​Gauteng learners, particularly those from communities in and around Johannesburg, will learn about science, its impact on fighting climate change and career opportunities at the 2019 National Science Week.

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Science Centre at the Soweto Campus will host Science Week from Monday, 29 July to Saturday, 03 August 2019. This year’s event is themed “Facing the harsh realities of climate change”.

Science Week is an annual event aiming to exhibit and communicate awareness in science. Its programme is stretched to the nine South African provinces involving various stakeholders and/or role players conducting science-based activities during the week.

The sessions provide high school learners with informative public talks on topical science matters such as climate change, energy beneficiation, and wastewater treatment. Learners also get to experiment with high tech laboratory apparatuses to get a essence of being a professional in the science field.

The Science Week will set the tone for the 2019 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) ceremony on 15 August 2019. Three UJ staff members, Prof Neo Morojele (Department of Psychology), Dr Banothile Makhubela (Senior Researcher, Department of Chemical Sciences) and Ms Zinhle Mncube (Lecturer, Department of Philosophy) have been selected as finalists for the awards. Winners will be announced at a SAWiSA Gala Dinner in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.