/’klaimit/ - cli-mate
(Noun) the weather in some location averaged over some long time; (2) (noun) the prevailing psychological state;
Do we need to talk about it in schools?
We can do it
Hole in ozone layer healing
Climate Disasters in the recent past what can we learn?
Features
11
12-15
Climate change - it is serious now
Climate change in the past
16-17 Climate change and farming
18-19
Climate change and the continent
20-21 Climate change and air travel
26-27
28-29
30-31
36-37
38-39
Climate change and politics
Success story: Ozone layer healing
Alan Gray Orbis Foundation
False Bay TVET: Entrepreneurs
Why TVET? here is why!
Science
22-25
40-43
46-49
50-53
NSTF: solutions
Cars from non-car makers
Super bowl and money
Balloons - Not a party
We decided to be serious this February. It is of course great to forever discuss what next after high-school.
However, one of the things that will determine that is really our common future. Do we have one?
This is why we have decided to walk into a debate about ‘cllimate’.
We know the warnings - the 1,5 degree increment, the floods, the tornadoes and the things impacting us in South Africa.
But do we ‘teach’ enough about it? can we ignore all of this and just go forward? is it business as usual? we think not. And that is why we are into ‘climate’
Believe it or not, es out there all, difficult as Do we then forget do look at the TVET and a success TVET. What about buying from Samsung happening. ... and music
Good Read!
We are also serious, but it is now called
doom and gloom all of it.
not, there are climate successand we try to weigh in on it as it is.
forget ‘what next ..’? No, we the reasons for choosing a success story from False Bay buying a car from Google or Samsung or LG? look on. Things are and film and much more all the school stuff. called edutainment.
Sybil Otterstrom Editor and CEO
Want to be a contributor? Wanting to write like a pro?
You CAN! look firther and see how you can become one.
... and it is a good feeling to entertain and inform.
Masiziba Hadebe is doing her Master’s in Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS). She is driven to make a change and is a passionate volunteer for community projects. She loves reading and writing about science, agriculture and anything in between. She believes you can wear a smile whatever the weather!
My name is Lerato Pitso. I am from Maseru, Lesotho. I am a Sociology and Criminology student at UFS and Miss Supranational Lesotho 2023. When I’m not a model and a student, I write about my philosophies on life as well as expressing my feelings on paper. I hope that my views will aid in the social development of the next person.
And we are honoured to also have industry-views from:
Edith Wynne-Trollip: - Curriculum Support and advise, Overberg District
Nadia Hearn - Founder of Get-Published
Ashalia Maharajh: - Founder & Director, Sivuka Consulting (Pty) Ltd
Thozamile Mvumvu: - CFE Programme Manager, False Bay TVET
Daniel
Roos -
Account Executive, Transform MarketingArtvilla Dakamela, 22, another wizard from the literature world, he is an Accounting student at the University of the Free State. He has written for the Initiative for Creative African Narratives (iCAN) amongst others. He currently resides in DurbanKZN - and is a very enthusiastic reader and writer.
My name is Molatelo Kate Kgatla, I’m 24 years old. I was born and raised in Lenyenye. I’m a grade 2 teacher at Vunza Teddy Bear Learning Academy, an author of a book titled her jouney as a young mother. I became a mother at 17. It influenced me to write about my personal journey to try and help someone that could be going through the same. I love writing and I love my 7 year old daughter and life.
Lesly Malose Mahapa is a singer/writer/poet. He started writing at the age of 14 and has since been on a journey to pursue his music and writing career. Lesly is currently working with an indie group ‘MozSouth’ based in Ivory park, Midrand. Lesly is also a brand ambassador for a local clothing line “Boi Boi apparel”
Sybil Otterstrom sybil@romele.co.za
Advertising sales Next level Management
011 614 5046 076 360 1792
sybil@next-level.co.za
ivan@romele.co.za
This time we look at climate and science. It can be said it is not really school related, but think again: we need to start early on this crucial topic.
Climate change is now an existential crisis. However, we as humans have managed for many years to overcome even the most horrific conditions, so we can do it.
It does not come by being passive. It comes with action and knowledge. And that is where we want to do our bit in this debate.
We have a great example of ‘climate change’ – the Little Ice age’ which was not a major event after all. But the consequences impacted everything we know.
We need to ask ourselves: how much attention do we afford this crisis? Is it something we need to teach in schools? It is a good question to ask and there are no easy answers, but we can speculate.
We have plenty of reports outlining the consequences if we do nothing, but it is still hard to find the solutions with the biggest ‘pay back’.
The bigger challenge is for all of us to work together, regardless of where we are coming from.
We tend to look at climate changes in the past as very dramatic. Volcanoes spewing lava by the tons, meteors hitting us, tsunamis drowning us and everything in-between.
It makes good movies and History Channel can excel in it.
Let us look at something slightly less dramatic, very recent and very well-documented. The Little Ice Age.
Wiki: “The Little Ice Age was a period of regional cooling, particularly pronounced in the North Atlantic region. Some experts state a timespan from about 1300 to about 1850.
Several causes have been proposed: cyclical lows in solar radiation, heightened volcanic activity, changes in the ocean circulation, variations in Earth’s orbit and axial tilt (orbital forcing), inherent variability in global climate, and decreases in the human population (such as from the Black Death and the epidemics emerging in the Americas upon European contact.
The list is really a mix of cyclical events which we can hardly do anything about, but there are some factors due to human activity. Who would have thought this?
Wiki: “The Baltic Sea froze over twice, in 1303 and 1306–1307, and years followed of “unseasonable cold, storms and rains, and a rise in the level of the Caspian Sea.” Farms and villages in the Swiss Alps were destroyed by encroaching glaciers during the mid-17th century.
Canals and rivers in Great Britain and the Netherlands were frequently frozen deeply enough to support ice skating and winter festivals. The first River Thames frost fair was in 1608 and the last in 1814.
“Sea ice surrounding Iceland extended for miles in every direction and closed harbors to shipping. The population of Iceland fell by half, but that may have been caused by skeletal fluorosis after the eruption of Laki in 1783. Iceland also suffered failures of cereal crops and people moved away from a grain-based diet.
The Norse colonies in Greenland had starved and vanished by the early 15th century because of crop failures and the inability for livestock to be maintained throughout increasingly harsh winters. Greenland was largely cut off by ice from 1410 to the 1720s.
Crop practices throughout Europe had to be altered to adapt to the shortened and less reliable growing season, and there were many years of scarcity and famine. One was the Great Famine of 1315–1317.
And this was rather recent!
Wiki: “The violinmaker Antonio Stradivari produced his instruments during the Little Ice Age. The colder climate may have caused the wood that was used in his violins to be denser than in warmer periods and to contribute to the tone of his instruments.
According to the science historian James Burke, the period inspired such novelties in everyday life as the widespread use of buttons and button-holes, as well as knitting of custom-made undergarments for the better covering and insulating of the body.
Chimneys were invented to replace open fires in the centre of communal halls to allow houses with multiple rooms to have the separation of masters from servants”
The prolonged cold, dry periods brought drought upon many European communities and resulted in poor crop growth, poor livestock survival, and increased activity of pathogens and disease vectors.
“William James Burroughs analyzes the depiction of winter in paintings, as does Hans Neuberger. Burroughs asserts that it occurred almost entirely from 1565 to 1665 and was associated with the climatic decline from 1550 onwards. Burroughs claims that there had been almost no depictions of winter in art [until then].
“Episodes of social instability track the cooling with a time lapse of up to 15 years, and many developed into armed conflicts, such as the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648).
The war started as a war of succession to the Bohemian throne. Animosity between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire added fuel to the fire. It soon escalated to a huge conflict that involved all the major European powers and devastated much of Germany.
When the war ended, some regions of the Holy Roman Empire had seen their population drop by as much as 70%. However, as global temperatures started to rise, the ecological stress faced by Europeans also began to fade. Mortality rates dropped, and the level of violence fell.
This helped lead to the Enlightenment, which witnessed the emergence of innovations in technology (which enabled industrialization), medicine (which improved hygiene), and social welfare nd made life even more comfortable.
The Little Ice Age was not particular spectacular after all. It was a modest drop in temperatures at a global scale, but the impact was massive.
What will happen to us today if all the prophesies are coming through?
Climate change is often in close association with farming. But have you ever wondered exactly what relationship climate change has with Farming?
Well, the answer to that question is not that simple as farming is broad, region specific and holds different benefits to different people. In fact, balancing the need for people to eat and the effect of climate change has not been a clear line.
For instance, it is expected that the consequences of global climate change on agricultural production will be minimal to modest. Regional effects, however, may have a big impact in many parts of the world.
Agricultural yields and productivity changes will differ greatly across different regions. The world’s grain productivity will probably slightly decline overall because of these variances in gains and losses.
However, it is known that agricultural facilities contribute approximately a large percentage to the annual increase to global warming through carbon dioxide, methane
and nitrous oxide gas with the livestock industry being the main culprit. In fact, the global food system is responsible for about a third of greenhouse gas emissions.
Another way to look at it is through ecosystems. Ecosystems are managed via agricultural systems. To comprehend and estimate the consequences of climate change on production and food supply, it is essential to consider human response.
Agriculture is a dynamic system, and producers and consumers constantly react to shifts in crop and livestock yields, food prices, input prices, resource availability, and technology advancement.
In other words, does food demand have to decrease?
Well, that’s far fetched as food insecurity is prevalent in the world. Therefore, when we ask ourselves the relationship between farming and climate change, we must inherently ask ourselves about the relationship between food security and climate change.
However, that relationship too is not clear cut as crop failure (i.e., less food is produced), especially in the world’s most food-insecure regions, will push more people into poverty. Ironically, the crop failure is caused by climate change.
According to a growing body of work around the issue, major social, economic, and technological changes are required for not only the relationship between climate change and farming to be understood and/or food security but to mitigate the effects of this turbulent, not so straightforward relationship.
Masiziba HadebeThe diversity of life on Earth is essential to the health of our planet and to our wellbeing as human beings. But nature is under pressure as never before. Our needs for food, water and land, and our demands for energy and more and more stuff are destroying habitats, polluting our air and water, and driving species of animals and plants to extinction. We are now losing biodiversity up to ten thousand times faster than it was disappearing 100 years ago.
Climate change is defined as shifts in the earth’s climate driven by human activities. We are already living the devastating impacts of global warming.
As the planet warms, extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts become more frequent and intense. Unfortunately, those who have contributed the least to climate change are affected the most. Without immediate action, the climate crisis could lead to widespread poverty, hunger and migration.
The African continent will be hit the hardest by climate change, despite contributing only 4% to global carbon emissions. This vulnerability is driven by high levels of poverty across the continent leaving many without the resources to buffer themselves and recover from the changing climate.
Global warming, rising sea levels, changing precipitation patterns, and more extreme weather events are already increasing threats to human health, food and water security, and economic development across the continent. Most temperatures across Africa have already risen by 1 degree Celsius.
Some of the ways we can Stop Global Warming
• Solar: Because solar is the most sustainable and affordable way to deliver access to electricity to the 2 billion people in today’s world who are living off grid or lack reliable access to electricity.
• Change a light: Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
• Drive less. ...
• Recycle more. ...
• Check your tires. ...
• Use less hot water. ...
• Avoid products with a lot of packaging. ...
• Adjust your thermostat. ...
• Plant a tree.
Ms. Rogini Govender Chartered Public Relations Practioner (CPRP) Marketing and Communications Officer
We focus a lot on climate change factors related to industry, fossil fuel usage for heating and so on.
One of the major factors is air travel. It is not overlooked, but it seems to have taken a backseat in many discussion.
Let us look at it. I found something interesting here and here.
Aircraft engines are fed with fossil fuels. When burned, there is carbon emissions. On top of, there are micro-particles (soot!) released as well, depending on how ‘clean’ the engine runs.
All of that stays high in the atmosphere and that is where the problem with air travel lies. The carbon emissions and the particles stay there for a very long time (years) and that contributes to the heating of the planet. It is like CFC gasses again.
It is real as air travel is a huge part of all travel. I quote: “Carbon emissions from the airline industry grew by 75 per cent from 1990 to 2012. It’s expected they will continue to grow rapidly until 2050, where, if left unchecked, [it might account for 25% of all carbon emissions]”. The other
issue is that air travel is going up. In essence: this is a real issue.
If we consider non-CO2 impacts, we must look at the contrails.
“[contrails] induce cirrus cloud formation which is a result of water vapour as well as soot particles emitted during flight cruise.
To reduce non-CO2 effects, airplanes can use clean fuels to reduce the amount of pollutants released and changing flight paths to fly at lower altitude, where contrail formation is avoided. Rerouting less than 2% of flights in Japan reduced the warming effect of contrails by nearly 60%.”.
The suggested solutions encompass cleaner fuel, electric planes and zero-emission planes. All of this is good and dandy, but is not going to do a lot about the real problem. Air travel emissions will grow based on its very nature.
The only real way is to simply fly less. We learned during Covid that business travel for meetings and so on are not essential. We can do so many other things. That is a huge chunk of air travel.
We are active on other fronts but this one is a looming problem that will not go away unless we do something.
For now, it is up to us all to be responsible and simply cut down on flying. It is not about legislation.
Climate is the weather patterns, like temperatures and rainfall, at a certain place, over a long period of time. Climate change means changes to climates around the earth that are observed by scientists.
These have been monitored over many years. And the fact is, the earth is getting warmer overall, with many of the warmest years on record happening in the last 20 years in different places around the earth. Scientists use satellites and other instruments to gather information about the earth’s land, atmosphere, water (ocean and ice), etc.
The sun and water are critical to the climate change conversation, so visit the Nature tile on STEMulator.org, and see the Clouds and Basic Water Cycle pages.to grow your understanding!
The sun is the star at the centre of our solar system. It is by far the most important source of energy for life on Earth. The interactions between the sun and earth drive the seasons, ocean currents, weather and the climate.
Today, a change in climate is felt primarily through a change in water. As Earth warms, NASA has observed that sea
levels are also rising. Water expands as it gets warmer. Ice is also melting and adding to the seawater. This is affecting the water cycle too.
The natural water cycle is powered by the sun’s energy and by gravity. The sun heats the earth’s surface water, making it evaporate. Gravity makes the moisture fall back to Earth. There are four main stages in the water cycle:
• Evaporation
• Condensation
• Precipitation
• Collection
Collection is when water that falls as rain, snow, hail or sleet, collects in the oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. Much of the water will soak into the ground and will collect as underground water before emerging in rivers.
STEM Career | Did you know? One of the careers you can go into is Hydrology. Hydrology is a field of study that focuses on the management of water. A hydrologist finds out how much water is available, for now and for future needs, and then makes recommendations on water management practices.
If you missed the January edition of 2023, view page 50 to learn more about the STEMulator. For more information on how you can help us spread the word on STEMulator you can email info@stemulator.org or WhatsApp us: 081 423 8483. Follow us on social media Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok & Twitter
Kgaugelo Pule , NSTF STEMulator: Research AssistantSouth Africa and the rest of the world are experiencing the harsh realities of climate change. We simply have to do something – and fast.
The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) has led discussions on climate change. NSTF Discussion Forums are aimed at providing solutions to many problems we face as a country.
The Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) invited members of NSTF to comment and submit feedback on the draft Just Transition Framework for South Africa.
According to the PCC, this is the time to prevent the impact of global warming and to change the future of the planet.
Outlining evidence for climate change, the late and great Prof Bob Scholes explained the evidence in: ‘Show us the evidence for climate change’ (NSTF Discussion Forum, 2017).
He was a professor at the Systems Ecology and Director of the Global Change Institute at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) Winner of the NSTF Lifetime Award 2015 and a prominent member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Prof Scholes said temperatures are clearly rising in many places in the world, and especially so in southern Africa. Rain-
fall trends are more difficult to predict because rainfall is naturally a more local occurrence. He said the scientists on the IPCC could tell that the earth’s heating was mainly due to human activity, and not because of other causes.
During the Science and Disaster Management for Social Justice Discussion Forum in December 2022, in Cape Town, Dr Brilliant Petja spoke about the impact of climate change. Dr Petja is Research Manager on Climate Change, Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa.
He said: “The message has been loud and clear. The projections show increases in temperatures where heat waves will become regular.
Rising temperatures will, among other effects, reduce crop yield and livestock production, and directly impact on water security through increased evaporation and land-use change.”
STEM Career | Did you know? One of the careers you can go into is Hydrology. Hydrology is a field of study that focuses on the management of water. A hydrologist finds out how much water is available, for now and for future needs, and then makes recommendations on water management practices. Listen to career talks with award winners in science on YouTube.
Editorialprovided by Mr.
Barnard Manne, Media Liaison Officer.
Kgaugelo Pule , NSTF
STEMulator: Research Assistant
Climate change is an environmental issue that has been prevalent globally since the era of globalization. Globalization has increased the global integration of economies and societies.
This process is reliant on burning of fossil fuels and highly intensified agriculture in the production of goods and food. The greenhouse gases that are emitted in agriculture and burning of fossil fuels come with detrimental implications for the atmosphere that result in climate change; thereby negatively affecting life on Earth.
The recommended solution for this is the deployment of policies for the already existing eco-technology to be implemented.
The importance of fossil fuels and other carbon-intensive industries has resulted in strong opposition to climate-friendly policies, despite widespread scientific agreement that such policies are required.
The implementation of eco-technologies has been impeded by the fossil fuel industry because it controls a lot of money so that gives it influence over other industries, including those affecting climate action.
Although public awareness on climate change is rising, acts of individuals such as attempts to reduce one’s carbon footprint are not enough to make a compelling impact.
It is vital that education on climate movement is given heed as it focuses on putting pressure on governments and industry to take action to address the causes and impacts of climate change.
Climate change may largely be an environmental issue, but it is highly affected by politics.
Therefore, attempts to reduce its negative impacts should go along with understanding policies that are placed and how individuals can influence reformation policy with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint.
Lerato Pitso
It is not always doom and gloom. We can avert climate change or climate disasters and here is an example. The hole in the ozone layer!
What is the background? It is not complex. This time.
Since the 1970s, the ozone layer has steadily been depleted with a spike in depletion at the polar regions during sprint time. The ‘hole’ was noticed in the mid 1980s and the reasons got international focus.
The world also got to get a better understanding of the importance of the ozone layer.
The major reason for the depletion did not take long to discover: the CFC gasses. These are gasses used in the spray cans, fridge insulations and foam-blowing agents (industrial consumption). The CFC gasses migrate to the upper atmosphere and that is where the ozone layer sits.
In a rather non-scientific way, the CFC gasses caused ozone (O3) to degenerate into O2. Ozone itself is a toxic gas, but it protects us from UV light.
UV light (in higher concentrations) can cause skin cancer, blindness and cataracts. It is equally harmful to plants and animals. Example? Lon Angeles Times from 10 October, 2000: “PUNTA ARENAS, Chile —
“A wide swath of southern Chile was on alert Monday as dangerous levels of ultraviolet radiation hit peaks because of the depletion of the protective ozone layer over the Antarctic.
Health authorities warned the 120,000 residents of this fishing and wool-producing city--one of the few populated areas beneath the ozone hole in the Southern Hemisphere--not to go out in the sun”.
The ozone hole over the Antarctic this year is at its deepest level since scientists began measuring it 15 years ago, with more than 50% depletion being recorded throughout most of the hole, United Nations experts said Friday.”
Do we need more examples? This is critical.
But here is the thing: Montreal Protocol (UN) came into place in 1987, banning CFC gasses.
It will take time, but the ‘hole’ is shrinking and was at its lowest in 2019. There were additional factors for this, but the trend is clear: the ozone depletion has stopped.
The ‘hole’ will have gone back to pre-1984 levels by 2045-2050 and will have totally healed by 2075 – if nothing else happens.
It may be a small victory when we look at what we are now facing, but it proves one thing: we can if we want to!
We got sent this. This is really something. Read on!
A new cohort of young South Africans has just started their final year of school, and amongst them are future change-makers, problem-solvers and innovators with dreams and plans for a better world. Through its unique Fellowship programme, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation has, since 2005, created extraordinary opportunities for high school graduates with the potential to develop into high impact, responsible entrepreneurs.
The Foundation is now calling on learners who are aspiring entrepreneurs from the matric class of 2023 to apply now for this prestigious Fellowship opportunity that will pave the way to a university education, entrepreneurial mindset development interventions as well as personal and academic development support. Applications are open from 6 February to 28 April 2023.
This year, the Foundation has refined its funding model for the Fellowship in line with its efforts to scale up the programme. For learners living in households below the R1 million annual income threshold, full funding including tuition, residence, books, tuition, counselling, and monthly stipend costs will be provided.
For learners with entrepreneurial mindsets from households above this
income threshold are also welcome to apply and upon acceptance, the value of their Fellowship funding will then be determined on an individualised needs basis. This global best practice three-step funding model is based on guiding principles that admissions are purely merit-based and funding is entirely needs-based to ensure that all eligible recipients of the Fellowship known as Candidate Fellows can access the entrepreneurial programmes.
The programme marks the start of a unique entrepreneurship journey as Candidate Fellows are nurtured in the development of an entrepreneurial mindset, ethical values and strong leadership skills as they pursue their university studies. The programme focuses on both academic support and personal development with access to a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem that can support them as they go on to generate ideas, start ventures and grow enterprises with purpose.
Fellowship Applications Requirements include:
• South African citizenship
• 21 years of age or younger in 2023
• Minimum of 60% in pure Mathematics or a minimum of 80% in Mathematical Literacy for final grade 11 results
• Minimum average of 70% for final grade 11 results (excluding Life Orientation)
• Intention to study towards a Commerce, Science (excluding Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry); Engineering, Law, Humanities or Arts Degree at any of our partner universities including the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, the University of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela University, Rhodes University, the University of the Western Cape, Stellenbosch University, the University of Pretoria, the University of the Free State or University of KwaZulu-Natal.
• Indications of an entrepreneurial mindset
• Belief in the future of South Africa
Applications are accepted between 6 February 2023 and 28 April 2023, 17:00 SAST.
Visit www.allangrayorbis.org to download an application form, or to apply online.
We added two new exhibitions to our collection on the floor. The 4IR and Mirror Maze exhibitions
The 4IR exhibition currently hosts the Humanoids (two small ones and the big one called Pepper), Virtual reality Station, Augmented Reality and the interactive displays integrated with of a number of TV screens.
This concept is through the touch screen located at the entrance to the center. Interactive display section has been created where visitors are encouraged to use traditional touch screens to immerse themselves in games and content around Science Technology Engineering and Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
Children are provided with the opportunity to play games to train their analytical ability, improve their ability to solve puzzles and chal-
lenges. They are also challenged to explore more traditional content style, such as exploration of subjects including how Artificial Intelligence works, Machine Learning, how data transfers over networks etc.
While traditional science teaching has complex challenges around logistics, safety and costs. VR has none of these limitations. Experiments are done as often as needed with no physical costs of materials or safety concerns. Students can learn about physics and chemistry, life science etc. in a safe environment. Within VR learning occurs without any distract but with full immersion. Learning and understanding mathematics becomes easier and more fun inside of VR due to the nature of games and how they are designed.
This is designed to make learning and exploration real fun especially for little ones. Wide learning opportunities exist through this exhibition, children have many prospects to learn on, e.g. google earth exploration experience.
With Google Earth VR, children can travel to almost any place in the world. They can fly all over the world and explore any city, any monument and landmark anywhere in the world.The exhibition has two different types of humanoids the small one (called Sanbot Max and the Bigger one called Pepper).
The Sanbot Max robot was designed to be implemented into numerous kinds of business scenarios, providing customers and staff members with intelligent and efficient services.
Pepper is a semi-humanoid robot, which means that a human has to control it. It is designed with the ability to read emotions. Pepper recognizes faces and basic human emotion.
Did you know that the Clubhouse has three certified drone pilots?
They also have 10 DJI Tell drones that they will used for their drone course.
They are currently putting together content for the said course.
In addition, the Clubhouse offers programmes such as Teach Fundamentals of drones, real-life applications of drones: namely surveillance using object identification and tracking to videography for commercials and other media use.
This includes python programming that covers drone automation.
A mirror is an object that reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror will show an image of whatever is in front of it, when focused through the lens of the eye or a camera.
Mirrors reverse the direction of the image in an equal yet opposite angle from which the light shines upon it. This allows the viewer to see themselves or objects behind them, or even objects that are at an angle from them but out of their field of view, such as around a corner.
Natural mirrors have existed since prehistoric times, such as the surface of water, but people have been manufacturing mirrors out of a variety of materials for thousands of years, like stone, metals, and glass. In modern mirrors, metals like silver or aluminum are often used due to their high reflectivity, applied as a thin coating on glass because of its natu- rally smooth and very hard surface.
A maze is a path or collection of paths, typically from an entrance to a goal. The word is used to refer both to branching tour puzzles through which the solver must find a route, and to simpler non-branching patterns that lead unambiguously through a convoluted layout to a goal. The pathways and walls in a maze are typically fixed, but puzzles in which the walls and paths can change during the game are also categorised as mazes or tour puzzles
Mirror Maze
The mirror maze itself is a pattern, combining several characteristics of geometric patterns: repetition, symmetry and tessellation using repeated equilateral triangles. These triangles fit together without any gaps or overlaps, creating a tessellation. Mirrored surfaces all around reflect the pattern so that it repeats and appears infinite.
The below has been sent to us by False Bay College via MediaPortal. We have edited the article slightly.
It is becoming evident that entrepreneurship is as essential to reducing economic hardship and unemployment as it is to improve the economy.
False Bay TVET College, through the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Rapid Incubator (CFERI), have developed several student-focused entrepreneurship development activities and interventions to prepare them for entrepreneurship and self-employment. Delivered through strategic partnerships with public and private sectors, the main incubation programme is funded through the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).
The result since its establishment 7 years ago, the CFERI has:
• Trained 5763 TVET students.
• Supported 702 SMME Clients (within the geographical footprint of the College Campuses)
• Helped create 110 new SMME’s which resulted in
• 226 new jobs
This concept is used in business development, where those in start-ups
are incubated from the initiation stage to a stage where the business can thrive on its own. Business incubators offer business support services such as bespoke business management training, coaching, and mentoring, linking businesses to markets and finance opportunities, and offering equipment and space for businesses to operate until they reach sustainability.
Examples of courses are:
• Furniture and Metal Fabrication Mini Factory - With tools, welding, milling, and turning equipment.
• Maker’s Space - Computers with engineering and general design software, 3D printing, laser cutting and vinyl cutting equipment.
• Coding Lab - Consisting of a 10-seater computer lab for the benefit of entrepreneurs in the ICT, digital, and design Industries.
• Drone Accelerator Facility - Fitted with high-performance 3D printers, milling and electronics for entrepreneurs who venture into the drone operation, maintenance, and manufacturing space.
Changing the mindset: Entrepreneurship and Student Engagement
Students are made aware of the College CFERI services during their orientation, but it’s not enough to entice someone with an idea to bring it to fruition.
The College CFERI was instrumental and a key driver in coordinating and unlocking the partnership with Allan Gray for the Northern & Western Cape Allan Gray & Future Managers 1st Regional TVET Intercollege Entrepreneurship Competition 2022. Based on the success of the first event, the National TVET Intercollege Entrepreneurship Competition will be an annual occurrence.
False Bay TVET College CFERI hosted the inaugural DHET Entrepreneurship Best Practices workshop in 2022.
False Bay TVET College CFERI is proud to be setting the trajectory to SMME development and sustainability for future employers.
The below article has been sent to us by The Dynaste Communication Firm (www.thedtc.co.za). It is a great discussion about why we should seriously consider TVETs as the tertiary education.
We have edited the article slightly.
Recognizing the shortfall of specialized skills in South Africa, the government created “Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)” Colleges. These institutions aim at making accredited vocational training more accessible. The knowledge about TVETs could be better when compared to that of other educational institutions.
This oversight, says Vimala Ariyan, the CEO of Star Schools, is robbing young people of the opportunity to use technical education as a launch pad into their future.
“TVET institutions are excellent places to study and develop vocational or occupational skills such as those required in Building and Construction, Hospitality, Culinary, Tourism, Information Technology and many more occupations that respond to our fast-changing skills-demand across sec-
tors. As a result, these programmes will encourage self-learning, independence and provide learners with employment opportunities” says Vimala Ariyan.
Here are some more reasons why TVET can be an option for you:
Most employers require qualifications for certain roles at their company. As many industry practices continue to evolve, attending TVET Colleges will provide one with the opportunity to keep one’s skills current while also learning something new.
Furthermore, TVET colleges offer a wide variety of qualifications and courses in the most in-demand skill sectors, amplifying the opportunities available to students.
Courses are externally and independently quality assured
Students who study at a TVET College can be assured their qualifications are accredited and recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Courses are also moderated, and quality assured by the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).
Experience is something most employers want from their prospective employees, however, as a new job seeker this is often lacking. TVET colleges offer hands-on practical experience in the workplace as part of the programme.
Says Vimala: “Attending A TVET College is so much more than just getting a qualification and finding a job. There has been an increase in the number of TVET graduates being hired by businesses in recent years. Learners must take advantage of the opportunities provided by TVET colleges to pursue a vocational career and position themselves in the labour market”
Maybe we all would like to be car owners one day. The dream of driving around in something shiny and dramatic and fashionable.
There are indeed choices: Ford, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes and the list goes on.
But maybe we could also look at other car manufactuers – the non-car manufacturers? Yes, like Samsung, LG, Google, Bosch and so on. We may be surprised, but yes, there are other players.
I found something very funny here.
There is one I really like: the LG car! Imagine you buy the fridge and the cellphone and a car from the same company? Sounds weird, but …
I cannot find a lot of info on the thing, but there are a few videos of what it can do.
First of all, it is ‘life-size’. You can
stand inside it without bumping the head on the roof. It gets better: it will assign a seat for you. You may take off your jacket and get comfy. If so, it will roll out a compartment where you can hang the jacket!
Fancy a cool drink? There is a little fridge for you. What about watching the movie? Your personal screen! Speakers directed at you only.
There must be a motor somewhere. But hey, it looks like it can drive in any direction. Is there a need for a steering wheel? Not really. It is self-driving anyway.
It was displayed at the CES car show in 2020. And LG is busy doing more in this field.
Google got into it as well. The cutest ‘car’ of them all: The Waymo Google Firefly.
Wiki: In fall 2015, Google provided “the world’s first fully driverless ride on public roads” to a legally blind friend of principal engineer Nathaniel Fairfield. The ride was taken by Steve Mahan, former CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, in Austin, Texas.
It was the first entirely driverless drive on a public road. It was not accompanied by a test driver or police escort.
The car had no steering wheel or floor pedals. By the end of 2015, Project Chauffeur had driven more than a million self-driven miles.
Let us look at it (my opinion). What if we buy the car platform from somewhere. It is of course electric so we just need the wheels and the mechanical parts.
The wheels should be spheres so it can drive in any direction, even side-ways.
But now we get to the interesting bit: What will set it apart from a traditional car? Not the amount of horsepower or acceleration. As a matter of fact, as it is electric it is probably faster than normal cars anyway.
Seats and comfort? Not really, because who says that it must be two seats in ‘front’ and two seats in the ‘back’? if there is no real ‘front’ or back’? the cabin could easily be round and we sit around a round table in a circle? And the ability to turn our seat around so we can look out and see the nice weather as we drive somewhere?
It has to be self-driving and that means there is no need for pedals or steering wheel or such boring things. As a matter of fact, why would there even be a dash board with all kinds of dials and things?
We get closer to the real break-through now. If it is not the mechanical parts or the ‘motor’ or the badge that is important, then what is
important? The answer is easy: software.
Self-driving is software. Start and stop and avoiding potholes are all software dependent. Finding the best route (google maps?) is software. Show a movie while we are ‘driving’ (or being driven) is software.
Make a phone call? Software. Have a pepsi from the mini-bar and let the ‘car’ tell you to stock up again? Software.
Find something that will distinguish the ‘car’ from a traditional BMW and we will say software. There it is.
So for designing and building the ‘car’ of the future, we need to turn to software companies and just buy the mechanical pieces from the mechanical experts (BMW, VW etc.).
And who are the software companies out there? Google, Samsung, LG and Facebook spring to mind, but we also need to include the gaming software companies. They know about controls.
Of course it needs to be ‘connected’ and that is into 5G networks – for now. But the near future is 10G and the goal which is in reach is 400G networks.
… all tied to the ‘cloud’ and that is where your ‘car’ is a component.
Welcome to your new car, operated via your cell phone!
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
Supports access to and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of studies at a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college.
•Provides financial aid to eligible students who are studying or plan to study at any of the 50 TVET colleges or the 26 public universities in South Africa
•Identifies students who qualify for the bursary
•Provides bursaries to students
• All South African citizens
• All SASSA grant recipients
• Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum
• Persons with disabilities with a combined household income of not more than R600 000 per annum
• Students who started studying at a university before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum
What does the NSFAS bursary cover?
• Registration
• Tuition
• Book allowance
• Accommodation allowance
• Transport allowance
• Food allowance
• Personal care allowance
Does the NSFAS bursary offer any additional support for students with disabilities?
Yes, NSFAS further supports funded students with disabilities through an additional allowance that covers:
• Medical assessments
• Assistive devices
• Human support to cover for the cost of a caregiver, guide dog, scribe or tutor.
How, where and when can one apply for NSFAS?
The 2021 application season will be communicated through media, social media and the NSFAS website www.nsfas.org.za.
Applications are submitted online through the NSFAS website: www.nsfas.org.za
To apply for NSFAS funding students must have a registered myNSFAS account
If you plan to study in 2021 and require support from NSFAS, you may open your myNSFAS account now to keep updated with the latest funding information.
Connect with us using the following channels:
NSFAS Connect: www.nsfas.org.za and log into your myNSFAS account
NSFAS Connect gives you access to quick facts and frequently asked questions. Applicants and students can also submit and track a query for further assistance.
We have written about what Super Bowl is. No need to go into great detail, but let us just recap. Wiki says: “The Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) to determine the league champion. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966.” Sort of the soccer world cup in American football.
Viewers: “The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched annual sporting events in the world, with viewership overwhelmingly domestic. The only other annual event that gathers more viewers is the UEFA Champions League final. More than 100 million people from the United States alone are tuned into the Super Bowl at any given moment.” That is a lot of people and that should mean money?
The Super Bowl provides an extremely strong lead-in to programming following it on the same channel, the effects of which can last for several hours. Because of this strong coattail effect, the network that airs the Super Bowl typically takes advantage of the large audience to air
an episode of a hit series or to premiere the pilot of a promising new one in the lead-out slot, which immediately follows the Super Bowl and post-game coverage
Early Super Bowls featured a halftime show consisting of marching bands from local colleges or high schools; but as the popularity of the game increased, a trend where popular singers and musicians performed during its pre-game ceremonies and the halftime show, or simply sang the national anthem of the United States, “America the Beautiful” or “Lift Every Voice And Sing” emerged. Unlike regular season or playoff games, thirty minutes are allocated for the Super Bowl halftime
“Super Bowl commercials have become a cultural phenomenon of their own alongside the game itself, as many viewers only watch the game to see the commercials.
Many Super Bowl advertisements have become well known because of their cinematographic quality, unpredictability, surreal humor, and use of special effects. The use of celebrity cameos has also been common in Super Bowl ads.
As such, advertisers have typically used commercials during the Super Bowl as a means of building awareness for their products and services among this wide audience, while also trying to generate buzz around the ads themselves so they may receive additional exposure, such as becoming a viral video.
The prominence of airing a commercial during the Super Bowl has carried an increasingly high price. The average cost of a 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl increased from $37,500 at Super Bowl I to around $2.2 million at Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. By Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, the cost had doubled to around $4.5 million, and by Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the cost had reached up to $7 million for a 30-second slot.
The advertising revenue for 2022 was (estimate!) some $545 million. That is nearly R10 billion!
Merchandising is probably some $1,6 billion.
From here: (https//www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/sports/super-bowl-revenue) Every year Fox, CBS (VIAB) - Get Free Report and NBC collectively pay the NFL $3 billion for the rights to broadcast the league’s games. This deal includes the rotating right for one of these three networks to host the Super Bowl. In 2022, NBC (CMCSA) - Get Free Report broadcast
the game. Fox has the rights this year.
The NFL in 2021 signed an 11-year media rights deal for about $110 billion with CBS, NBC, Fox (NWSA) - Get Free Report, ESPN, Amazon (AMZN) - Get Free Report, which will begin in 2023, according to a New York Times report”
Because of the overall buzz surrounding [the commercial], commercials aired during the Super Bowl receive additional airplay and exposure outside of the game as well, such as during newscasts and morning shows.
Since 2000, CBS has aired an annual television special prior to the game, Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials, which showcases notable Super Bowl ads from prior games. In recent years, the network has allowed viewers to vote for their favorite Super Bowl ads to be featured during the special.
Voting for your favourite commercial? really?
The NFL does not pay the halftime show performers an appearance fee, though it covers all expenses for the performers and their entourage of band members management, technical crew, security personnel, family, and friends.
It is a distinct honour to perform and it enhances the performers reputation. But be aware: there is a lot of controversy on this as well. Who is performing? What is the theme? Do they behave? (Timberlake didn’t, Stones didn’t and so on).
It is all very USA and very patriotic. And of course very politically now.
Balloons! It conjures up images of ‘happy birthday’ and other occasions. However, what we have seen recently are a bit more than that. Now suddenly we are exposed to balloons which can fly to the edge of space and even being maneuverable. And these things are huge!
I found something here and of course from Wiki.
Balloon technology has been around for thousands of years. Filling a bag with a gas that is (in essence) lighter than air is no big science.
The ‘real deal’ probably came about in 1783 with the Montgolfier brothers. Here we see the first flight with people onboard. All powered by a balloon where the air inside got heated with some sort of fire.
If we look at modern-day balloons for leisure, they have all kind of shapes, but the common denominator seems to be a ‘fire’ (gas tank!) producing hot air inside the shroud.
The shroud is typically nylon and the innards contain ‘strips’ holding the wicker basket. All in all, not too different from 1784.
Let us turn to the hot items: heigh-altitude balloons.
First of all, these balloons fly far above any commercial airliner. Typically above 20 km (humans cannot survive altitudes above 20 km without pressure suits)
and 100 km (where astrodynamics takes over from aerodynamics). This is all defined as ‘near-space’.
These balloons are typically made of very thin polyethylene. It is basically cling-wrap and is about a tenth of a millimeter thick.
Why do we use balloons? And what are they used for?
It is CHEAP! And they can carry a decent payload after all.
They are used as weather balloons, research of stratosphere, near-space ‘weather’ and a lot of other things.
… and for spying! It is a cheap way of gaining info, being it pics, telemetry, weather and all kind of things.
We may wonder how to maneuver a balloon? Doesn’t it just fly around with the wind? That is exactly the thing!
Wind may have all kind of different directions based on the altitude. Changing altitude may catch the wind blowing in the direction we want to go.
On top of: they fly so slowly so the defense radars do not pick them up.
Those radars are calibrated to ignore slow-moving things and focus on fast jets.
Who has been doing some trips to very high altitude? The two latest ones are Baumgartner and Alan Eustace.
Remember Baumgartner? He flew up to 38,969 km and jumped. He reached terminal velocity before releasing the parachute. This was the first of the ‘dare-devils’.
Alan Eustace is a retired vice-president of Google (believe it or not) and got up to 41,42 km before jumping.
Where Baumgartner was in a capsule, Eustace hang suspended underneath the balloon.
Of course they were in some space suits. Temperature would be about minus 90 degrees (or less!).
Let us make an educated guess! If Branson wants to fly ‘space tourists’ up to 40 km+ we could maybe use a balloon for that? More people, more time in ‘near-space’, cheaper and so on.
And lo and behold! Some companies are doing exactly that.
Story?) is such a company. It is still in the planning phase, but the aim is to carry up to 4 passengers and 2 pilots to an altitude as high as 36 km. The vehicle would take some 2 hours to reach maximum altitude, and then stay there for up to 2 hours, with a final descent by steerable parachute after releasing the balloon, using airbags to smooth the landing.
World View Enterprises was founded and incorporated in 2012 by a team of aerospace and life support veterans and designs, manufactures and operates stratospheric balloon flight technology and services for a variety of customers and applications, most notably space tourism and stratospheric observation services.
The flight vehicle will carry eight passengers and two crew on an approximately 6-8 hour flight. The flight experience is intended to give passengers a wide-angle and long-duration view of the curvature of the Earth against the blackness of space.
The pressurized capsule is planned to include a restroom, minibar, and communications capabilities for communicating with family and friends below in real-time. In 2018, tickets were being offered for $75,000 with a $7,500 deposit.
On 4 October 2021, World View announced that commercial flights will begin in 2024 out of Spaceport Grand Canyon.
So, let us see where we go.
The Year 2023 has started with a big bang in South Africa and during this month of February we have already got to enjoy the Imagine Dragons Mercury World Tour which took place at the Johannesburg’s FNB stadium on February 4.
Then on the next day another huge iconic singer Sting graced our shores. Sting went from being a front man for a three piece band The Police to an award winning Solo artist. He is loved and known by fans of all ages across the globe and he will be coming to the SunBet Arena in Pretoria as well.
Counting Crows: An international pop band that climbed to popularity in the early 2000s with a lot of hits under their belt will at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town on April 16,
This famous reggae music band firmly put reggae music from Europe to the whole world selling millions of number one records and gracing international stages. Ali Campbell, lead singer of this band, is back with the group and ready to rock South Africa. they will be coming to the Durban ICC on June 1.
these are some of the few of many concerts that will be taking place in South Africa these coming months of 2023. Be prepared for a great 2023.
For you to pursue your career choice.
You need to pass your National Senior Certificate!
The Eastern Cape Department of Education encourages learners to choose suitable career path, by collecting information that will help them pursue their career / field of study.
“ it is in your hands “
- Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
No way out of it. This is the ultimate in movie experience.
Titanic is releasing in 3D, 3D IMAX and 4DX. We are getting the 4DX one.
Find the popcorn. This will be epic. Price is steep (R195-00), but give it a go!
Look out for when it will hit your cinema
In the near future, after learning that the sun is rapidly burning out and will obliterate Earth in the process, humans build enormous engines to propel the planet to a new solar system, far out of reach of the sun’s fiery flares. However, the journey out into the universe is perilous, and humankind’s last shot at survival will depend on a group of young people brave enough to step up and execute a dangerous, life-or-death operation to save the earth.
March is in many ways a month ‘in-between’. We have finished with all the holidays and Valentine’s, but we are not into mid-term breaks. March is just a lot of work.
However, we try to provide a bit of perspective on this:
International Women’s day is in March (our national one is in August). Just to celebrate that, we look at (from Wiki):
Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week (WOAW) is a global aviation awareness week for girls of all ages observed to mark the anniversary of the world’s first female pilot licence (March 8, 1910). The week is a call to address gender imbalance in the air and space industry. It is not country or group specific.
Since March 2010, Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week’s activities have been organized in 52 countries on 5 continents. 420,000 women and girls
attended the Week’s local handson activities. 69,768 women and girls experienced their first flight in a small aircraft in response to the Week’s Fly It Forward call to action.
WOAW organizes multiple challenges and contests during the week. The best known challenge, Fly It Forward®, rewards top performers with awards including “Most Female Friendly Airport Worldwide”, “Most Female Friendly Community Worldwide”, “Most Female Friendly Corporation Worldwide”, “Most Dedicated Female Pilot Worldwide”, and “Most Supportive Male Pilot Worldwide”.
Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The event is held annually, encouraging individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights, for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet. It was started as a lightsoff event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007.
The Earth Hour Global FAQ page states: Earth Hour does not purport to be an energy/carbon reduction exercise, it is a symbolic action. Therefore, we do not engage in the measurement of energy/carbon reduction levels for the hour itself.
Earth Hour is an initiative to encourage individuals, businesses and governments around the world to take accountability for their ecological footprint and engage in dialogue and resource exchange that provides real solutions to our environmental challenges. Participation in Earth Hour symbolizes a commitment to change beyond the hour
It is about awareness and commitment.
Hola MaHigh-School is YOUR magazine. That is why we would love to see students writing for students about student life and everything of importance to a student in any grade10-12 across the country.
What is required? That is easy:
You have to be in grade 10-12somewhere Impeccable in your preferred language-and that might not be English. We try to be more than just English.
Passionate about your topic of choice - no dull articles here.
Do you get anything out of it?
Well, not money, sorrry. BUT if we publish your articles you will have: Your bio in a commercial magazine
A photo of yourself
You can put it all on your CV you can use us as a reference
My name is Rofhiwa and I love to write. I have used my skills to express my thoughts on international dealings of the world which have been published in Hola MaHigh-School.
It has paid off, not only is my work printed for young people in the country to read, but it also contributed to me gettng a bursary from CNBC-Africa to do my post-graduate studies.
Would be a lot harder to get by if I didn’t have a platform like Hola MaHigh-School.
We are now deeply into it. 2023 has started in earnest now.
Next time will be about choices. This is a ‘classic’ but is becoming more and more relevant throughoout our life in school.
We hinted at it last time, but we will really look at the importance of making the ‘right’ choice.
Sometimes, the ‘right’ choice might be the less obvious, but let us see.
Of course we dive into science. What it will be is still to be seen, but I love to see NSTF being a part of our line.
PS: do you like the subtle changes to the layout?
We are still experimenting and trying to get it ‘right’. There are just so many choices - LOL
Until next time!
How long is 20 seconds?
Hum the first verse of our national anthem: Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika
