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Advancing innovative, effective mathematics and science teaching

12 October 2022 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo iFlair Photography

Attending the Science for the Future (S4F) summit in the Centenary Complex on the Bloemfontein Campus were, from the left: Back: Dr Cobus van Breda (S4F Programme Director), Amaria Reynders (S4F Family Math Manager), Dr Glynnis Daries (Sol Plaatje University), Prof Francis Petersen (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS), Tarin Roberts (Nelson Mandela University), Adolph Tomes (Acting Chief Executive Office, SANRAL). In the front are, from the left: Prof Angela James (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Heidi Harper (General Manager Skills Development, SANRAL), Prof Jogymol Alex (Walter Sisulu University).

Teachers from across the country and representatives of six other universities recently gathered at the University of the Free State (UFS) to celebrate the achievements of the Science-for-the-Future (S4F) Teacher Professional Development programmes as well as the successful collaboration between the UFS and other universities.

The Science-for-the-Future unit in the Faculty of Education hosted a summit in the Centenary Complex on the Bloemfontein Campus on 30 September 2022. The Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof Francis Petersen, delivered the keynote address at the summit. Representatives from the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) – the official sponsors of the Science for the Future initiative – were also present, along with 300 teachers and representatives from the Department of Basic Education.

In his welcoming address, Prof Patrick Mafora, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Education, said the initiative exemplifies the UFS’ institutional goals, such as increasing our contribution to local, regional, and global knowledge. It also supports development and social justice through engaged scholarship.

Improving the quality of teaching and learning for Math and Science

Dr Cobus van Breda, Programme Director of S4F and Project Manager of the Universities Collaboration initiative, provided background regarding the programmes and stated that “… we know from research that there are many factors that prevent learners in rural areas from excelling in Mathematics and Science. These include subject content knowledge, lack of teaching resources at school and at home, along with a lack of parental involvement, among others.” He said the project aims to address the challenges related to Mathematics and Science teaching and learning in the country. One of the ways in which this goal can be accomplished, is by empowering teachers and learners with the necessary tools, including resources and knowledge, to create a successful learning space for Mathematics and Science. “Our mission is the advancement of innovative and effective Mathematics and Science teaching and learning,” he indicated.

Representatives from the DBE and other institutions were also given the opportunity to highlight the impact of the initiative in their respective institutions. “Our public schooling system, especially in poor and rural areas, is in crisis – more especially in the Eastern Cape. This is due to a lack of learning support and a lack of sufficient skills. This created a need for innovative, sustainable, and tactical solutions to improve the quality of teaching and learning for Math and Science. The Science for the Future initiative is exactly that,” explained Prof Jogy Alex from the Walter Sisulu University.

Making a difference and changing people’s lives

During his keynote address, Prof Petersen indicated that he preferred the word ‘co-creation’ instead of ‘collaboration’, and he urged the “sponsors not only to contribute funding, but really contribute towards the intellectual project of this programme”. Surely, they have learnings and some ideas that can strengthen and expand the project, he said. Prof Petersen also alluded to the fact that SANRAL contributes towards a Research Chair in Science and Mathematics Education in the Faculty of Education, as well as the fact that, at the university, “we don’t exist to create knowledge for the sake of knowledge; we exist to create knowledge so that the knowledge can make an impact”. He referred to the project as an example of how knowledge is converted to practical application.

Mr Adolph Tomes, Acting Business Operations Executive at SANRAL, also commended the initiative and its impact. “Although we as SANRAL are the funders and we get praise for being funders, this is a phenomenal project, and it is making a difference and changing people’s lives.”

News Archive

UFS boasts with world class research apparatus

2005-10-20

At the launch of the diffractometer were from the left Prof Steve Basson (Chairperson: Department of Chemistry at the UFS), Prof Jannie Swarts (Unit for Physical and Macro-molecular Chemistry at the UFS Department of Chemistry), Mr Pari Antalis (from the provider of the apparatus - Bruker SA), Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS), Prof André Roodt (head of the X-ray diffraction unit at the UFS Department of Chemistry) and Prof Teuns Verschoor (Vice-Rector: Academic Operations at the UFS).

UFS boasts with world class research apparatus
The most advanced single crystal X-ray diffractometer in Africa has been installed in the Department of Chemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS).

“The diffractometer provides an indispensable technique to investigate compounds for medicinal application for example in breast, prostate and related bone cancer identification and therapy, currently synthesized in the Department of Chemistry. It also includes the area of homogeneous catalysis where new compounds for industrial application are synthesised and characterised and whereby SASOL and even the international petrochemical industry could benefit, especially in the current climate of increased oil prices,” said Prof Andrè Roodt, head of the X-ray diffraction unit at the UFS Department of Chemistry.

The installation of the Bruker Kappa APEX II single crystal diffractometer is part of an innovative programme of the UFS management to continue its competitive research and extend it further internationally.

“The diffractometer is the first milestone of the research funding programme for the Department of Chemistry and we are proud to be the first university in Africa to boast with such advanced apparatus. We are not standing back for any other university in the world and have already received requests for research agreements from universities such as the University of Cape Town,” said Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the UFS.

The diffractometer is capable of accurately analysing molecules in crystalline form within a few hours and obtain the precise geometry – that on a sample only the size of a grain of sugar. It simultaneously gives the exact distance between two atoms, accurate to less than fractions of a billionth of a millimetre.

“It allows us to investigate certain processes in Bloemfontein which has been impossible in the past. We now have a technique locally by which different steps in key chemical reactions can be evaluated much more reliable, even at temperatures as low as minus 170 degrees centigrade,” said Prof Roodt.

A few years ago these analyses would have taken days or even weeks. The Department of Chemistry now has the capability to investigate chemical compounds in Bloemfontein which previously had to be shipped to other, less sophisticate sites in the RSA or overseas (for example Sweden, Russia and Canada) at significant extra costs.

Media release
Issued by:Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
19 October 2005

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