem\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Taking central South Africa into the future, the first Science Education Centre (Sci-Ed) in the region was opened on the Bloemfontein campus of the The University of the Free State (UFS).\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/first-science-centre-opens-in-bloem-20221209-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BloemNews Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" 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