Science Camps to Elementary School Dissections

So finally arrived to the beautiful sunny skies of Miami - so here's some of the excellent work we've been seen already!

Day 1

Introduced to the Miami Science Museum's Entrepeneurship Career Day with Grade 10- 12's. This programme is an excellent role modelling programme that shows kids how to dream big and have heart in accomplishing all they can by hard work, study and a passion for a career in business, science or technology. So to quote the Miami Science Museum Education Team " The Anatomy of an Entrepeneur is KNOWLEDGE - PASSION - FIRE." Kids are taken through a programme where they have a first hand talk by a science specialist in business, an inspirational video on business development (See www.TED.com and William Kamkwamba - Amazing!) and then kids have to develop their own business plans with their own ideas. During this time kids are also taken through the Science Museum to interact with the exhibits and team!The KZNScienCentre will be looking at introducing this programme as soon as I am back!

Day 2

Awesome squid dissections with elementary school learners funded by the Miami Education Department - Calamari Anyone ;-)

We also had the priveledge to meet with the Dean of Education and The President of the University of Miami as well as Professor Mike Gaines who is involved in multiple informal and formal learning interventions. Lots and lots of meetings - looking forward to all the collaborations!

Goodnight for now after an amazing and fulfilling 2 days - www.willitbeyou.com!



Adventures in Science Begin!

And so it begins! After some wise words from Beverly, Tebogo and Rudi at our farewell lunch hosted by The DST and SAASTA we're off to the airport all in good time - just enough to write my first post :-).

Now for some background - I am currently the Head of The KZN Science Education Foundation - The KZN ScienCentre - a fully registered NPO focused on creating a science and an education literate society in South Africa. I am passionate about what I do and what we stand for and always looking at new ways of creating awareness and creating a stable organizational strategy and plan to ensure financial stability in a harsh economic climate.

Now about this adventure , I was fortunate enough to be chosen by The Department of Science & Technology and SAASTA to embark on a course at The Miami University and The Mimai Science Museum as well as many other informal learning Centres and schools. Whilst there I will look at processes that involve executive management of various informal learning centres, curriculum support to schools, conceptualization and implementation of programmes as well as sponsorship and fundraising models to name but a few. Over the next few days I will be posting interesting findings, pictures and thoughts gained from my experiences.

Albert Einstein once said " All that is valuable in human society depends on the opportunity for development accorded to the individual" so with that in mind, whilst I will be making the most of this opportunity, I also hope by my blog and chats to various colleagues when I come back that I will give you insight, knowledge and skills that can be used to contribute to to the education of our youth!

Hamba Kahle/Goodbye for Now from a beautiful warm JHB - till I write again from a beautiful warm Miami!