Science Fun Day on Thursday 31 July 2014 at 10.15
hrs
Venue : Camp Caval Community Centre, Curepipe
·
Hon. Yeung Sik Yuen John Michael, Minister of Tourism and
Leisure
·
Hon. Mrs M. F. Mireille Martin, Minister of
Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare
·
Mr Mario Désiré Bienvenu, Mayor, Municipal Council of Curepipe
· Dr. A. K. Maulloo, Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre,
·
Officers of the Camp Caval Community Centre,
·
DEAR PARENTS and STUDENTS
Good morning, it is indeed a great pleasure for
me to address you today, in the context of this Science Fun Day at Camp Caval.
As you
may all know, as Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and
Technology, I am often called upon to give my views on the importance of
Science and Technology for our young and upcoming generations. And on various
occasions, I have had the opportunity to interact with youngsters and getting
to know their views and to understand their difficulties with regards to the
learning of Science subjects.
I am
also aware, that the Ministry of Education and Human Resources has taken
several initiatives to facilitate the teaching and learning of Science at
school. Additionally I am very happy to
see the various initiatives undertaken by the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in
the popularisation of Science and Technology in Mauritius.
I am
sure many of you here must be of the opinion that science subjects are boring
and difficult to learn. Many people also
feed that there are few jobs available in the field of Science, but believe me;
thanks to this new initiative of the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre, by the end of
this programme today, many of you here will leave this place with a completely
new and positive opinion about science.
Well let us all have a look at what makes subjects
such as science, seem so difficult to learn?
No doubt many of the concepts in science are not
quite as easy to learn via rote learning or by simply reading about them in
books. Moreover, the
teaching of science has since long remained within the four walls of the classroom
and incidentally, many have identified this to be among one of the main
barriers to the learning science. The number of scientific concepts to learn
about in this manner put off many learners.
One of the main
roles of a science centre is to devise new strategies in the popularization of
Science and Technology. Furthermore, research in relation to
learning processes has shown that science is a subject that is best taught by
using hands-on experimentation and relating it to the physical world around us.
Science Fun Day
Dear Students
The aim of the Science Fun Day therefore is to show the fun side of science.
With activities designed to surprise, students and the public in general will
not fail to be impressed.
The whole idea is
to ignite a series of questions in our minds.
· Why did this happen?
· Why is the sky blue?
· Why are the clouds white?
· Why are the plants green?
Well there are so
many things around us that involve science, and the best way to understand and
know about them is ask questions? It is indeed crucial that as a child you
start asking questions about your environment
The concept of limiting the teaching or learning of science within the
closed walls of a classroom is something of the past. There is a lot of science
around us. No doubt irrespective of age, the knowledge of a little bit of
science can change our perspective about life and our whole existence in
general. I am here addressing parents
and the public.
The Science Fun Day therefore, is yet another attempt of the Rajiv
Gandhi Science Centre to remove the fears and barriers in the learning of
Science related subjects. Once the child finds himself at ease in a more
conducive environment, the teaching and the learning of science becomes easier.
I have been told that many of you here today have had the opportunity to see
and participate in some simple science experiments, which you can later try at
home. Many of you will also engage in some fun activities like quiz and
treasure hunt, which I am sure, will refresh your basic knowledge of science.
The Importance of Science and Technology
I am sure many of you would agree with me, that it is extremely difficult to imagine a
world without Science and Technology. There are countless inventions and
discoveries that have made human life comfortable. No doubt science has done
wonders for us. There is no sphere of life which has not been affected by
Science.
The wide range of scientific inventions brought us to the era of the Industrial
revolution. Which in turn resulted in the fabrication of good cloth, matches,
fountain pens and other necessary goods in huge quantities. Science has
shortened distances. Sea transport became safe, quick and affordable, so new
continents and people were discovered. Now bullock carts and horse driven
chariots have been replaced by modern transportation. Cars, buses and scooters, steam ships and
railways have made travelling safe, short and comfortable.
The clothes we wear, the brush and toothpaste we use, the soap in our
bathroom and all the appliances in our houses are products of science. There is
a lot of science all around us and just imagine what our life would have been
like without science.
Scientists of the
month
Rosalind Elsie
Franklin
Born on 25 July 1920, Rosalind Elsie
Franklin was an English physical chemist and X-ray crystallographer who contributed to the discovery of the
molecular structure of DNA.
Henry
Ford
Born 30 July 1863, Henry Ford was an
American inventor and automobile manufacturer who first experimented with internal combustion engines while he was
an engineer with the Edison
Illuminating Company.
Baron
Marcel Bich
Born
29 July 1914 , French inventor who built his business empire by creating
throwaway Bic pens, razors and lighters. In 1945, Marcel Bich and his friend,
Edouard Buffard, acquired an empty factory shell near Paris, France, and soon
developed a thriving business,
producing parts for fountain pens and mechanical lead pencils. Later, Bich
spent two years developing his ballpoint pen design, and in 1949, he was able
to produce a reliable, low cost ballpoint pen.
I therefore, seize this opportunity to invite you all to get inspired
by the lives and achievements of these great personalities.
I thank the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre for organizing this Science Fun
Day and I hope you would all participate, play, listen, observe, reflect and
have lots of fun as you discover the wonders of science.
And before ending, I would like to thank all the staff and members of
the Camp Caval Social Welfare Centre for providing all their support and
facilities for holding this event.
Thank you.
