The Faculty of Science in partnership with the UJ Library launched its 2017 public lecture series on February 17. No stranger to the annual series, Physics lecturer, Dr Buyi Sondezi addressed a wide student audience on the topic: “Can I also understand Science?”
According to Dr Sondezi, it is crucial for academics to debunk the myth that “science is for the elect”; that understanding mathematics and science is too demanding. Such thinking intimidates learners and shies them away from pursuing progressive careers in scientific fields, she said.
Instead, Dr Sondezi’s lecture took on another approach. How about sensitizing learners, from a young age, to that science is all around us; that it helps make sense of the world by answering difficult questions using fundamental theories that proven scientifically?
Dr Sondezi gave interactive and practical examples of science’s role in everyday life. She said science is continually refining and expanding our knowledge of the universe, and as it does, it leads to new questions for future investigation.
Dr Sondezi won the Faculty of Science 2016 Community Engagement Award for her on-going efforts, sensitizing youngsters to the significance of science.