Contents. How To Use This Manual 2. Word From SAASTA 3. Project Background 4. SAASTA National Schools Debates Contest Rules and Conditions 5

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1 2012

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3 Cotets How To Use This Maual 2 Word From SAASTA 3 Project Backgroud 4 SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates Cotest Rules ad Coditios 5 Overview of the SAASTA Debates 6 Public Uderstadig of Biotechology (PUB) Programme 11 Naotechology Public Egagemet Programme (NPEP) 13 Hydroge South Africa (HySA) Public Awareess Platform 15 Space Sciece i South Africa Iteratioal Year of Sustaiable Eergy for All 19 1

4 How To Use This Maual This maual has bee desiged as a useful ad helpful resource ot oly for the SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates but also as a supplemet for: The classroom Career guidace tool Sparkig a iterest from learers to pursue sciece, egieerig ad techology careers It is hoped that you will be able to refer to this maual ad utilise the public speakig, research ad tactical skills to erich yourselves ad those aroud you. This maual was coceptualised ad writte by The Collective Geius (TCG). TCG is a specialist youth orgaisatio that is focused o providig a holistic ad meaigful package to corporates, govermets ad ogovermetal orgaisatios to implemet youth developmet projects. The orgaisatio has a wide rage of expertise that eables it to desig, develop ad implemet successful youth developmet programmes from start to fiish. TCG is ivolved i may flagship youth developmet projects both locally ad iteratioally ad serves as the Implemetig Parter for the SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates Programme. It is hoped that you will fid this maual useful, helpful ad fu! For more iformatio o TCG please us at musajhb@gmail.com 2

5 Word From SAASTA PO Box 1758 Pretoria 0001 South Africa Tel: (012) Fax: (012) It. Code: Jauary 2012 Dear Debatig Teams Sciece ca be cosidered as oe of the corerstoes of moder society. Without progress i sciece we would ot have what most of us cosider fudametal like electricity, computers, cellphoes ad cars. Aother corerstoe of moder society is debate. Democracy opes up room for debate o a whole rage of issues. It is through debate that parliamets ad other goverig bodies pass motios, which i tur impacts the workig of the world. The South Africa Agecy for Sciece ad Techology Advacemet (SAASTA) has decided to merge these two corerstoes ito the SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates Competitio. The overarchig theme for the 2012 Debates Competitio is liked to the Iteratioal Year of Sustaiable Eergy for All. Reewable eergy ad eergy efficiecy have become the primary focus of a large umber of scietific research projects. Emergig scieces like biotechology, aotechology, hydroge fuel cells ad space sciece all have a role to play i producig a sustaiable world. Success i debatig high-level scietific topics that are liked to issues that affect us all ca oly be achieved if oe has a i-depth uderstadig of the topic. Humas have a tedecy to fear that which they do ot uderstad. This is the reaso why most people fid sciece to be a formidable topic. We hope that by exposig you to some of the relevat scietific issues of today, we will help you ot oly to uderstad the sciece but to realise its true potetial ad fid ejoymet i it. I tur, we hope to create sciece commuicators out of you, who will spread the word of sciece to your school, commuity, family ad frieds. SAASTA would like to exted its appreciatio to your educator ad school for their support. Ad, to the Debatig Team the best of luck! May the SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates Competitio be a rewardig experiece i which you fid that you ca lear, grow ad exceed eve your ow expectatios. Yours sicerely Beverley Damose Group Executive: Sciece Advacemet Natioal Research Foudatio 3

6 Project Backgroud The South Africa Agecy for Sciece ad Techology Advacemet (SAASTA) is a busiess uit of the Natioal Research Foudatio (NRF) with the madate to advace public awareess, appreciatio ad egagemet of sciece, egieerig ad techology i South Africa. SAASTA comprises three differet uits of which the Sciece Commuicatio Uit is resposible for the Natioal Schools Debates Competitio. The Sciece Commuicatio Uit maages four DST (Departmet of Sciece ad Techology) public egagemet programmes, three of which are also the sole fuders of the Debates Competitio. These programmes are the Public Uderstadig of Biotechology (PUB) programme; Naotechology Public Egagemet Programme (NPEP); Hydroge South Africa (HySA) ad Space Sciece Outreach ad Awareess Programme. The primary aim of these programmes is to create broad public awareess ad clear, balaced uderstadig of the scietific priciples ad potetial of the relevat sciece. The Debates project seeks to preset scietific iformatio to the youth of South Africa i a maer that will stimulate them itellectually ad ecourage them to egage each other o sciece-related issues. The core objectives behid this project are to: Dissemiate scietific iformatio to high school learers i maer that is both fu ad iteractive to stimulate iterest; Facilitate dialogue betwee youg people from all walks of life throughout the whole of South Africa o sciece, egieerig ad techology; ad Promote sciece, egieerig ad techology-related careers to youg people i South Africa with the hope that they will pursue careers i those fields. Further to these core objectives, the SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates aim to: Ecourage youg people to address key issues facig their commuities ad the coutry ad to fid solutios to these issues through sciece, egieerig ad techology; Impart crucial research skills to all participats i the project; Prepare South Africa s learers for the professioal workig eviromet; Nurture assertiveess ad cofidece amog youg South Africas the leaders of the future; Ecourage proficiecy i Eglish, the geerally accepted laguage of busiess ad academia, by promotig the core priciples of good speech-makig ad presetatio skills; ad Ecourage a pioeerig spirit amog the youg people of South Africa. The competitio is ope to grade 9 to 11 learers. The project commeces with Provicial Workshops i all ie provices followed by Provicial Competitios where 50 learers from various schools compete to determie the school that will represet the provice at the Natioal Competitio. This project is a cotributio to SAASTA s resposibility of esurig that sciece becomes part of our everyday dialogue. By exposig these youg people to scietific iformatio, we are empowerig them with iformatio that will eable them to make iformed decisios o sciece issues, says Beverley Damose, Executive Director of SAASTA. 4

7 SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates Cotest Rules ad Coditios 1. All debaters must be registered pupils i grade 9, 10 or 11 at a recogised high school. 2. The provicial cotest is restricted to 10 high schools per provice ad oly five debaters per school may eter the cotest as a team. 3. Dress code for the debaters is strictly school uiform. 4. Debatig Teams should be at the cotest veue 30 miutes before the cotest is due to begi. Late arrival may result i the debaters disqualificatio. 5. Each cotestat must participate i a pleary sessio i lie with the rules of the style of debate set out i this maual i order to be cosidered for participatio at the atioal competitio. 6. All cotet preseted by the debaters must be origial, ad the debaters ow work. 7. Debaters are required to participate i Eglish i a pleary sessio o a give subject. The workshop facilitators will advise the debaters of the topic, where after the debaters will be give util the provicial competitio to collect his/her thoughts o the topic ad research their positio thoroughly. The cotestats are allowed to prepare writte speeches for the competitio where ecessary. 8. There will be more tha oe debate at the Natioal Competitio. A differet speaker must deliver the Opeig Statemet for each debate. A differet speaker must also deliver the Closig Statemet for each debate. Furthermore, speakers who deliver the Opeig Statemet may ot deliver the Closig Statemet i ay of the debates. This is to esure that all members of the team receive speakig time. 9. Each provicial wiig team will advace to the Natioal Fials i Johaesburg. 10. The orgaisers may arrage for the trasportatio of each school team ad oe accompayig teacher/paret, if deemed ecessary by the orgaisers, to the veue where the Natioal Fials will take place. 11. Previous atioal prize wiers (i.e. 1st, 2d ad 3rd) may ot reeter the competitio. This specifically applies to the team members. Wiig schools may re-eter with differet teams. 12. The judgig pael s decisio is fial ad o discussio or correspodece will be etered ito. 5

8 Overview of the SAASTA Debates Itroductio Debate is a atural ad basic part of daily life. It is whe we recogise that spoke commuicatio through iteractio - whether betwee two brothers or o a formal platform such as parliamet is the material that weaves the fabric of society. Debate challeges the accepted kowledge systems ad creates a opportuity for the advacemet of kowledge. Ca you thik of a time i history where debate has created room for the advacemet of kowledge? Importat to ote is that debate eeds basic commuicatio skills. These are the qualities that facilitate effective iterpersoal commuicatio which are crucial for oe to egage i meaigful debate. Factors That Affect Our Commuicatio: Our persoality - the this is me aspect of commuicatio Our body laguage - posture, physical attitude, had ad facial gestures Eye cotact - lookig at your audiece Geeral appearace - dress, groomig ad hairstyle The use of laguage - formal or casual Voice quality - how you use your voice Clarity i gettig the iteded message across - makig your audiece uderstad your message Cofidece levels Level at which we cotribute ad ivolve ourselves i public speakig situatios I order to be able to haress the power that lies hidde i these iate factors of commuicatio that we have, we eed to use a umber of strategies ad tactics. The greatest debaters are always those who are able to ot oly have great ideas but also deliver those ideas i a strikig maer. Clarity Make sure the meaig of your speech is absolutely clear. Avoid vague, cofusig or ambiguous statemets use the KISS techique - Keep It Short ad Simple. Whe ecessary illustrate what you mea to commuicate by tellig a story, sharig a experiece or showig a picture. Expressio Make sure the audiece ca hear you the audiece will switch off if they caot hear what you are sayig. A whisper, well used, is as effective as a shout. Raise ad lower the pitch ad toe of your voice accordig to your speech; avoid a dull or borig toe. Speed up or slow dow your speakig tempo for emphasis ad variety. A ejoyable voice, well used, adds to the impact of your message. Emphasis Remember that speakers are ot oly heard, they are also see. Your aim should be to ehace your speech by your appearace, gestures ad aimatio (or the absece thereof) do this where suitable i your speech. Aimatio ivolves facial expressios, body movemets ad posture, ad should be appropriate to your speech. Gestures should appear atural, complemetig the spoke word - you do ot have to work up a sweat! 6

9 SAASTA Natioal Schools Debate Structure The followig table represets the basic structure all sessios will follow: Note: Teams will be allocated a perspective from the five perspectives of sciece commuicatio at the Provicial Workshop. Sessio Debate Sectio Descriptio Prov Max Time Nat Itroductory Pleary Sessio Itroductio ad Roll Call Itroductio of Pleary Sessio Discussios Chairperso of the debate will set i motio the proceedigs ad esure that all teams are preset. The chairperso of the debate will itroduce the topics for the various pleary sessios ad remid all debaters of the procedures for the debate. 5 mi 5 mi 10 mi 10 mi Opeig Statemets Oe debater from each team will give a speech o the issue beig discussed. This speech will outlie his/her teams policy towards the issue at had givig possible solutios. At the Natioal Competitio, there will be more tha oe debate. A differet speaker must deliver the Opeig Statemet for each debate. A differet speaker must also deliver the Closig Statemet for each debate. Furthermore, speakers who deliver Opeig Statemets may ot deliver the Closig Statemets i ay of the debates. This is to esure that members of the team receive speakig time. 4 mi each 2 mi each Breakaway Sessio Respose Statemets Debaters will have a opportuity to react to each other s opeig statemets by makig a formal respose statemet o loger tha oe miute each. Each team will be required to make three statemets. 1-2 mi each 1 mi each Coferece Paper Draftig Presetatio of Coferece Paper Debaters egage i discussios ad egotiatios through which they will draw up a coferece paper cotaiig their proposals for solutios to the problem at had. Coferece paper will be read out by a member omiated by the group. There are o poits awarded for this role. 30 mi 30 mi 5 mi 5 mi Closig Statemets Oe debater from each team will give a closig statemet explaiig the ratioale for the stace they took i the discussios whe draftig the coferece paper. 3 mi each 2 mi each Report Back Pleary Sessio Report Back Adopted coferece papers will be read out from all the differet breakaway sessios. 15 mi 15 mi Closig Remarks Chairperso cocludes the sessio. 5 mi 5 mi Opeig Statemets Highlight the positio of the sciece commuicatio argumet o that issue; I this sectio of the debate, each debater will make a prepared speech. Learers will be allocated a perspective withi oe of the five argumets for sciece commuicatio. These are the utilitaria, socio-cultural, ecoomic, democratisatio of sciece ad the advacemet of sciece. These statemets will be preseted i alphabetical order. A opeig statemet seeks to: Demostrate a geeral uderstadig of the issue at had; Idicate the specific coectio of that sciece argumet to the issue; Discuss the preset-day relevace of the sciece commuicatio argumet to the issue; ad Provide a tagible solutio or way forward to the issue. Formal Respose Statemets I this sectio of the debates, three debaters will have a opportuity to react to the opeig statemets of other debaters by makig formal respose statemets. Debaters will speak i the order determied by a speaker s list that 7

10 will be draw up by the chairperso. These statemets should ot be prepared as they are meat to be i respose to the statemets made by other debaters. A formal respose statemet seeks to: Criticise, questio ad egage the ideas delivered durig the opeig statemets; Support the differet positios as delivered through the opeig statemets; Further explai the teams positio; ad Respod to criticism leveled agaist the team o their positio. It is crucial that the debater s formal respose statemets remai cosistet with the geeral attitude of the team s opeig statemet. NB: Teams will ofte have to adapt their positio, but they must faithfully represet the spirit ad attitude of the team s iitial positio! Coferece Paper Draftig Durig the period of coferece paper draftig, debaters have 30 miutes i which to egotiate with each other i a attempt to draw up coferece papers. A coferece paper is a writte statemet givig some backgroud to the issue beig debated ad the proposed solutio to the issue. I this sectio of the debate, all debaters i a breakaway room must collaborate ad draft a coferece paper that will propose a umber of solutios which are to be implemeted. This should be a group effort ad all debaters must participate i this sessio. Debaters must attempt to esure that the coferece paper that has bee produced is both coheret with ad subscribes to their positio. Teams must therefore uderstad their positio i order to steer the coferece paper towards solutios favourable to their positio. Guidelies o Draftig a Coferece Paper A specific format will be used i draftig the coferece papers. This format might seem complicated at first but there are a few rules that eed to be followed i order to esure that a good coferece paper is produced. A good coferece paper will have two types of clauses Preambulatory clauses ad Operative clauses. Preambulatory Clauses Preambulatory clauses are used as the itroductio to the coferece paper. There are ormally three or four of these clauses at the begiig of each coferece paper. These clauses justify why the breakaway sessio should take actio o the issue beig debated ad ofte refer to relevat sectios of iteratioal documets, legislatio ad oteworthy evets. Operative Clauses Operative clauses form the mai part of the coferece paper. There are ormally four or five of these clauses i each coferece paper. They cotai the policy ad actios that the documet recommeds should be take. Both preambulatory ad operative clauses ormally begi with oe of a specific set of words. These sets of words are cotaied i the two boxes that appear below. Other words may be used, but usig these words will make your coferece paper soud more covicig ad professioal. Also bear i mid that the words you use have differet impacts o the effect of the coferece paper. For example, look at the followig illustratio: The Breakaway Sessio: Requests that all stem cell research be discotiued as it is uethical Urges that all stem cell research be discotiued as it is uethical Isists that all stem cell research be discotiued as it is uethical You should have a fairly good idea goig ito the debate of the kids of policies you would like to see icluded i the coferece paper. It ofte helps to prepare some sort of draft coferece paper before the debate. Although you MUST adapt this to deal with the issues that arise durig the debate ad other debaters demads, it will make it easier for you to draw up a good fial coferece paper. 8

11 Preambulatory Phrases Affirmig Alarmed by Approvig Aware of Believig Bearig i mid Emphasisig Expectig Fulfillig Fully aware Fully alarmed Fully believig Keepig i mid Notig with regret Notig with satisfactio Notig with deep cocer Notig with approval Observig Cofidet Further deplorig Realisig Coviced Guided by Reaffirmig Declarig Havig adopted Recallig Deeply cocered Deeply coviced Deeply disturbed Deeply regrettig Havig cosidered Havig examied Havig studied Havig heard Recogisig Seekig Takig ito cosideratio Viewig with appreciatio Desirig Havig received Welcomig Operative Clauses Authorises Emphasises Has resolved Calls Ecourages Isists Calls upo Edorses Notes Codems Expresses hope Proclaims Cogratulates Expresses its appreciatio Reaffirms Cofirms Further ivites Recommeds Cosiders Declares accordigly Deplores Draws the attetio Demads Further proclaims Further remids Further recommeds Further resolves Further requests Remids Regrets Requests Solemly affirms Strogly codems Whe drawig up your coferece paper, do ot get distracted by the techical aspects of the issue by tryig to use too may techical ad complicated words. Istead, make sure that the documet is a clear represetatio of your proposed solutio to the issue beig debated. Closig Statemet After the fial coferece paper has bee read out, each debater will be called upo to give a closig statemet. The closig statemet must explai how the debater believes the outcome of the discussios i that breakaway sessio has tured out the way it has ad what should be the ext step. A closig statemet seeks to: Explai why a team has edorsed or fought the policies i the coferece paper; State whether or ot the team is satisfied with the outcome of the etire breakaway sessio; ad Respod to the geeral proceedigs of the breakaway sessio. I your closig statemet, you should sum up your approach to the issue beig debated. You ca do this by usig the framework of your policy (from your opeig statemet) to REACT to the evets of the debate. NB: Closig statemets are ot iteded for itroducig ew argumets ito the debate. Performace Assessmet Opeig Statemet Opeig statemets must be clear, cocise ad to the poit. They must address the issues at had ad give the teams views. They will give recommedatios ad outlie the team s positio i lie with the team s assiged viewpoit. Debaters speakig for substatially less tha two miutes will be pealised for lack of cotet. Formal Respose Statemets These reflect whether the debater has bee listeig to what other debaters are sayig, whether they uderstad the issues of the debate ad whether they ca respod appropriately. The speeches should show egagemet ad costructive criticism betwee teams. They should also be used as a platform to stregthe or clarify the team s views. Coferece Paper Draftig Sice this takes place away from the adjudicators view, there is o specific adjudicatio of this sessio. Adjudicators do, however, walk aroud durig this sessio to ascertai the level of ivolvemet of teams, as well as the role that specific teams play durig this sessio. 9

12 4 Name of School Perspective Opeig Statemet Respose Statemet 1 ADJUDICATOR SCORE SHEET Respose Statemet 2 Respose Statemet 3 Closig Statemet /40 /10 /10 /10 /30 /100 A opeig statemet should: 4 Demostrate a geeral uderstadig of the issue at had; 4 Highlight the positio of the sciece commuicatio argumet o that issue; 4 Idicate the specific coectio of that sciece commuicatio argumet to the issue; 4 Discuss the preset-day relevace of the sciece commuicatio argumet to the issue 4 Provide a tagible solutio or way forward to the issue. Geeral Commets ad Feedback: A Respose Statemet should: 4 Criticise, questio ad egage the ideas delivered durig the opeig statemets; 4 Support the differet positios as delivered through the opeig statemets; 4 Further explai the teams positio 4 Respod to criticism levelled agaist the team o their positio. 4 Demostrate that the debater is part of the debate ad is cotributig to the key issues raised A Closig Statemet should: 4 Explai why a team has edorsed the policies i the coferece paper; 4 State whether or ot the team is satisfied with the outcome of the etire breakaway sessio; ad 4 Respod to the geeral proceedigs of the breakaway sessio. 4 Demostrate that the debater was actively egagig the cocepts, issues ad poits raised durig the debate. Total Highest Scorig Team should: 4 Demostrate a overall uderstadig of the topic by all debaters 4 Have a cosistet scorig of all debaters. All of the debaters should have bee actively ivolved durig the debate 4 Be oe that proved that the debaters approached the topic from a critical outlook ad did ot merely regurgitate facts. Closig Statemets Teams should outlie how they feel about the outcome of the debate. They should outlie what the way forward should be from here. Closig statemets will also be marked i the outlie cotext of the debate. They should show cosistecy ad a clear uderstadig of what the resolutios mea. Topics The SAASTA Natioal Schools Debates are structured to be cotet rich debates that focus o the four areas related to sciece, egieerig ad techology. These are: Biotechology Naotechology Hydroge Fuel Cells Space Sciece These four themes will be discussed usig five of the argumets for sciece commuicatio. These argumets will be utilised to direct the debates i a fashio that will ecourage research ad a exploratio of the themes from varied perspectives. These are the: Utilitaria Ecoomic Socio-Cultural Democratisatio of Sciece Advacemet of Sciece Utilitaria This perspective looks at the use value of the sciece. This meas that the debater will evaluate withi the cotext of the topic the commual beefit of a particular scietific domai. Through this perspective the debaters will be able to uderstad the worth of the sciece they are evaluatig for the use of the greater good. Ecoomic The ecoomic perspective will look at the moetary implicatios of the sciece. This meas that it will evaluate the impact that the sciece will have whe it comes dow to measurable umbers ad figures. Through this perspective the debaters will be able to evaluate the ecoomic viability of the sciece. Socio-Cultural The socio-cultural perspective looks at the social ad cultural implicatios of the sciece. This meas the debaters will evaluate from research the attitudes that are associated with the sciece. Through this perspective the debaters will be able to uderstad the societal dyamics of the sciece. Democratisatio of Sciece This perspective seeks to explore issues aroud the owership, use ad istitutioalisatio of sciece. Through this perspective the debaters will seek to upack ideas aroud who should ow sciece, how should it be used ad who has the right to cotrol, regulate ad legislate o sciece matters. Debaters will be required to explore ideas aroud the political dimesios of the issue at had ad how it applies to mathematics, sciece ad techology. Advacemet of Sciece Sciece as a field is always chagig, trasformig ad developig. Numerous factors hider ad aid this process. Through this perspective, debaters will egage with these various factors i tryig to uderstad the drivig forces behid them. Core to this perspective is a uderstadig of the process of developig sciece for the better. 10

13 Public Uderstadig of Biotechology (PUB) Programme Backgroud Biotechology is specified by the South Africa govermet as oe of the iovatio platforms of the future, critical to promotig ecoomic ad social developmet. With iovatio as oe of the three pillars upo which the research ad developmet (R&D) strategy of South Africa rests, the govermet is committed to establishig ad fudig this techology. Aother related priority area is greater huma capacity i the area of sciece ad techology i South Africa, icreasig the umber of experts i specific areas, as well as the umber of wome ad people from previously disadvataged commuities. Biotechology is a techology of the future ad the curret ageig atioal capacity ad expertise must be substatially built up to participate fully i this challege. Sciece commuicators are eeded to traslate the relevat sciece ito uderstadable laguage o issues that people wat to hear. Biotechology is a cross-cuttig issue relevat for a myriad of applicatios, especially i respose to challeges beig faced by coutries of souther Africa, such as the AIDS epidemic ad the curret food crisis. The Natioal Biotechology Strategy, published i Jue 2001 followig wide public cosultatio, clearly demostrates the commitmet of the govermet to the techology. I this cotext, it is essetial that the populous uderstads ad debates this techology beig promoted ad fuded by the govermet. Both the ecoomic ad social potetial beefits of the techology must be uderstood as well as the simultaeous safety measures. The lack of uderstadig about this techology is curretly providig a vacuum for ubalaced ad ofte, o-factual iformatio to be dissemiated, which has led to the cofusio of the geeral public. I order to attai a commo visio, efforts must be made ow to esure credible, factual, balaced ad relevat iformatio is dissemiated ad that the public is egaged i a dialogue, rather tha receivig a prescribed view. A key message must be set about the practical applicatios of biotechology i differet areas, icludig medical/health, agriculture ad idustry - ad how this techology ca impact the lives of South Africas. As with ay ew techology, there are risks. Yet we caot take the risk of ot ivestigatig the potetial of this techology, which has applicatios i so may areas. We have a resposibility to de-mystify this techology ad the cotroversy surroudig it as well as promotig it, i lie with the govermet commitmet while esurig ecessary cautio. 11

14 PUB Overview The Public Uderstadig of Biotechology (PUB) was lauched by the South Africa Agecy for Sciece ad Techology Advacemet (SAASTA) i early SAASTA, which is part of the Natioal Research Foudatio (NRF), was elected as the implemetig agecy for PUB by the Departmet of Sciece ad Techology (DST), who are fudig this iitiative. The overall aim of the PUB programme is to promote a clear uderstadig of the potetial of biotechology ad to esure broad public awareess, dialogue ad debate o its curret ad potetial future applicatios. Aims ad Guidig Priciples PUB is a dyamic ad iovative public commuicatio programme aimig to: icrease broad public awareess ad clear, balaced uderstadig of the scietific priciples ad potetial of biotechology; ad create meaigful opportuities for public dialogue ad debate aroud biotechology ad its applicatios withi our society to eable iformed decisio makig. Guidig Priciples The guidig priciples of the PUB programme are: Neutral, balaced madate to provide credible, objective, factual iformatio Stimulate dialogue, debate ad public participatio Ope commuicatio about beefits ad risks Use iovative, creative approaches Commuicate i easy, accessible laguage Active ivolvemet of sciece commuity Capacity buildig i biotechology commuicatio Global ad regioal etworkig Biotechology per se NOT just GM ad cloig Publicly fuded research public s right to kow Curret cofusio of the geeral public Wide target audiece everybody! Focus Areas Focus areas iclude: Mass media Resources for educators ad learers Basic biotechology traiig courses Trai the traier courses Commuicatio traiig (scietists ad jouralists) Profile at public, scietific ad academic evets Publicatios, exhibitios ad competitios Role model campaigs Sciece ad art iitiatives Icreased public egagemet Fudig Research ad surveys Olie iformatio bak; Q&A 12

15 Naotechology Public Egagemet Programme (NPEP) Backgroud The Naotechology Public Egagemet (NPEP) programme is a iitiative fuded by the Departmet of Sciece ad Techology (DST) ad implemeted by the South Africa Agecy for Sciece ad Techology Advacemet (SAASTA), the busiess uit of the Natioal Research foudatio (NRF). Lauched i early 2008, the NPEP programme aims to promote credible, fact-based uderstadig of Naotechology through awareess, dialogue ad educatio to eable iformed decisio-makig o Naotechology iovatios to improve the quality of life. The objectives of the Naotechology Public Egagemet Programme are to: Create awareess aroud aotechology Educate the public o, ad ehace their uderstadig of aotechology Eable ad stimulate meaigful public debate aroud aotechology Stimulate iterest i aotechology ad aosciece as a career i order to esure log term capacity buildig i the field Get idustry ivolved i the developmet of aotechology ad takig the lead i aotechology iovatio The success of ay awareess programme depeds largely o how the message beig coveyed is formulated ad/or articulated. For a variety of reasos, differet societal groupigs require differet forms of iformatio formulatio ad articulatio. To eable the articulatio of the messages to suit the eeds of differet societal groupigs ad affect optimum results, the target audiece has bee divided ito four categories, which are learers, the sciece commuity, the geeral public ad idustry. Thus the mai purpose of the NPEP is to implemet the activities aimed at iformig ad educatig the public about aosciece ad aotechology. The Naotechology Public Egagemet Programme is therefore part of the implemetatio of the Natioal Naotechology Strategy. Naotechology ad Its Role i the Huma Life Sustaiability Naotechology, ulike other techologies, ca fid applicatios i virtually all areas of huma life. I spite of beig a ifat at its evolutio, some of the kow issues related to aotechology suggest a wide spectrum of potetial societal impact. It is for that reaso that the cultivatio of a climate of public discourse is essetial to provide a opportuity for a society to switch from a merely passive, observatioal role to a active participatig oe. 13

16 Some of the most essetial challeges facig global societies i the 21 st cetury iclude the sustaiability of the eviromet (water, soil ad air quality), eergy, health ad food. For a log time, the cocept of sustaiable developmet has bee debated ad has largely bee drive by emphasis o ew techologies ad iovatios. Existig techologies face serious challeges due to the fact that ew ad emergig idustries cotiue to geerate formidable ad complex emissios/pollutats that are released to the eviromet. Pollutats from pesticide ad fertiliser ruoff, ruoffs from chemical idustries ad poor huma settlemets, abadoed idustrial sites ad mies, as well as airbore gaseous emissios from idustries ad automobiles cotiue to aggravate the situatio o a daily basis. Scietists believe that ew evirometal techologies at the aoscale (evirometal aotechologies) could substatially ehace evirometal quality ad sustaiability through pollutio prevetio, treatmet ad remediatio. Naotechology refers to the desig, characterisatio, productio, ad applicatio of structures, devices ad systems by cotrolled maipulatio of size ad shape at the aometre scale (atomic, molecular ad macromolecular scale) that produces structures, devices ad systems with at least oe ovel/superior characteristic or property. A aometre (m) is a uit of legth i the metric system, equal to oe billioth of a metre (m) (i.e. 1 m = 10-9 m or 1 m = 10 9 m). Scietists describe aosciece as the study of pheomea ad maipulatio of material at the aoscale. The ability of humakid to create ad maipulate matter at the aoscale offers previously uevisaged possibilities for scietific discoveries ad techological applicatios. This is related to the discovery of tools such as the atomic force microscope (AFM), the scaig tuellig microscope (STM) ad high-resolutio electro microscopes, which have eabled us to observe ad maipulate ao-sized materials. of Cape Tow, Uiversity of the Wester Cape, Uiversity of Pretoria, Uiversity of Zululad, Tshwae Uiversity of Techology, Uiversity of Stellebosch, Uiversity of the Free State ad others), the DST s Naotechology Iovatio Cetres (the CSIR s Natioal Cetre for Nao-Structured Materials ad Mitek) ad the idustrial ad private sector (Water Research Commissio, Eskom, Sasol, BASF, NECSA, ithemba labs, Aglo Gold, Plasco, Dulux, etc.) are egaged i aotechology research ad the developmet of ew materials that will esure sustaiability. Other groups at the CSIR s Natural Resource ad the Eviromet Uit are focusig primarily o the potetial evirometal, health ad safety risks of aotechology to esure log-term sustaiability of aotechologies. I partership with the Naotechology Equipmet Programme that resides i the NRF, the Naotechology Public Egagemet Programme (NPEP) that falls uder sciece commuicatio at the South Africa Agecy for Sciece ad Techology Advacemet (SAASTA) aims to market, commuicate ad dissemiate the scietific iformatio that stems from all fudig edeavours. It is with these strategic directives i view that NPEP idetified the eed to have a more egaged ad iformed society aroud aotechology which would ultimately speak to the NRF Visio 2015 which has Trasformed society as oe of three key focus areas. For more iformatio o NPEP please visit The past two decades have see rapid global advaces i aosciece ad aotechology i all spheres of sciece, egieerig ad techology. Scietists, icludig chemists, biologists, physicists, ad egieers (electroic, chemical etc.), cotiue to explore the potetial positive ad egative effects of aotechology-based materials ad devices. South Africa is ot a exceptio. Amog other beefits of aotechology, the ability to deliver improved techologies for evirometal sustaiability offers great relief for societies ad the promise of realisig a gree visio. To date, leadig South Africa uiversities (Uiversity of the Witwatersrad, Uiversity of Johaesburg, Uiversity 14

17 Hydroge South Africa (HySA) Public Awareess Platform Backgroud South Africa is still behid with respect to the high quality of life that the developig coutries have ejoyed. However, this higher quality of life meas a huge icrease i the eergy requiremets ad there are challeges that every coutry face with the icrease i the eergy requiremets, i.e. the security of supply, climate chage ad evirometal issues. With the exhaustio of fossil resources ad the icreasig eergy eeds of our curret ad future civilisatio, the establishmet of a sustaiable eergy future is ecessary to esure cotiued developmet ad a balaced ecosystem. Sustaiable developmet, where the resources are used sparigly ad efficietly with evirometal resposibility is a must to the log-term ecoomic success of ay orgaisatio or coutry. South Africa has recetly aspired to participate i the ascet hydroge ecoomy uique to those of the rest of the world. This is o the followig grouds: South Africa s domiatig positio i platium reserves (more tha 75% of the world s kow reserves), the key catalytic material used i most fuel cells. Socio-ecoomic beefits that could result from value additio to key atural resources, such as platium. South Africa s leadig positio i high temperature gas cooled uclear reactors such as the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor techology. The techology is key i productio of idustrial scale process heat that could be used i thermal electrolysis to geerate hydroge that ca be used i fuel cells. South Africa s leadig positio i the coal gasificatio to liquid fuels techology. Strategic itet the opportuity to develop a kowledge base that ca participate at the forefrot of a emergig idustry creatig socio-ecoomic opportuities for the whole ecoomy. The evolutio of moder civilisatio poits towards a hydroge based eergy system. Wood was used i the early days followed by coal, oil ad atural gas. O closely lookig at the eergy evolutio, oe ca see a decrease i the carbo cotet from wood to atural gas ad a icrease i the hydroge cotet. The impedig eergy revolutio therefore might be the hydroge ecoomy. Most coutries cosider hydroge as a viable solutio to address log-term eergy security, evirometal ad ecoomic cocers ad there is a growig iterest i a global paradigm shift from the curret eergy system to a hydroge ecoomy. Hydroge is a promisig eergy carrier whose adoptio would represet a radical chage i which eergy is produced, distributed ad cosumed. 15

18 As a eergy carrier, hydroge ca also sigificatly reduce the problem of greehouse gas emissios ad atmospheric pollutio, especially if it is produced usig reewable eergy. The potetial demad for ew products ad services i a hydroge ecoomy suggests that oe ca beefit sigificatly i ecoomic ad social terms. South Africa is ideally placed to beefit hugely from the impedig hydroge ecoomy, thaks to its vast resources, especially platium group metals, because platium as a catalyst is a itegral part of the hydroge techology. Subsequet to this, the Departmet of Sciece ad Techology (DST) lauched the Natioal Hydroge ad Fuel Cell Techologies (HFCT) Research, Developmet, ad Iovatio (RDI) strategy amed Hydroge South Africa HySA i The overall visio of the HySA strategy is to brig about wealth creatio through the iitiatio of ew high tech idustries based o mierals foud o South Africa soil, especially platium group metals (PGMs). The two mai goals of the strategy are to capture 25% of the global demad for PGM i hydroge eergy techologies ad to create ew jobs i this area i South Africa. The overall approach take by DST has bee to establish three HFCT competece cetres (CoC s), i.e. HySA Systems (Uiversity of Wester Cape), HySA Catalysis (Uiversity of Cape Tow/Mitek), ad HySA Ifrastructure (North West Uiversity/CSIR). The three CoC s fuctio i a Hub ad Spoke model. This is a mechaism that brigs together research orgaisatios, uiversities ad the private sector stakeholders to deliver o a log-term visio of a HFCT strategy. Sice HFCT is still at a early developmetal stage i South Africa, there is a eed to iform the public about the beefits of usig these techologies. The DST has appoited the South Africa Agecy for Sciece ad Techology Advacemet (SAASTA) to implemet HySA public awareess, demostratio ad educatio platform ad develop iformatio chaels to keep the public iformed about hydroge ad fuel cell techologies. The mai objectives of HySA public awareess platform are to create awareess, visibility ad acceptace amogst the public about the beefits ad safety of usig of hydroge ad fuel cells, for the govermet to have improved iformed decisio makig o hydroge ad fuel cell techologies, to review or supplemet the curriculum o public awareess with simplified materials ad comprehesible exhibits ad to maitai a good relatioship with stakeholders through the developmet of a quarterly ewsletter that profiles cuttig edge research, ews o alterate eergy related activities withi the hydroge idustry. The mai objective of Hydroge ad Fuel Cell Techologies Public Awareess, Demostratio ad Educatio Platform (HFCT PADE) is to create awareess, visibility ad acceptace amogst the public, etrepreeurs ad key decisio makers i South Africa about the beefits ad safety of usig hydroge ad fuel cell techology as a alterate eergy source. 16

19 Space Sciece i South Africa What is Space Sciece? Ay scietific disciplie cocered with the study of pheomea occurrig i space, or with space flight, which ormally excludes aythig below the atmosphere, but icludes aythig from about 80 km ad higher. This defiitio, from which there are early as may deviatios as there are authors, is very geeral ad would iclude scietific disciplies such as astrophysics ad maed space flight. Brief Historical Overview South Africa has a rich heritage of ivolvemet i space sciece ad techology. The coutry has bee a active participat i the exploratio of space sice the daw of the Space Age. From the late 1950s to the 1970s satellites were tracked to determie the effects of the upper atmosphere o their orbits. Luar ad iterplaetary missios were supported from the Uited States Natioal Aeroautics ad Space Admiistratio (NASA) trackig statio at Hartebeesthoek (about 50 km orthwest of Johaesburg). I July 1965 this statio received the images of the plaet Mars take by the Marier IV spacecraft they were the first close-up images of Mars ad also the first close-up images of aother plaet to be received o Earth. South Africa iitiated its first space programme i the 1980s. The objective of this programme was to develop a Earth observatio satellite (amed Greesat) ad a laucher, ad all the ecessary facilities to support these activities. Satellite itegratio ad testig facilities were costructed at Grabouw i the Wester Cape, about 70 km west of Cape Tow. The lauch facility was established at Aristo, o the Cape South coast, about 180 km west of Cape Tow. The Greesat programme was discotiued i 1994, before ay satellites were lauched, ad the facilities were redirected towards other uses. Followig the termiatio of the Greesat programme, the coutry developed a capability i microsatellite egieerig at the Uiversity of Stellebosch. The 64-kg Susat was built by staff ad studets at the Uiversity of Stellebosch ad lauched i The satellite operated successfully for 2 years i low Earth orbit ad took umerous multispectral images at 15-metre GSD. Susat achieved imagig performace previously cosidered uobtaiable from a microsatellite platform. I 2005 the Departmet of Sciece ad Techology iitiated a satellite programme. The mai goal of the programme was capacity buildig i all aspects of a typical space missio. The Uiversity of Stellebosch was appoited to maage this programme ad Suspace was appoited as the prime cotractor to provide the satellite. This satellite, amed Sumbadila ( Pathfider i the local Veda laguage), was lauched o the 17th of September 2009 from Baikour Cosmodrome ad is curretly operatioal. 17

20 Establishmet of A South Africa Space Agecy ad Supportig Regulatory ad Policy Processes The primary South Africa legislative istrumet goverig the regulatio of both govermetal ad o-govermetal space-related activities is the Space Affairs Act, No. 84 of The South Africa Coucil for Space Affairs is established uder the authority of the Miister of Trade ad Idustry to implemet the regulatory, moitorig ad registratio fuctios of the Act. I 2009 the Miister of Trade ad Idustry lauched South Africa s atioal space policy, which sets out various objectives to develop the atioal space area to support sustaiable developmet, idustrial developmet, huma capital developmet ad iteratioal cooperatio i space activities. The South Africa Natioal Space Agecy (SANSA) has bee established uder the Departmet of Sciece ad Techology to implemet the atioal space strategy. The strategy seeks to eable South Africa to make effective use of space sciece ad techology to ehace ecoomic growth ad sustaiable developmet. I accordace with this, the priority areas of the strategy are: Iovatio ad Ecoomic Growth; Safety ad Security; ad Evirometal ad Resource Maagemet. Souther Africa as a Emergig Hub of Space Sciece ad Techology The regio is emergig as a hub of groud-based space sciece ad ow hosts some of the largest facilities for groud-based astroomy i the souther hemisphere. I 2005, the 10-metre diameter Souther Africa Large Telescope (SALT) was commissioed. This is curretly the largest sigle optical telescope i the souther hemisphere. It was built by South Africa ad parters i Germay, New Zealad, Polad, the UK, ad USA. Idia has subsequetly joied the cosortium, too. South Africa has bee short-listed to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), a iteratioal 1.6 billio Euro project to build the world s largest radio telescope. I support of its bid to host the SKA, South Africa has started costructio of the Karoo Array Telescope (MeerKAT) ear the tows of Cararvo ad Willisto i the Norther Cape Provice. MeerKAT achieved a major milestoe i April 2010 whe the first four telescopes i the MeerKAT Precursor Array were liked together as a itegrated system to produce the MeerKAT s first image of a astroomical object, the galaxy Cetaurus A. The full array of 80 dishes is expected to be completed i If South Africa wis the bid to host the SKA, it will have importat log term beefits ot oly for our coutry but also for the rest of Africa. It will help create local job opportuities, attract top scietists from aroud the world, ad boost local scietific ad egieerig skills. The fial decisio should made by March this year, so keep your eyes ad ears ope for ay ews! For more iformatio o Space Sciece ad the SKA bid, please visit 18

21 2012 Iteratioal Year of Sustaiable Eergy for All Iformatio take directly from the official site: I December 2010, the UN Geeral Assembly declared 2012 the Iteratioal Year of Sustaiable Eergy for All, i recogitio that access to affordable moder eergy services is essetial for sustaiable developmet ad for the achievemet of the Milleium Developmet Goals. What is the Iteratioal Year of Sustaiable Eergy for All? The Iteratioal Year of Sustaiable Eergy for All presets a valuable opportuity to raise awareess about the importace of icreasig access to eergy, eergy efficiecy, ad reewable eergy. It is a call to promote actio o eergy issues at the local, atioal, regioal ad iteratioal levels toward iteratioally agreed developmet goals. Eergy ad Sustaiable Eergy The simplest defiitio of eergy access is the physical availability of moder eergy services, icludig electricity ad improved ed-user devices such as cookstoves, to meet basic huma eeds at affordable prices. These eergy services should be reliable, sustaiable, ad, where feasible, from reewable eergy or other low-carbo eergy sources. Affordable meas that the cost to ed-users is compatible with their icome levels ad o higher tha what they would be able ad willig to pay for traditioal fuels. (Ofte the poor pay more for their meagre eergy use tha the rich.) Access to eergy is importat ot oly for cosumptio but also for icome-geeratig activities that provide sustaiable livelihood opportuities. Sustaiable eergy is eergy that is produced ad used i ways that will support log-term huma developmet i all its social, ecoomic, ad evirometal dimesios. Access to clea ad affordable moder eergy is critical to fosterig lastig social ad ecoomic developmet ad to achievig the Milleium Developmet Goals. Without a itesified global commitmet to actio, the Iteratioal Eergy Agecy predicts that the umber of people lackig access to electricity will oly fall from 1.4 billio today to 1.2 billio i 2030, ad 19

22 the umber of people relyig o the traditioal use of biomass will actually rise from 2.7 billio today to 2.8 billio i I additio, urget cocers over climate chage ad evirometal degradatio have uderscored the importace of usig sustaiable forms of eergy for the log-term viability of the plaet. Fallig costs ad icreasig ivestmet i clea eergy i recet years make uiversal access achievable. Durig the five-year period from the ed of 2004 through 2009, global reewable eergy capacity grew at the rates of 10 to 60 per cet aually for may techologies. Ivestmets i reewable eergy icreased by 63 per cet i the first quarter of 2010 compared with the same period i More tha 100 coutries had policy targets or promotio policies related to reewable eergy i 2010, compared to 55 i early What is the UN Sustaiable Eergy for All Iitiative? Uited Natios Secretary-Geeral Ba Ki-moo made sustaiable eergy oe of his five priorities that will guide his secod 5-year term. Specifically, he will direct the Uited Natios to exted eergy s reach i order to combat edemic poverty. Uiversal access to eergy, improved efficiecy ad ehaced deploymet of reewable sources are ambitious goals, ad the Secretary-Geeral is leadig a Sustaiable Eergy for All iitiative to make them achievable. This iitiative will call for private sector ad atioal commitmets ad attract global attetio to the importace of eergy for developmet ad poverty alleviatio. The goal is to meet three objectives by 2030: Esurig uiversal access to moder eergy services. Doublig the rate of improvemet i eergy efficiecy. Doublig the share of reewable eergy i the global eergy mix. 20

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