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Wednesday, July 28, 2010
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Pinup science for nation's schools
Pinup science for nation's schools: "
Thousands of edu-taining posters and flyers are part of UCT's Faculty of Science's contribution to this year's National Science Week, which takes place from 2 to 7 August.
The three posters, targeting mainly primary school learners, are fact-filled, full-colour sheets on the themes The Secret Life of Viruses, Metal-Making in the Past, and Evolution: the Process of Natural Selection.
Posters were conceived, researched and written by science faculty staff, who seized the opportunity to wax creative in their respective fields of interest.
Some found it easier than others. For archaeologist Dr Shadreck Chirikure, his Metal-Making in the Past poster was plain sailing, as he had already written a book on the subject - namely, Indigenous Mining and Metallurgy in Africa, published by the Cambridge University Press. Chirikure says he was compelled to do the poster because so few South African learners realise that, although mining is so dominant in the country, there was a rich indigenous tradition in mining before industrialisation.
As well as the posters, a further seven glossy flyers, based on posters from previous Science Weeks, are targeted at an adult audience and will be distributed in public areas such as libraries and traffic centres.
The annual project started three years ago when the faculty produced posters for Western Cape schools. The initiative has become so successful that Science Week sponsors, the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, extended the brief - and the budget - to include the whole country.
The Faculty of Science will also be contributing to Science Week through teachers' workshops, conducted at the MTN Science Centre.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Kissing the Old Gaol goodbye
Tue, 27 Jul, 2010Despite the cold nights over the weekend, the Old Gaol filled up rapidly and the atmosphere quickly turned to one of fond reminiscence and respect for a venue close to the hearts of so many.
Groups of people huddled around fires in drums dotted around the historic building to chat and remember all the good times that had been spent there.
The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), which owns the building, has refused to renew the annual lease and has evicted the owner, Brian Peltason, from the premises.
SAHRA says they plan to open an education centre at the Old Gaol but it is not certain when and how this will happen.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Green Point dig stopped after remains found
By Jason Warner
The construction of much-needed parking bays in Green Point has been delayed after workers made the macabre discovery of human remains.
Contract workers employed by Civils 2000, a construction company focusing on site clearing, demolition and road works, were digging trenches on Wednesday along busy Somerset Road, near Liddle and Cobern streets, which bisect Somerset Road and Prestwich Street in Green Point, when they stumbled upon part of a human skull and jaw, and leg bones.
Company director Rob Starke said: "We were excavating test holes, searching for existing municipal services, to enable us to place the new parking bays alongside Somerset Road.
The labourers were excavating a trench when the supervisor noticed some odd-looking bits in the excavated material.
"She stopped the work, scratched in the soil pile and found a bit of what she thought could be a bone."
The manager notified Heritage Western Cape, a provincial authority charged with identifying, protecting and conserving the Cape's heritage resources.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Bones dug up in Green Point may be human
By Murray Williams Staff Writer
Archaeologists have removed bones which may be human remains from a construction site in Green Point.
The bones were discovered on Wednesday by a company working on a new pipeline linked to the irrigation system which will join streams on Table Mountain with the new park in Green Point, close to Cape Town Stadium.
A civil engineer with Arcus Gibb engineering consultants, Adrian Mackay, said construction teams had been digging an inspection trench to locate services in the vicinity of Liddle and Cobern streets, which bisect Somerset and Prestwich roads in Green Point.
After digging barely half a metre deep, they came across bones which were assumed to be human. MacKay said they immediately contacted Heritage Western Cape, which sent researchers to remove the bones
"We're going to appoint an archaeologist to do excavation monitoring for us, so if we discover any more bones, she will advise the construction team about working around any bones, and advise Heritage Western Cape," MacKay said.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Heritage Western Cape said archeologists will examine human remains discovered in Green Point to determine whether they hold any significant pre-historic value.
The find was made by construction workers along Somerset Road on Wednesday.
Crew members were busy digging trenches when they stumbled upon part of a human jaw and scull, as well as some leg bones.
Archaelogist Belinda Mutti said this is not the first time such a discovery has been made in the area.
"This area of Green Point was an informal burial ground for the city before all of these buildings existed. It was on the outskirts of the town. The poorer population of Cape Town were buried in this area," she said.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Facelift on the cards for Durban hospital - Independent Online
Facelift on the cards for Durban hospital - Independent Online: "
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Facelift on the cards for Durban hospital Independent Online "Amafa is working with us to start with the development of the hospital and plans to renovate the hospital... This could take up to three months," said ... and more » |
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