Tuks professor encourages learners to pursue Stem courses
The open day saw over 600 grade 11 and 12 learners being treated to science lessons and learning how easily accessible Stem education is at UP.

A professor from the University of Pretoria encouraged learners to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses (STEM) during a recent open day.
He said the STEM field had the power to transform lives, uplift communities, and shape nations’s destiny.
Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (NAS),Professor Barend Erasmus was addressing over 600 learners during the NAS open day under the theme, “Become a scientist – change the world”.
The day saw over 600 grade 11 and 12 learners being treated to science lessons and learning how easily accessible Stem education is at UP.
He also explained more scientists are needed to unlock Africa’s full potential.
“Learners in the pursuit for knowledge need to be brave, curious, and relentless,” Erasmus said.
“Our continent, Africa, offers boundless opportunities, and we are at the forefront of harnessing its potential. But to do this, we need knowledge that transforms into action.”
Erasmus said the impact of science extends far beyond the confines of classrooms and textbooks.
“And that’s where you as learners come in. Here, within the walls of our UP, lies a world of opportunity waiting to be explored,” Erasmus said.
The learners accompanied by parents came from as far as Limpopo and the Free State.
With hands-on-activities and experiments that sparked learners’ curiosity for the science field, the university brought science to life for them.
UP spokesperson Sashlin Girraj said the learners got to witness science in action from all 13 exhibitions of the UP departments.
“This ranged from uncovering the mysteries of the universe through Physics and exploring the wonders of space, time, and beyond.”
“At zoology and entomology, learners and parents were informed how diverse studies can help build a sustainable future for the African ecosystem.”
Girraj said conservation was showcased through research in food security, botanical medicines and plant biodiversity, and at animal science, opportunities were provided to explore the wonders of the animal kingdom.

Learners were also treated to tours of UP’s state-of-the-art facilities and exciting demonstrations, including:
– An experiment on how to approximate a number
– A mobile planetarium
– Learning about drones and weather forecasting apps
– Trying out a 360-degree selfie photo camera
– Labelling an actual cow skeleton
– An ice-cream making demonstration
– A thrilling mineral and rock demonstration at the geology department
Learning how to extract DNA, alumni and industry members from many of the branches of science offered by NAS also attended the event and shared their experiences and qualifications from the faculty for possible career opportunities.
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