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Australian embassy to promote STEM
09 Mar 2016 at 16:38hrs | Views
Following two successful tours through Southern Africa, Science Circus Africa will soon arrive in Zimbabwe as part of a broader tour of the region including Namibia and South Africa. The tour will be launched on 11 March at the Australian Embassy and move on to shows in Harare and Manicaland.
The Science Circus is the brainchild of Dr Graham Walker, with funding from the Australian Embassy in Zimbabwe and the High Commission in South Africa. In each country, Dr Walker and local partners perform exciting science shows, conduct teacher trainings and show teachers how ordinary items can be used to make science more accessible for students and promote STEM education.
The project developed through collaboration between Dr Walker, the Australian National Univeristy, Questacon - Australia's National Science and Technology Centre, and passionate partners in each African country who are crucial to fostering long-term outcomes. In Zimbabwe the partner is the Zimbabwe Science Fair, headed by the young and inspiring Knowledge Chikundi. He and his team will be trained by Dr Walker and will be given the materials and equipment to carry on the science shows and teacher trainings after Dr Walker's departure.
The Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Suzanne McCourt, said "The Australian Embassy is proud to support the Science Circus tour through Zimbabwe. The engaging activities of the Science Circus will empower teachers to deliver innovative science education and help students on a path to lifelong science learning'.
"For youth in southern Africa, especially the less fortunate, science and science education can be a real opportunity to break out of poverty and find a satisfying and exciting career," Dr Walker said.
"I hope the shows, exhibits and workshops provide inspiration towards that goal, but also give kids a genuinely fun learning experience. We're also doing a lot to help teachers carry on this inspiration after we leave."
"Zimbabwe has no science centre and only limited school outreach programs. The equipment, resources and most of all skilled African staff we're training are a step towards addressing this gap. It's been amazing to work with the local teams - we've learned a lot working together and their passion is contagious! We hope we'll also get the attention of governments and businesses and see how we can work together to take the next steps for African science education." Dr Walker said.
During the launch on 11 March there will be an opportunity for the media to speak to all actors involved in this exciting project.
The Science Circus is the brainchild of Dr Graham Walker, with funding from the Australian Embassy in Zimbabwe and the High Commission in South Africa. In each country, Dr Walker and local partners perform exciting science shows, conduct teacher trainings and show teachers how ordinary items can be used to make science more accessible for students and promote STEM education.
The project developed through collaboration between Dr Walker, the Australian National Univeristy, Questacon - Australia's National Science and Technology Centre, and passionate partners in each African country who are crucial to fostering long-term outcomes. In Zimbabwe the partner is the Zimbabwe Science Fair, headed by the young and inspiring Knowledge Chikundi. He and his team will be trained by Dr Walker and will be given the materials and equipment to carry on the science shows and teacher trainings after Dr Walker's departure.
The Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Suzanne McCourt, said "The Australian Embassy is proud to support the Science Circus tour through Zimbabwe. The engaging activities of the Science Circus will empower teachers to deliver innovative science education and help students on a path to lifelong science learning'.
"For youth in southern Africa, especially the less fortunate, science and science education can be a real opportunity to break out of poverty and find a satisfying and exciting career," Dr Walker said.
"I hope the shows, exhibits and workshops provide inspiration towards that goal, but also give kids a genuinely fun learning experience. We're also doing a lot to help teachers carry on this inspiration after we leave."
"Zimbabwe has no science centre and only limited school outreach programs. The equipment, resources and most of all skilled African staff we're training are a step towards addressing this gap. It's been amazing to work with the local teams - we've learned a lot working together and their passion is contagious! We hope we'll also get the attention of governments and businesses and see how we can work together to take the next steps for African science education." Dr Walker said.
During the launch on 11 March there will be an opportunity for the media to speak to all actors involved in this exciting project.
Source - Byo24News
