CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Sci-Ed

The University of the Free State's (UFS) new Science Education Centre (Sci-Ed) is a state-of-the-art facility designed to inspire future scientists and mathematicians. The centre is home to interactive exhibits and experiences that will engage learners of all ages.

By: Deeanne Daniels

The future of science and mathematics looks even more promising as the University of the Free State (UFS) officially opened its Science Education Centre (Sci-Ed) in December 2022. The Sci-Ed building is the only science education centre in central South Africa, located on the Bloemfontein campus.

Sci-Ed, part of the Faculty of Education, houses interactive exhibits to evoke questions that enhance learning and stimulate discussions among learners, student teachers, in-service teachers and the general public.

During the opening of Sci-Ed, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of UFS, Professor Francis Petersen, said that universities are all about interactive spaces like the Science Education Centre and believes that these are the spaces where initiatives and innovations are created to tackle the science of the future, as per News24.

When discussing the role of universities in society, Petersen said: "Universities are places that evolve continuously, and this centre is an excellent example".

The MEC for the Department of Education in the Free State, Dr Tate Makgoe, agreed that the community should feel the impact of universities. "I am inspired to know this facility is open to the public. The government will be the main beneficiary of this science centre, and we will use it profitably. Among others, I will send our Foundation Phase teachers here," he said.

Dr Cobus van Breda, manager of Sci-Ed and director of Sciencefor-the-Future, an initiative that the UFS Faculty of Education hosts to address challenges of science and mathematics teaching and learning in South Africa, explained that the project implements mathematics and science teachers' professional development and outreach programmes all over the country.

The Sci-Ed building will be open to the public through outreach programmes and formal and non-formal visits to the centre, which the community can use.

Sci-Ed was designed to accommodate essential elements of a modern science education centre and is an extension of the Winkie Direko Building. The building is about creating an intellectual space indoors and outdoors to encourage staff, students and the community to interact with science.