Cape Town - This year it’s all about light.
Scifest Africa offers visitors the chance to see “the light from space, the sparkling light through diamonds, and the shining light of inspiration”, according to the organisers.
The Scifest, South Africa’s National Science Festival, held every year in Grahams-town, takes place from March 18 to 24.
“The 2015 theme, ‘Science alight!’, will form part of the 2015 International Year of Light and Light-Based Technologies activities, and will celebrate several anniversaries, including the 1 000th anniversary of the publication of the seven-volume treatise on optics by Ibn al-Haytham, the centenary of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, and the announcement that the 2014 Nobel Prize for Physics had been awarded to the inventors of the blue LED,” said Scifest spokesman Steven Lang.
Scifest offers exhibitions and more than 600 interactive events. These will explore all facets of light, including anatomy, architecture, arts and culture, atmospheric sciences, astronomy, aviation, biotechnology, chemistry, diet, energy, fibre optics, gravity, lasers, matter, microscopy, nanotechnology, optics, photonics, space sciences, the spectrum and the universe.
“A sure highlight will be the attendance of a high-level delegation from Nasa, whose contributions will focus on the John Webb Space Telescope, Mars Exploration Programme, New Horizons Mission and Rosetta Mission, and will include public appearances by astronaut Dr Catherine Coleman,” Lang said. “Back by popular demand is blind astronomer Wanda Diaz, who will tell the story of how she followed a career in astronomy against all odds and how she listens to the stars.”
There will be contributions from Argentina, China, France, Germany, Turkey, the UK and the US.
Scifest is sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology. Last year’s festival brought 68 000 visitors to Grahams-town and offered 80 exhibitions and 606 events presented by 362 contributors from 100 participating organisations in 12 countries.
From tomorrow, the electronic programme will be online at www.scifest.org.za, and online and telephonic bookings open the same day.
* For more details, call Scifest Africa on 046 603 1106, or e-mail [email protected].
Cape Argus