As usual, ACEP's Environmental Education team have been very busy communicating the programme, and science and environmental concerns, to the public at large.

Sasol techno x 2006

In collaboration with the communication and education team at SAIAB, ACEP contributed a display and ran workshops on underwater gliders. The expo was well attended and the workshops presented by Karen enjoyed by all. There were a total of 28379 visitors comprising 23911 learners, 1257 educators, representing 350 schools and 3211 public members at the display.

A total of 125 learners attended the workshops representing 6 schools with 5 educators.

Gauteng outreach display 4 – 8 September 2005

ACEP was represented by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, John Kieser and Arno Munro, shared ACEP posters and display materials with the visitors to the National Zoological Gardens. A total 1690 learners, representing 18 schools and 45 educators attended. A further 100 public members visited the display.

Ship visits, PORT ELIZABETH and Cape Town, 17 & 20 September 2005

A total of 22 learners and 13 adults visited the ship on the 17^th of September. One of the groups was called the “Bright Sparks” and was selected by SAIAB at a workshop as bright learners from the rural surrounding area (King Williams Town) who had potential and this was one of the initiatives they visited. A second group within the totals were learners who had entered an essay competition and were rewarded with a ship visit. Presentations led by Berny Snow (ACEP EE co-ordinator) and Karen Binning (ACEP EE assistant).

Fifteen learners and one teacher visited from the Milnerton High Environmental club in Cape Town. Presentation led by Tammy Morris.

LEARNERS ON BOARD, BIOSCIENCES MONTH, Port Elizabeth, July and September 2005

A local competition was hosted by ACEP and supported by DST (implemented by SAASTA). The competition entries were sent to all high schools in the Port Elizabeth area, inviting grade 11 learners to write an essay on “The importance of the ocean to me and my community”. A total of 13 entries were received. Two winners were selected and rewarded with a journey on the research vesselin September, posters, books and t-shirts. The two winners were Phumlani Mapolisa (Qaphelani Senior Secondary School) and Kerryn Warren (St Dominic’s Priory High School).

National Marine Week 2005 – Eastern Cape

A fantastic display was put up in the Port Elizabeth Harbour with the main sponsorships from DEAT and the National Ports Authority of Port Elizabeth. Organisations with education and marine outreach initiatives were represented. ACEP as the EC Marine and Coastal Educators Network played a pivotal coordinating role through the planning and execution stages. A total of 5 481 learners, 212 educators, 86 coast care workers and other public members were reached over marine week.

Educator Workshops

NGELENI, Eastern Cape, 3 August 2005

The workshop was presented by N Mapingana (volunteer) as part of Biosciences Month to seven educators on the Video Learning Programme Module 1.

KOSI BAY , Eastern Cape , 12 August 2005

Workshop facilitated by S Ngobese* to five educators as part of Biosciences Month on Video Learning Programme Module 1.

NGELENI, Eastern Cape, 24 August 2005

The workshop was presented by N Mapingana (volunteer) as part of Biosciences Month to 18 educators on the Video Learning Programme Module 1.

DELTA ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE, Gauteng, 7 September 2005

Workshop presented by J Kieser (DEAT) to 19 representatives from the Department of Education on ACEP learning materials.

PORT ELIZABETH , Eastern Cape , 6 October 2005

Workshop facilitated by K Binning to 7 educators as part of Bioscience Month funds on Video Learning Programme Module 1.

CAPE TOWN , Western Cape , 10 February 2006

Karen Binning visited the Milnerton High School in Cape Town and presented a workshop on the senior phase workbook to 16 educators from various learning areas, highlighting how science and technology is relevant to these learning areas and a tool to make learners aware of science in their every day lives. Feedback from the educators was positive and many of them said that they had enjoyed the workshop.

Next workshops to be held in Kwazulu Natal 17-18 February 2006

Karen Binning was invited by the Natural Science Museum in Durban to run an educator workshop on the intermediate phase workbook to 22 educators from 12 schools that have been adopted by the Durban (eThekwini) Municipality. The educators got an opportunity to conduct experiments and discuss issues relating to the marine environment all in the context of the curriculum. Feedback form the educators was positive and judging by the interaction during the workshop, they all seemed to enjoy themselves.

DURBAN, KwaZulu Natal, 18 February 2006

Karen Binning was also invited by Seaworld Education Centre to conduct a workshop for educators that are linked to the education center as well as the guides involved in education. The workshop was held on a Saturday morning and was attended by 20 educators and 28 guides. The workshop used the resource “Ocean exploration with old four legs’ and all the educators and guides were involved in the activities and experiments as part of the workshop.

Feedback on the workshop from both the educators and guides was very positive and one of the educators was amazed at the activities that could be done with learners using very basic equipment. She said that she would definitely start doing some of the activities with her learners to illustrate what is discussed in class.

SAASTEC

Karen Binning attended the conference held at the Durban MTN Science centre, and presented a paper titled “Education and change using the coelacanth as an icon”. Karen enjoyed the conference and it was a great opportunity to network with Science Centres and Institutions involved in science outreach and awareness

NRF Science Outreach Workshop 6-8 February

The workshop was by invitation from SAASTA and attended by Berny (ACEP), Karen (ACEP), Penny (SAIAB) and Gaji (SAIAB). The workshop aimed at bringing together the various NRF facilities and programmes involved in science outreach. At the workshop, each facility and programme had the opportunity to share achievements and challenges. Attendees then had opportunities to network and strategise how exemplary science outreach initiative can be achieved, also how to monitor and evaluate projects. Furthermore we also looked at changing the reporting structures to ensure we are adequately represented and not only reporting numbers with no meaning.

We also had a fun interactive drumming session strengthening relationships and collaborations to work together as a team.

Funding

We are proud to announce that the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund has extended its financial support of the environmental education programme into 2006.