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UFS part of another successful Tritech National Science and Technology Fair in 2023

10 November 2023 | Story Ouma Ngoepe | Photo SUPPLIED

Liezl Geldenhuys (ZZ2), Mellisa Pringle (Lasec), Ouma Ngoepe (CMBG), Prof Maryna de Wit (SFSD), Dr Mariana Erasmus (CMBG), Bernadine Taljaard (ZZ2), Khezwo Nematshema (SFSD), Shahiëda Cloete (SFSD), Jan Andries Viktor (SFSD), Vuyelwa Nkoi (SFSD).

The Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry (CMBG) at the University of the Free State (UFS) was part of another successful Tritech National Science and Technology Fair 2023 – an exciting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) research competition.

The UFS has partnered with Tritech and other sponsors since 2021 to bridge the gap between high school and tertiary education. Tritech, which started in 2008 and is open to all Grade 7-12 learners, aims to equip them for tertiary education by introducing them to scientific research and incorporating modern technology in research. This is an annual competition that starts at the regional level and goes all the way to the national level, with the national competition held at the Merensky High School, in Tzaneen, Limpopo from 20-21 October 2023.

Schools from across the country take part in the fair, but learners compete in groups rather than schools.

Every year the Tritech Nationals are divided into four main activities over the weekend:

On the Friday afternoon the learners present their STEM projects in which they have identified a problem in a community, do research to find a solution, do experiments to test if the solution will solve the problem, then test the solution in the community, and lastly, present their findings to a group of judges and learners in similar fields. Fields include Life Sciences, Engineering and Design, Maths, Science and Technology, Environmental and Social Sciences, Health Sciences and Agricultural Sciences.
Friday evening is usually a fun activity for the learners.
On Saturday morning the learners are exposed to work-related activities that give them insight into professions they could pursue in the science field. This activity is sponsored and presented by the UFS.
The last activity of the weekend is the prize-giving on Saturday afternoon where the learners get rewarded for the quality of their projects and honour, celebrate, and encourage excellence.

“Every year the CMBG includes different departments from the UFS in alignment with the theme for the event, to ignite a lasting passion for innovation toward promising careers in the STEM fields. In 2022 the theme for Tritech was “Crime Scene Investigators” and the CMBG team created a very realistic crime scene and laboratory setup to teach the learners about Forensic Science. The learners scored our CSI activity as the best for the weekend and we knew that for the 2023 Nationals, we had our work cut out to do even better,” says Dr Erasmus.

Learning about food health and safety

This year, Prof Maryna de Wit and her students from the Department of Sustainable Food Systems and Development (SFSD) joined the CMBG team, to introduce learners to food health and safety, food preservation, food systems and development, as well as sensory analyses.

Island, shipwrecks, and wilderness survival

Dr Mariana Erasmus, Deputy Director of the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry (CMBG), spearheads the Tritech team from the UFS. CMBG, as part of its community outreach programme, is not only a sponsor of the event but is also the organiser of the main activity together with another UFS department.

Dr Erasmus says the theme for Tritech 2023 was “Survival MasterChef”, where for the two activity events, the Tritech learners were “stranded” on an island. This exercise was a great way to promote leadership qualities, encourage creativity and confidence, promote teamwork and active communication, and increase critical thinking in learners, while they got to know more about food health and safety practices.

“It was all island, shipwrecks, and wilderness survival at this year’s event where learners had to survive after being ‘stranded’ on an island. To escape, the learners had to build a boat and while they waited to be rescued, they needed to adapt to island life to survive by preparing healthy meals, as well as preparing meals and drinks to treat dehydration and scurvy,” says Dr Erasmus.

“During the prize-giving, some of the learners received shadowing opportunities at the UFS and other sponsors to advance their education. Bronze, silver, and gold medals, together with participation certificates, were awarded to other deserving learners.”

Learners taking part in the “stranded” on an island exercise during the Tritech National Science and Technology Fair 2023.

Panelists of the 2023 Tritech National Science and Technology Fair

Tritech National Science and Technology Fair in 2023

Learners took part in various activites.

News Archive

UFS Centenary celebrations come to an end

2005-02-03

OFFICIAL OPENING

The official opening of the UFS will take place on Friday 04 February 2005 at 09:00 in the Reitz Hall (Centenary Complex). Please note that this is a test and lecture free day. The Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Frederick Fourie will be the keynote speaker. Refreshments will be served at the Centenary Complex after the opening ceremony.

The historic Centenary photograph will be taken at 11:00 on the eastern side of the Red Square (CR Swart parking area). All staff members and students are invited to be part of this massive photograph.

Important

• There will be no parking allowed on the CR Swart parking area until 12:00 on Friday 04 February 2005, as a result of the photo session.

• All academic staff members are requested to wear academic dress on the day, seeing as staff members will depict the Centenary emblem on the photograph. Academic gowns may be collected from the Gown Store on Wednesday 02 - Thursday 03 February 2005 between 08:00 and 16:00. Gowns must be returned to the Gown Store after the photograph has been taken.

SERVICE OF DEVOTION

A special service of devotion will take place on Sunday 06 February 2005 at 18:00 for 18:30 in front of the Main Building on the Red Square. This is a special gathering of students, hosted by all the interdenominational groups on the UFS campus. The evening will be a celebration of praise, thanks and worship, followed by a message from Dr Wollie Grobler. The evening will conclude with song and fireworks.

Staff members and students are welcome to bring their friends and families to this special event.

Important

• Even though there will be chairs in front of the Main Building, staff members and students are requested to bring extra pillows and blankets to sit on.

• No persons or vehicles will be allowed on the eastern side of the Red Square or on the CR Swart parking area, due to the security requirements of the fireworks show.

• All members of the choir are invited to be part of the mass choir. Lyrics will be provided.

• All persons who attend this event are requested to bring a candle for the purpose of the mass choir.

• Special transportation arrangements will be made for all service workers to enable them to attend the service. If there is someone in your faculty, department or division who would like to make use of this service, please send an e-mail to Elize Rall (ralle.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za) no later than Tuesday 01 February 2005.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• A reunion for all former SRC members of the UFS will take place on the campus, from 04 February to 06 February 2005. An interesting programme is being planned. For more information, please contact Nicolaas du Plessis on 084 955 0875.

• The annual Rag Procession will take place on Saturday 05 February 2005. For more information, contact the Rag Office at X 2718.

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