DAY 3: Leadership and management in science engagement

Rationale

Since 1996 there has been a dramatic increase in the scale and complexity of science engagement in the many entities of the DSI and other Departments. The growing scale of science engagement has been accompanied by a shift toward collaborative research, referred to as “team science” (Cooke et al, 2001).  Scientific research is increasingly conducted by small teams and larger groups rather than individual investigators, but the challenges of collaboration can slow these teams’ progress in achieving their scientific goals. How does a team-based approach work, and how does the science engagement strategy support a collaborative as opposed to individual efforts in community engagement with science? South Africa is a young population, almost over 26% of the population is young. This young population is mostly in schools. Science education has a pivotal role to play reaching the publics and promoting literacy. This webinar will provide guidance on assembling science engagement teams to engage society and how the platforms can be used for professional development. The webinar will also examine institutional and organizational structures and policies to support science engagement. The webinar will also look at science education and its support of the nation agenda of NSI.

Objectives:

To define the role of leadership and management in science engagement. 

Participant(s):

Mr Moloko Matlala, South African National Space Agency (SANSA)

Mr Moloko Matlala is currently employed by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF). He is employed as a manager for the Science Education Division responsible for several science engagement projects/programmes targeting leaners and educators. He has been a teacher, lecturer, and education specialist in mathematics, science and technology. He participated extensively in curriculum development including mathematics, mathematical literacy, technology subjects as well as recently with the development of technical mathematics and technical science grades 10 – 12. His qualifications include technical qualifications, National N-Diploma (Mechanical), National N-Diploma (Electrical), BSc (Mathematics & Physical Electronics), MSc (Electronics) and currently engaged in a comparison study on the employment prospects of learners taking electrical engineering technology subjects in technical high school and in TVET colleges. 

Mr Livhuwani Masevhe, Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)

Mr Livhuwani Masevhe is Deputy Director: Science Promotion at the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).