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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

“To forgive is not an obligation. It’s a choice.” – Prof Minow during Reconciliation Lecture

2014-03-05

“To forgive is not an obligation. It’s a choice.” – Prof Minow during the Third Annual Reconciliation Lecture entitled Forgiveness, Law and Justice.
Photo: Johan Roux

No one could have anticipated the atmosphere in which Prof Martha Minow would visit the Bloemfontein Campus. And no one could have predicted how apt the timing of her message would be. As this formidable Dean of Harvard University’s Law School stepped behind the podium, a latent tension edged through the crowded audience.

“The issue of getting along after conflict is urgent.”

With these few words, Prof Minow exposed the essence of not only her lecture, but also the central concern of the entire university community.

As an expert on issues surrounding racial justice, Prof Minow has worked across the globe in post-conflict societies. How can we prevent atrocities from happening? she asked. Her answer was an honest, “I don’t know.” What she is certain of, on the other hand, is that the usual practice of either silence or retribution does not work. “I think that silence produces rage – understandably – and retribution produces the cycle of violence. Rather than ignoring what happens, rather than retribution, it would be good to reach for something more.” This is where reconciliation comes in.

Prof Minow put forward the idea that forgiveness should accompany reconciliation efforts. She defined forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to forego rightful grounds of resentment towards those who have committed a wrong. “To forgive then, in this definition, is not an obligation. It’s a choice. And it’s held by the one who was harmed,” she explained.

Letting go of resentment cannot be forced – not even by the law. What the law can do, though, is either to encourage or discourage forgiveness. Prof Minow showed how the law can construct adversarial processes that render forgiveness less likely, when indeed its intention was the opposite. “Or, law can give people chances to meet together in spaces where they may apologise and they may forgive,” she continued. This point introduced some surprising revelations about our Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Indeed, studies do report ambivalence, disappointment and mixed views about the TRC. Whatever our views are on its success, Prof Minow reported that people across the world wonder how South African did it. “It may not work entirely inside the country; outside the country it’s had a huge effect. It’s a touchstone for transitional justice.”

The TRC “seems to have coincided with, and maybe contributed to, the relatively peaceful political transition to democracy that is, frankly, an absolute miracle.” What came as a surprise to many is this: the fact that the TRC has affected transitional justice efforts in forty jurisdictions, including Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Cambodia and Liberia. It has even inspired the creation of a TRC in Greensborough, North Carolina, in the United States.

There are no blueprints for solving conflict, though. “But the possibility of something other than criminal trials, something other than war, something other than silence – that’s why the TRC, I think, has been such an exemplar to the world,” she commended.

Court decision cannot rebuild a society, though. Only individuals can forgive. Only individuals can start with purposeful, daily decisions to forgive and forge a common future. Forgiveness is rather like kindness, she suggested. It’s a resource without limits. It’s not scarce like water or money. It’s within our reach. But if it’s forced, it’s not forgiveness.

“It is good,” Prof Minow warned, “to be cautious about the use of law to deliberately shape or manipulate the feelings of any individual. But it is no less important to admit that law does affect human beings, not just in its results, but in its process.” And then we must take responsibility for how we use that law.

“A government can judge, but only people can forgive.” As Prof Minow’s words lingered, the air suddenly seemed a bit more buoyant.

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