The third Northern Cape Science Festival was held at the Mayibuye Multipurpose Centre in Galeshewe, Kimberley, in the Northern Cape from 09 to 13 February  2015. The aim of the Science Beyond Borders festivals is to take science to learners, educators and communities around the country. The programme compiled for this year’s activities was focused on inspiring youth and learners to become future engineers, scientists and innovators, through which South Africa will be propelled towards the envisaged knowledge-based economy. Through the programme, the festival and its sponsors aim to enhance science and technology awareness amongst the public, particularly the youth.

The high profile festival offers a variety of activities such as exhibitions, lectures, workshops, star lab, demonstrations, live experiments and role modelling. SAASTA participated again at the festival in the form of exhibitions, demonstrations, role modelling and workshops. Programmes from the Science Communication unit – The Nanotechnology Public Engagement Programme (NPEP), The Hydrogen South Africa Public Awareness and Demonstration Platform (HySA PADP)- and the Science Awareness Platform (SAP)  teamed up to create and advance science using a variety of activities. Related career opportunities in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies were communicated to the different audiences visiting the SAASTA exhibitions through HySA PADEP. With SAASTA sharing the exhibition floor with other institutions such as South African National Space Agency (SANSA), Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRao), South African Weather Services, UNISA (University of Southern Africa), CSIR  and SANBI, the learners and educators acquired an  understanding of the diverse sciences and technologies available in SA.

Through the exhibition stand, combined with interactive exhibits such as star lab and the hydrogen fuel cell technology exhibit, the audiences were exposed to the science and technologies, as well as the career opportunities in these fields. There was great interest in the fuel cell technology exhibit from learners and general public, which provided the SAASTA team with an opportunity to interact with those visitors and have meaningful dialogue on the field of fuel cell technology. The hydrogen fuel cell cars displayed were utilised to full effect in order to ensure the audience grasped the concept of fuel cells and most importantly, the hydrogen economy.

This made the exhibition stand the centre of attraction and drew everyone who came to the festival. This new innovative way of communication addressed SAASTA’s mandate of advancing public awareness, appreciation and engagement of science.

The participants were given information brochures on nanotechnology, as well as some posters for educators to take to their schools. After the workshops some of the educators and parents stayed behind to learn more about nanotechnology and the hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.  Journalists also attended some of the presentations and showed their interest by asking many questions.

It was a worthwhile experience, and the participants were much more eager to go and learn more about the world of science. The presence of the MEC and her speech encouraged the learners to take up math and science at school level in order to be future engineers and researchers in this growing world of science.