03 Jun 2015

Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) in collaboration with an Australian institution hosted the Science Circus Africa in Francistown on June 1 as a way of popularising science and mathematics amongst students at an early age.

The director of Pre-Academic Programs at BIUST, Dr Haniso Motlhabane noted that Botswana’s economy would make a breakthrough once young people realise the importance of studying science and mathematics.

He stated that what they were doing was creating building blocks for in-depth understanding of science. He however described the brain as infinite resource in which science should be invested in.

“The shows are meant to cancel out the stereotype that science and mathematics are difficult and not everyone has the capacity to study them and be professionals in them. Science is a simple natural phenomenon that people should appreciate,” said Dr Motlhabane.

Dr Motlhabane added that BIUST was in need of students who were eager to take things to the next level in order to boost the economy of the country. He urged students to become more innovative and avoid limiting themselves to the status quo.

For her part, the communication specialist at BIUST, Ms Itumeleng Mangole noted that science and mathematics were mostly taught as theory instead of practical, adding that the science circus shows are an attempt to make them more practical.

In order to expose people to what BUIST is doing, she said, Teachers in Gaborone and Palapye have been trained to learn and adopt ways in which science can be taught in a more interesting manner taking into consideration that limitation of equipment for conducting experiments continues to be a problem.

The shows, she said are not only meant for students, but also for the public at large because instilling the ideology that science and mathematics are important is not a sole responsibility of teachers, but parents as well.

She urged parents to make children see the need for learning and being professionals in science related courses and pleaded with teachers to make science more interesting as much as possible since Botswana’s economy depends on them to make a breakthrough. ENDS