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Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) is well known for hosting South Africa’s National Science Festival, Scifest Africa. The annual festival, which started in 1996, has been a gateway to the world of Science, Technology Engineering, Mathematics and Innovation for 24 years. The Festival has hosted hundreds of international speakers and workshop leaders, and hosted well over a million attendees of all ages, becoming the largest such event on the African continent. The advent of the Coronavirus pandemic has disrupted every part of the globe, and the science engagement space has not been spared its effect. As a result of the pandemic, the [...]

Scifest Africa 2020 Postponed  In light of the national and global situation regarding the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the pressing need to take all necessary precautionary measures to reduce the potential risk of exposure to the virus, the boards of the Grahamstown Foundation NPC and the National Arts Festival NPC have jointly taken a decision to postpone our festival. This decision was made in the context of the protocols announced by the South African Government to curb the virus, including: Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited; Schools are closed from Wednesday 18th of March to the 14th [...]

Missions are pretty straightforward things. You have your objectives that you want to complete. You have your plan of action. You know what the potential threats are. You know what you have to do to get the job done. And you know the risks. And once you accept the mission you commence to action. Follow the plan. Or maybe you improvise. Whatever you do you keep your eye on the goal. We follow many spoken and unspoken missions throughout our lives. No matter what they help guide and shape our actions and help us make decisions and achieve goals. Scientists in [...]

The chart of elements dating back to 1885. Image: University of St. Andrews "A classroom chart bearing an early version of the periodic table of elements has been discovered in a University of St. Andrews chemistry lab. Dating back to the 1880s, the chart is thought to be the world’s oldest. The storage room of the chemistry department at the Scottish university hadn’t been properly cleaned since the facility opened in 1968, prompting a months-long effort to tidy up back in 2014, according to a news release issued today by the University of St. Andrews. Among [...]

The Eskom Expo for Young Scientists is South Africa’s leading, and only existing, national science fair that affords learners the opportunity to enter a project to exhibit their own scientific investigation. The project aims to inspire and develop young scientists who are able to identify a problem, analyse information, find solutions and communicate findings effectively. The 2018 Eskom Expo for Young Scientists Grahamstown Regional Final which is coordinated by Scifest Africa will be held in Grahamstown on Saturday, 4 August at the Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, Rhodes University, Artillery Road. Fantastic prizes are up for grabs at the Regional [...]