Goratileone Oepeng reaches FameLab SA Final!
We are so proud to see one of our science club members reach for fame through science!
Goratileone Oepeng grew up near Kuruman in the Northern Cape. He says he has always been curious about the world around him and the way things work. This is why, at school, he started a science club and registered it as a Science Spaza Club. In 2014, he wrote a letter to the Science Space newspaper where he explained just how much the Science Spaza Club meant to him and his friends – and said this is where he learnt to really love science. See below for that letter with Goratileone standing third in the back row:
Now, after almost 10 years, Goratileone's dreams have come true! He is studying an MSc in Entomology at the University of Pretoria. His research is taking a closer look at the link between pheromones and reproductive dominance in honey bee workers. A better understanding could help increase the already dwindling population of the world’s number one pollinators and other social insects that employ pheromones as a means of communication.
But we have even more exciting news … Goratileone was a finalist in the FameLab SA 2023 competition! In this competition, young scientists have three minutes to explain their research to judges in a simple and entertaining way. Goratileone impressed the judges enough to win a regional heat to go through to the semi-finals, and then he competed in the finals on the 21st September. We were also privileged to be able to take two of our Science Clubs through to Pretoria to watch the action.
BIG UPS to Goratileone!
Mandela Day 2023
Fun, Food and Farming for Mandela Day 2023 
We headed out along dirt roads and windy tracks in support of our non-profit initiative Science Spaza - bringing together scientists and young people to create positive change.
Jive Director, Prof Albert Modi, a leading expert in crop science and sustainable agriculture, arrived at Swayimane High School near Wartburg with armfuls of seeds, seedlings and fruit trees.
The Jive team soon got busy, along with 67 learners, plus volunteers from a local co-operative, Vukuzithathe, and within half an hour everything was planted.
We also had the opportunity to introduce the learners to Science Spaza, Jive’s network of more than 140 science clubs at schools across the country.
If you’re a scientist looking to share your ideas with the next generation of leaders, look no further than Science Spaza and talk to over 10 000 young people in all 9 provinces of South Africa.
Thanks to Kavo R Photography, Blackwoods Nursery, Dr Doshen Naidoo - PMB Paediatrician for generous donations!
Prof Dlova's Hair and Skin Care Tips
Prof Dlova, Professor of Dermatology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has been giving us super cool and very important tips on hair and skin care!
Click on the links to learn more...
- Full edition of Spaza Space with lots of interesting facts about skin and hair
Comics:
World Science Forum 2022
The Science Spaza team was at the Department of Science and Innovation's World Science Forum 2022 - the first to be held on the African continent!
The team enjoyed the opportunity to engage with learners and partners around science outreach.
National Science Week 2018 kicked off on the 30th July and celebrated the legacy of two great South African leaders. They dreamed of a democratic South Africa where poverty, racism and inequality are eradicated. This year marks the Centenary of both former President Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu with the theme, ‘Deepening Democracy through Science’.
With this in mind, the latest edition of Science Spaza’s newspaper, Spaza Space, celebrates South Africans making a big impact through science and technology. Benefitting the lives of ordinary South Africans every day, scientists, researchers, engineers and technologists contribute to the vision and legacy of Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu.
10 000 copies of Spaza Space have been distributed to Science Centres and Science Spaza clubs across South Africa, to inspire the youth through interesting articles and engaging activities. Each day during National Science Week (30th July – 4th August), a different topic was be explored on the Science Spaza Facebook page.
The topics include machine learning, innovation, entrepreneurship and practical mathematics and are taken from Science Spaza activity worksheets, another resource provided to school science clubs in all nine provinces.
Science Spaza is produced by Jive Media Africa and managed under the auspices of the YAZI Centre for Science and Society in Africa (NPC-K2015047709, Non-Profit Organisation 151-830 NPO).
Our theme for National Science Week 2017 was:
Science Rocks!
We invite you to explore with us three fields in science relating to rocks:
palaeontology, archaeology and geology.
Learners from the Science Spaza Club at Zibukezulu Technical High School had the opportunity to celebrate National Science Week with us this year. On a trip to the Kamberg Rock Art Centre they were introduced to palaeontology, archaeology and geology by three South African experts. We also hosted several interactive workshops with the learners that included fun activities and a chance for them to write and record their own songs about rock art, fossils and geology. The links of these special-feature tracks can be found on this page. To end off the celebrations with a bang, the learners performed their unique songs in a concert for their local community.
Follow the link and check out our latest edition of Spaza Space and accompanying worksheets exclusively themed for National Science Week 2017.
National Science Week is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, managed through the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA). For more information, go to: www.saasta.ac.za
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Science Spaza's activities for National Science Week were broadcasted on Hectic Nine-9 on Monday 7th and Friday 11th August 2017!!
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Finalists!
** We were one of three finalists in the M&Gs Investing in the Future & Drivers of Change awards.
Hip Hop Science Spaza: Science Spaza collaborates with Hip Hop U
Since 2014, we have been bringing you a hectically awesome collaboration between U in our Science Spaza clubs, musicians (like iFani) and the coolest scientists (like the astronomer Dr. Siphesihle Makhathini).
Watch cool videos of our collaborations and learn more about Hip Hop U by clicking on the logo below.
Competition
Keep an eye out on this window for updates on fun competitions!
International Year of the Periodic Table!
Yo yo! Well done to our IYPT competition winner, Xolani Nkunzi! He came up with the word "Hypothalamus". The hypothalamus is a small part of the brain that is responsible for the release of hormones and maintaining our body temperature among other things.
Events
National Science Week 2018
National Science Week 2017
Science Forum South Africa Dec 2016
National Science Week 2016
FameLab 2016: Meet Nozipho
National Water Week 2016 and Hip Hop Health
Hip Hop Science Spaza Competition 2015
National Science Week 2015
Hip Hop Science Spaza Competition 2014
National Science Week 2017
Science Spaza
Science Spaza is an initiative of
YAZI
and
Jive Media Africa
