Enhancing Change Through Science Centres

It is envisaged that this scientific programme will serve as a platform for experts, policy makers and other Government officials to share experiences and chart appropriate course to promote the science centres as the agents of change in the developing world.

Introduction
Science centres play a pivotal role in forging a more confident relationship between science and society. They also provide opportunities for everyone to experience science and understand nature. Visual impression helps in facilitating the process of grasping various facets of knowledge and consequently in comprehending the socio-economic growth progress, particularly in emerging economies.

The content of science centres is focused on the programmes, activities, galleries, displays, exhibits, methods, means, strategies etc. but a variety of strategies can be planned and worked out to attract more visitors by keeping in mind the personal, societal, economic and political values as well as through encouragement and appropriate support to these entities.

The arena where science centres can influence the development of society may include local, regional and international tourism, youth employment, community partnerships, volunteer schemes, urban redevelopment, environment restoration and impact on government policies and priorities that can be designed and re-framed for better exploitation and ensuring sustainable development.

To support the right policies in the fields of science and technology, people should be involved in the debate on the social and ethical issues raised by new technologies. Science centres can be successful places for such debates because they help visitors to meet and deliberate on science in a friendly and interactive environment and also because they play a neutral role, giving a voice to diverse opinions.

For developing countries, it is essential that science centres are established with an aim that they eventually transform into Centres of Excellence vibrating with activities, both in-house and outreach, aimed at non-formal education for the populace in general and for the children in particular, and wherever practicable, supplement formal education.

Due to the large significance of science education, and popularisation of science and technology in the society at large, the Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre) has been organizing a series of international and regional level workshops and conferences to deliberate on these aspects.

Beginning with an international workshop on ‘The Role of Science Centres in Development Strategies’ held in Kolkata, India in November-December 2002, the Centre organized the 1st Knowledge Fest and 2nd International Forum and Workshop for Culture of Science, Technology and Innovation in Society in Bogotá, Colombia in partnership with the Maloka Science Centre of Colombia in March 2004 as a regional workshop for the Latin American and Caribbean countries; an international workshop on ‘The Changing Role of Science Centres and Museums in Developing Countries’ at Hanoi, Vietnam in collaboration with the Center for Regional Research & Development (CRD) in October 2004; and the 2nd regional workshop titled ‘African Regional Conference on Enhanced Role of Science Centres and Museums in Developmental Strategies’ at Lusaka, Zambia in January 2006 jointly with the National Science Centre of Zambia.

To further keep abreast of the developments in science centres and to deliberate upon their role in sustainable development, the NAM S&T Centre in partnership with the Department of Science & Technology, Government of South Africa will be organising a 3-days international workshop on ‘Enhancing Change through Science Centres’ in Johannesburg, South Africa during 25th to 28th February, 2008.

It is envisaged that this scientific programme will serve as a platform for experts, policy makers and other Government officials to share experiences and chart appropriate course to promote the science centres as the agents of change in the developing world.

Objectives
To find the means for appropriate exploitation of science centres for sustainable development through communication and media
To help the science centres in the developing world to prepare for the greater demands for their services.
To exchange ideas and experiences pertaining to present and future developments in science centres for developing a platform for potential cooperation. Demonstration lectures by experts on science popularisation through experiments, participatory exhibits, low cost toys and kits are expected to be organized during the workshop.
To facilitate partnerships among institutions in the developing countries to support both formal and informal science education.
Venue of Workshop
The workshop will be held at Birchwood Executive Hotel, Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Workshop Programme
The technical programme of the workshop will be organised during 25-28 February 2008, which will include study visits and scientific excursions to several science centres, including Sci-Enza Science Centre in Pretoria, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, the Origins Centre in Johannesburg and the Cradle of Humankind, as below:

Sci-Enza Science Centre
Sci-Enza it the oldest interactive Science Centre in South Africa and is a part of the University of Pretoria in the Gauteng Province. It is a good example of a small science centre with a very effective outreach programme rated among the best in the world.

Sci-Bono Discovery Science Centre
The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Gauteng’s existing new Science Centre and the largest in Africa, is a uniquely crafted edutainment destination for learners, educators, families, companies and tourists to interactively participate in exciting and fun-filled activities in mathematics, science and technology. Located in the old Electric Workshop building in the cultural precinct of Newtown, Johannesburg, the Centre provides an accessible teaching and learning environment with ‘hands-on’ exhibits, science stage shows and innovative workshops that demonstrate a variety of scientific and mathematical concepts. Its primary aim is to significantly contribute to developing greater proficiency in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) by demystifying science and improving the public understanding of SET.

The Origins Centre
The Origins Centre is a world-class museum facility located in Johannesburg, that comprises two independent, but closely linked museums. The first of these is the South African Museum of Rock Art (SAMORA) and the second is the James Kitching Gallery (JKG). Whereas SAMORA has exhibits that consider the origins of modern humans and human image making, the JKG has exhibits that more broadly consider the origins of life on Earth.

Maropeng – the Cradle of Humankind (COH)
The Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs, known as the Cradle of Humankind, were declared a World Heritage Site on December 2, 1999. The COH WHS covers an area of over 47 000 hectares in the northwestern corner of Gauteng. The area contains a complex of palaeo-anthropological sites, which have yielded some of the most valuable evidence, worldwide, of the origins of modern humans, hence its name ‘Cradle of Humankind’. The Sterkfontein Caves are one of the richest and most productive palaeo-anthropological sites in the world.
English is the official language of the workshop.

About NAM S&T Centre
The Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre; www.namstct.org) is an inter-governmental organisation with a membership of 40 countries spread over Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. The Centre was set up in 1989 in New Delhi, India, in pursuance of recommendations of various NAM Summit meetings for the promotion of science and technology among developing countries. The Centre undertakes a variety of programmes, including organization of workshops, symposiums, meetings and training courses and implementation of collaborative projects and offers short-term research fellowships to the scientists from the developing countries in association with various Centres of Excellence. The Centre also brings out technical books and other scientific publications in different subjects. These activities provide opportunities for scientist–to–scientist contact and interaction; familiarizing participants on the latest developments and techniques in the subject areas; identification of the requirements of training and expert assistance; locating technologies for transfer between the members and other developing countries, dissemination of S&T information etc. The Centre also encourages academic-research-industry interaction in the developing countries through its NAM S&T-Industry Network Programme.

About Department of Science and Technology (DST), South Africa
The Department of Science and Technology (DST; www.dst.gov.za), Government of South Africa strives towards introducing measures that put science and technology to work to make an impact on growth and development in a sustainable manner in areas that matter to all the people of South Africa. This includes focused interventions, networking and acting as a catalyst for change in terms of both productive components of economy, making it competitive in a globally liberalized environment, and also in respect of the huge development backlog existing among the poorest components of the society. DST’s mission is to develop, coordinate and manage a national system of innovation that will bring about maximum human capital, sustainable economic growth and improved quality of life

DST recognizes the challenges associated with attracting learners to meet the demand of high level skills necessary for Research and Development (R&D) required for innovation in a knowledge-based economy and society. As a result, the Department seeks to respond to these challenges through the Youth into Science Strategy, which broadly responds to the two strategic thrusts and objectives, viz. Science and Technology Literacy and Nurturing Youth Talent and Potential for Science, Engineering and Technology-based Careers. DST has identified science centres as an infrastructure for the Youth into Science Strategy. Currently there are 17 science centres collaborating with the DST in the implementation of the Youth into Science Strategy. A plan, referred to as the ‘National Roll-out Plan for the Establishment of a Network of Science Centres in South Africa’ is already in place. This 25-year Plan seeks to contribute to an environment enabling science centres to perform their core functions, define and achieve the four goals of the Network as defined by the country’s Science Centre Policy Framework (2005). The Plan intends to broaden access to science centres’ services by the target audience by establishing at least one science centre per Municipal District and/or Metropolitan Municipality.

Workshop Participants
The workshop has been primarily designed for the specialists and professionals from the government departments, academic institutions, private sectors, science centres and voluntary agencies in the developing countries with relevant background and active involvement in development policy and implementation of S&T programmes through science centres and museums.

The selection of the participants will be strictly based on merit and quality of the extended abstracts of the presentation material to be submitted along with the completed Nomination Form. A pre-condition for participation in the workshop is that the participants must submit the final manuscript of their presentation material at least a fortnight before the commencement of the workshop.

Resource Persons
Resource Persons for the Workshop would comprise eminent experts from South Africa, India and other countries.

Submission of Applications
Applications for participation (excepting those from South Africa) are required to be submitted in the prescribed form to the NAM S&T Centre as early as possible but latest by 18th January 2008. The form should be completed in all respects and no column should be left blank.
South African scientists should send their applications directly to the Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa.

Publication of Proceedings of the Workshop
The country status reports, scientific/research papers and other study material presented during the training workshop along with some other scientific papers on the subject will be compiled and brought out in the form of a publication. All applicants are required to submit extended abstracts of their country reports/papers along with the completed nomination form. Those finally selected to attend the workshop will be required to submit the full manuscript of their papers/country reports as per the Centre’s prescribed guidelines at least 15 days before the commencement of the workshop i.e. by 10th February 2008.

Local Hospitality and Travel within South Africa
Free local hospitality, including accommodation and meals, will be provided to the participants during 24th February (Noon) to 29th February 2008 (Noon) only, i.e. commencing from one day before the workshop and for an additional day after its conclusion. The participants will have to make their own arrangement of stay beyond these days and therefore they should arrange their flight schedules accordingly.
Free transport will also be provided to the participants for their travel from/to the airport to/from the place of their stay and for visits in connection with the workshop programme.

Financial Arrangement for International Travel
This is being conveyed separately to each member country of the NAM S&T Centre and other developing countries.

About Johannesburg and the Surroundings
Johannesburg (or in short ‘Jo’burg’) is the capital of South Africa's smallest - and richest - province, called Gauteng, a Sesotho, meaning ‘Place of Gold’. It is one of the world's few large metropolitan areas based on neither an ocean/sea port nor a major river. The City sits on a high-altitude inland plateau 1753 metres (6000 feet) above sea level and the sea is a six hour drive to the east. Jo’burg's municipal area is big, often compared with Los Angeles with which it shares a similar sprawling topography, linked by huge highway interchanges. It is the most densely populated and urbanized municipality in South Africa, home to 3 225 800 people in 1 006 900 households.

Jo’burg is the most powerful commercial centre on the African continent, generating 16% of South Africa's GDP and employing 12% of the national workforce. It has a financial, municipal, roads and telecommunications infrastructure that matches leading first world cities, yet the cost of living is far lower. The World Economic Forum rates the banking sector the sixth most sophisticated in the world. Jo’burg hosts every form of commercial activity from financial services to heavy industries and mining.
For a foreign visitor, Jo’burg is relatively inexpensive. The dominant forms of transport are the private car and the minibus taxi. Some 49% of road trips are made by private cars, 29% by taxis and 13% by buses. Jo’burg is South Africa's most cosmopolitan city, home to diverse population groups and to languages from throughout Africa. South Africa itself has 11 languages, all of them spoken in Jo’burg, but English is the predominant language of government, business and the media, and can be understood by most people.

Information on travel and visa requirements etc
For relevant information on travel and visa requirements, the website (address: www.home-affairs.gov.za) of the Department of Home Affairs may be visited. Locations of the South African foreign missions in different countries are available at: http://www.dfa.gov.za/webmissions

Entry Formalities, Immigration and Health
Information on these matters may be supplied as and when required.

Other Useful Information
The weather in Johannesburg is balmy 10 months of the year, generally warm, but not as stiflingly hot as many other African cities. Nights however can be chilly, particularly in winter. The temperature during the workshop period is likely to be between 14 and 25°C.
The operating Voltage in South Africa is 230 volts.
South Africa Standard Time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2). It shares the same time zone as Cairo, Athens and much of Eastern Europe.
The South African Currency is: RAND. The current exchange rate of RAND is approximately R8 to a US dollar.
Presently, there is no departure airport tax in South Africa.

Note
Individual participants or their governments / institutions will be required to bear the following costs:
All expenses in the home country incidental to travel abroad, including expenditure for passport and visa, required medical examinations and vaccinations and miscellaneous expenses such as internal travel to/from the airport of departure in the home country.
Salary and other related allowances for the participants during the event.
Cost of medical insurance to cover the period of their participation in the workshop in South Africa.
The organizers will not assume responsibility for the following expenditure in connection with the participant’s attendance in the Workshop:
Insurance, medical bills or hospitalisation fees.
Compensation in the event of death, disability or illness of participants.
Loss of personal belongings or compensation for damage caused by climatic or other conditions.
Travel or other costs incurred by the dependents that might accompany the participants, or because of overstay.

All Correspondence to be addressed to:
Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre)
Prof. Arun P. Kulshreshtha,
Director,
Centre for Science & Technology of the Non-Aligned and
Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre),
Core-6A, 2nd Floor, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi - 110003 (INDIA)
Tel: +91-11-24645134, 24644974 (Office)
Fax: +91-11-24644973 (Office)
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Website: http://www.namstct.org

Mr. M. Bandyopadhyay,
Senior Expert & Administrative Officer,
Address, Telephone and e-mail (Office) as above.
Tel. 91-11-29941203 (Home)
Department of Science & Technology (DST), South Africa

Mr. Isaac Ramovha,
Science & Youth Unit,
Department of Science & Technology (DST),
Private Bag X894,
Pretoria (SOUTH AFRICA)
Tel: +27-12-8436879 (Off) Cell: +27-82-9440012
Fax: +27-86-6810186
Email: [email protected]

Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries

­­5th International Workshop On “ENHANCING CHANGE THROUGH SCIENCE CENTRES”

25 –28 February 2008 Johannesburg, South Africa

Nomination Form
(Please TYPE or use BLOCK capitals; No column should be left blank, otherwise the form will be rejected)

SECTION A
TO BE FILLED IN BY THE NOMINEE

1 Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms):........................................................................................
(Last Name) (First Name) (Other Names)

2 Designation (Position held):…………………………………………………………

3. Nationality:...............................................................................................………..

4 Date of Birth:…………. Place of Birth (City) ……….….. (Country)……………….

5 Passport No: ....................Place of issue: ........................................

Date of Issue: ............................... Valid up to: .................................................….

6 Name of the Parent Institution: ……………………………………………

Full Address (Office):............................................…………………………………

..............................................................................................................................

Phone: ........…................................. Mobile: ........................................................

Fax: ............................................…. E-mail: .........................................................

7 Full Address (Home): ..........................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................

Phone: ........…................................. Mobile: ........................................................

Fax: ............................................…. E-mail: ..........................................................

8 Educational Qualifications: Highest Degree: ..............................................................

Year of Award: ...................... University:...................................................................

Field of Study: ...........................................................................................................

9 Brief Bio data: ………………………………………………………………………….
(To be attached on separate sheet)

10 What in your opinion qualifies you for the participation in this Workshop?
(To be attached on separate sheet)

11 Brief (1-2 page) Resume of your presentation in the Workshop.
(To be attached on separate sheet)

Date: .............................. Signature: .............................................................….

SECTION B
ENDORSEMENT BY NOMINATING AUTHORITY

(Applicant must get the following endorsement signed by the Focal Point of the NAM S&T Centre in his/her country or the concerned Scientific Ministry / Government Agency. For name / address of the Focal Point please visit Centre’s website www.namstct.org)

Signature:...............…...............................................................

Name (in full): ...........................................................................

Designation:.......................…....................................................

Date:....................….......................………….............................

SEAL

From 25 Feb 2008
Until 27 Feb 2008
Johannesburg, South Africa
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