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Advancing Science Communication & Public Engagement at AIMS for the Transformation Agenda & Societal Development
Advancing Science Communication & Public Engagement at AIMS for the Transformation Agenda & Societal Development
The AIMS House of Science is the coordination Hub of AIMS South Africa’s public engagement activities. Delivering public engagement and advancing leadership, knowledge and skills for scientific outreach and science communication in AIMS students and researchers. House of Science also provides mentoring and capacity building to enhance and up-scale AIMS students and researchers in research dissemination and community outreach.
The AIMS House of Science is the coordination Hub of AIMS South Africa’s public engagement activities. Delivering public engagement and advancing leadership, knowledge and skills for scientific outreach and science communication in AIMS students and researchers. House of Science also provides mentoring and capacity building to enhance and up-scale AIMS students and researchers in research dissemination and community outreach.
Objectives
Objectives
To build capacity and train AIMS students, researchers, academics and alumni so that they are better enabled, skilled and confident in undertaking public engagement activities, initiatives and community outreach.
To promote mathematics and science engagement with the broader community in Africa and showcase the mathematical sciences and its applications research conducted at AIMS.
To stimulate young people’s interest to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and become the next generation of scientists, leaders and problem solvers.
To improve the participation, progression and retention rates of women and girls in STEM-related fields.
To conduct research studies on various topical issues on science/mathematics communication and gender in STEM in Africa.
These goals are critical, given the pressing developmental challenges in South Africa and on the continent and the imperative to close the knowledge gaps that exist at all levels, and which impact on the pace of development in the country and on the continent. This attendant transformation and sustainable development agenda inherently drive the call for universities and research institutions to engage with the broader community, science and society engagements and the public learning and understanding of science (PLUS).
These goals are critical, given the pressing developmental challenges in South Africa and on the continent and the imperative to close the knowledge gaps that exist at all levels, and which impact on the pace of development in the country and on the continent. This attendant transformation and sustainable development agenda inherently drive the call for universities and research institutions to engage with the broader community, science and society engagements and the public learning and understanding of science (PLUS).
South Africa' Science Engagement Strategy and AIMS House of Science
South Africa' Science Engagement Strategy and AIMS House of Science
The development of the Science Engagement Strategy (SES) by the Department of Science, Technology (DST) in 2015 and its Implementation Plan in 2017 is an example for the South African government to show commitment to support and promote public engagement with science in the country. The SES seeks to develop a society knowledgeable about science, critically engaged, and scientifically literate to address the country's developmental challenges. The main strategic objectives of the SES are:
to popularise science, engineering, technology, and innovation as attractive, relevant, and accessible in order to enhance scientific literacy and awaken interest in relevant careers;
to develop a critical public that actively engages and participates in the national discourse of science and technology to the benefit of society;
to promote science communication that will enhance science engagement in South Africa;
to profile South African science and science achievements domestically and internationally, demonstrating their contribution to national development and global science, thereby enhancing its public standing.
The science engagement strategy further identifies various stakeholders, their roles, and responsibilities whose contributions are crucial to producing the expected outcomes of the strategy. The SES also stipulated that to address these objectives, universities and research institutions should:
“encourage all researchers to present their research work to non-specialist communities; use their resources (extensive infrastructure, researchers, funding) to advance science engagement aligned to the aims and interventions of this Strategy; establish qualifications and short courses that will create capacity development specifically in science communication; and create incentives for researchers who lead science engagement initiatives related to their research projects.” (2015, p.37)
It is without a doubt that institutional frameworks such as the House of Science framework in AIMS South Africa have a pivotal role to play not only in the promotion of the mathematical sciences within the broader community but with the implementation of South Africa’ Government Department of Science, Technology SES and STI Decadal Plan.
It is without a doubt that institutional frameworks such as the House of Science framework in AIMS South Africa have a pivotal role to play not only in the promotion of the mathematical sciences within the broader community but with the implementation of South Africa’ Government Department of Science, Technology SES and STI Decadal Plan.
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