Young science enthusiasts interested in space can now join the SciTech Club to learn more about the planets and stars.
The new club had its official launch on Friday at the ArcelorMittal South Africa Science Centre in Vredenburg.
More than 5 000 learners from six local schools will be part of the “space exploration” over the next five years.
The Science Centre has partnered with XinaBox, a non-profit, economic development organisation to start a global science programme which will use the space related project to get learners excited about science, technology, engineering, maths and innovation (Stemi).
A hands on approach
According to the team behind the SciTech Club the programme will have a practical component which will see learners doing research, design and build parts of a student satellite.
Learners will build sensors for a satellite which is set to launch in Virginia, United States, next March. The sensors will transmit data which is collected in low earth orbit.
The overall programme has been designed in three phases to collect weather data as the satellite moves further from the earth.
Up we go . . .
The first part of the programme saw the launch of a high-altitude balloon in November.
Data is collected from ground level up to 5 km above earth, within the troposphere.
“This is a crucial step in the satellite design as it helps the learners to understand how the sensors work and exposes them to the task of reading and analysing real data,” explains Freddie Swart, Group Manager: Transformation Centre of Excellence at ArcelorMittal South Africa.
Looking to long term
“The XinaBox programme brings a new dimension to the work we do at the Science Centre. This project is a first for the ArcelorMittal South Africa Science Centres and for the ArcelorMittal Group worldwide and an initiative of which the West Coast community can be immensely proud,” says Swart. The programme also sees a deliberate focus on getting girls into Stemi-based careers. Coincidentally, the Saldanha Science Centre boasts a state-of-the-art Geodesic dome in which participants are given the opportunity to have an immersive experience on diverse subjects like our solar system.
. The Science Centre will be closed over the school holidays.
