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UFS helps Tritech National Science and Technology Fair to reach new heights

18 November 2024 | Story Nicolle Loader and Rudi Swart | Photo Supplied

The Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry (CMBG) at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) support and partnership of the Tritech National Science and Technology Fair reached new heights this year with the event set to be featured in a new television series.

CMBG has been a proud sponsor and partner of the Tritech National Science and Technology Fair for the past four years. Established in 2008, Tritech is a renowned competition that allows Grade 7 to Grade 12 learners from across South Africa to showcase their research abilities. The Tritech National Science Competition serves as a beacon of opportunity for young minds, fostering their passion for scientific exploration and igniting their curiosity. It is designed to enhance scientific literacy, encourage innovation, and nurture the next generation of scientists and inventors.

“The CMBG has consistently demonstrated its commitment to promoting education and empowering young individuals. As a result, we have partnered with Tritech since 2021, and I believe that this partnership has opened new doors and possibilities for our young scientists. We are incredibly honoured to be part of such a dynamic and inspiring environment,” said Dr Mariana Erasmus, Vice Director: CMBG and Tritech EXCO member.

Power of science and technology

According to Dr Erasmus, at the CMBG, they believe in the power of science and technology to transform our world. Their involvement in this event aligns perfectly with the centre’s commitment to fostering innovation, encouraging critical thinking, and nurturing the next generation of scientists and innovators.

“We are excited about the opportunities Tritech presents to the university to engage with cutting-edge projects, to exchange ideas, and build lasting collaborations. The spirit of curiosity and exploration that Tritech embodies is exactly what drives our institution’s mission forward.”

In addition to assisting with the judging of projects during the National Science Competition at the Merensky Agricultural Academy in Tzaneen, the CMBG presents a fun but intellectually stimulating activity, showcasing various STEM-related disciplines that UFS offers to inspire students from across South Africa to celebrate scientific discovery. Each year, the CMBG collaborates with a different department for these activities, and this year, in October 2024, the collaboration was with the UFS Department of Chemistry.

‘Science Olympics’

The theme for Tritech 2024 was “Science Olympics”, and after the formalities of the project presentations were completed, the fair kicked off with a grand procession led by bearers of flaming torches and flags reminiscent of Olympic ceremonies. “Learners marched proudly, symbolising their commitment to science, with representatives from UFS and Tritech EXCO leading the way, an unforgettable visual display honoured the learners’ passion for exploration,” said Dr Erasmus.

The event transitioned into a video presentation explaining the misuse of performance-enhancing drugs in sports, followed by interactive activities focused on analysing possible doping agents. Thereafter, the UFS team guided learners through hands-on experiments, demonstrating the science behind identifying performance-enhancing drugs. Through engaging, real-world applications, learners were not only able to detect these substances but quantify their findings, making the learning experience both fun and educational.

As the night closed, the Chemistry team mesmerised the audience with a ‘magic show’. Explosions of colour, booming sounds, and flashes of light filled the sky, leaving everyone in awe. The show combined entertainment and chemistry, showcasing the wonders of science through spectacular reactions.

On TV

The fair concluded the next day with activities like kart building and livestock showcases, ending with a prize-giving ceremony to reward the learners for their hard work throughout the year. Adding to the excitement, the event is set to be featured in a new television series, with the pilot episode filmed during the weekend of Tritech Nationals 2024.

“The series promises to bring the Tritech experience to life for a wider audience, aiming to capture the incredible spirit, creativity, and innovation that defines Tritech. It will be an incredible opportunity to gain recognition, inspire others, and highlight the importance of science and technology in solving real-world challenges,” Dr Erasmus concluded.

This year’s fair was a celebration of knowledge, creativity, and the endless possibilities of science, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended.

News Archive

Nobel Prize-winner presents first lecture at Vice-Chancellor’s prestige lecture series

2017-11-17

At the first lecture in the UFS Vice Chancellor’s Prestige Lecture series,
were from the left: Prof Jeanette Conradie, UFS Department of Chemistry;
Prof Michael Levitt, Nobel Prize-winner in Chemistry, biophysicist and
professor in structural biology at Stanford University; Prof Francis Petersen,
UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector; and Prof Corli Witthuhn,
UFS Vice-Rector: Research.
Photo: Johan Roux

South African born biophysicist and Nobel Prize-winner in Chemistry, Prof Michael Levitt, paid a visit to the University of the Free Sate (UFS) as part of the Academy of Science of South Africa’s (ASSAf) Distinguished Visiting Scholars’ Programme.

Early this week the professor in structural biology at Stanford University in the US presented a captivating lecture on the Bloemfontein Campus on his lifetime’s work that earned him the Nobel Prize in 2013. His lecture launched the UFS Vice-Chancellor’s Prestige Lecture series, aimed at knowledge sharing within, and beyond our university boundaries.

Prof Levitt was one of the first researchers to conduct molecular dynamics simulations of DNA and proteins and developed the first software for this purpose. He received the prize for Chemistry, together with Martin Karplus and Arieh Warshel, “for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems”.

Attending the lecture were members of UFS management, academic staff from a range of faculties and other universities as well as young researchers. “Multiscale modelling is very much based on something that makes common sense,” Prof Levitt explained. “And that is to makes things as simple as possible, but not simpler. Everything needs to have the right level of simplicity, that is not too simple, but not too complicated.”

An incredible mind
Prof Levitt enrolled for applied mathematics at the University of Pretoria at the age of 15. He visited his uncle and aunt in London after his first-year exams, and decided to stay on because they had a television, he claims. A series on molecular biology broadcast on BBC, sparked an interest that would lead Prof Levitt via Israel, and Cambridge, to the Nobel Prize stage – all of which turned out to be vital building blocks for his research career.

Technology to the rescue
The first small protein model that Prof Levitt built was the size of a room. But that exercise led to the birth of multiscale modelling of macromolecules. For the man on the street, that translates to computerised models used to simulate protein action, and reaction. With some adaptations, the effect of medication can be simulated on human protein in a virtual world.

“I was lucky to stand on the shoulder of giants,” he says about his accomplishments, and urges the young to be good and kind. “Be passionate about what you do, be persistent, and be original,” he advised.

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