Our Story

Science-for-the-Future (S4F) is a self-funding, extra-academic entity situated at the Faculty of Education on the Bloemfontein Campus, which co-exists and collaborates with the Department of MNST, other UFS entities as well as other SA universities regarding the advancement of innovative and effective mathematics and science teaching and learning. Apart from the professional development of in-service science and mathematics teachers, there is a strong focus on student educator development and community empowerment initiatives.

In the strive to consolidate these initiatives and extend the platform to include science communication and science awareness components, the Sci-Ed Science Education Centre was established in 2022. The offerings at Sci-Ed align with the National Norms and Standards for a Network of Science Centres in South Africa, which articulates the following four goals for science centres in South Africa:

• promote science and technology literacy among young people and the general public.
• contribute to the enhancement of learner participation and performance in STEM.
• identify and nurture youth talent and potential in STEM.
• provide career education in STEM-based disciplines.

Sci-Ed comprises an outdoor Science Park and an indoor Science Discovery Centre next to the Winkie Direko Building. It is characterised by interactive educational displays and exhibits.

It features a 4IR and Physical Sciences ICT Laboratory, amphitheatre, Career Mentoring space, Science Café, Family Math & Family Science training facilities, and a stargazing area. The premises of Sci-Ed is STEAM+ (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics and all related). Sci-Ed supports and complements current and future engaged learning initiatives and provides a customised teaching and learning environment that embraces and promotes effective ways of STEAM+ engagement. Sci-Ed also serves as a social space on campus, where all UFS students and visitors to the facility can interact within a fun and exciting popular science environment, thus a creative approach to using spaces on campus to create an aesthetic and educational added value.

Sci-Ed, along with the existing synergy between the Science and Mathematics training programmes based at the Faculty of Education, the Naval Hill Planetarium and the Boyden Observatory, provide a rich and unique opportunity to experience real-life science as well as content in context, all contributing factors to effective teaching and learning