Date: 27/02/2004

By: Elsabé Barlow

Click here to view the published article.

From the outside the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO) looks very quiet and solemn - even a little ominous some might say, but on the inside it is in fact a hive of activity.

The team of energetic scientists and staff working there are a busy bunch of people with a number of new projects in the pipeline, many of which are aimed at reaching out to the community.

One of the most exciting new projects is a new interactive science centre that is currently being built at the HMO. The centre will house 20 interactive science exhibitions. These exhibits will be aimed at senior learners to stimulate their interest in physical science and chemistry.

The centre will be the first of its kind to operate in the Western Cape outside the Cape Peninsula area. It is envisaged that the centre will help natural sciences `come alive` for learners, especially ones from schools where all the necessary laboratory equipment is not available for experiments.

Funding for this centre comes from internal HMO funds as well as a grant from the Shuttleworth Foundation. This grant will be used to buy equipment for the centre.

The centre will be completed by the end of April. The official opening will form part of the HMO`s contribution to the 'Ten Years in Democracy' celebrations.

The first of four workshops for the year for Grade 10-12 science teachers was also held last weekend. These workshops are part of the HMO's Science Outreach programme and is organised in close collaboration with the Western Cape education department.

According to the Science Outreach educator at HMO, Elisa Fraser, these work shops are aimed at developing science teachers' skills, especially their practical skills to use mechanical apparatus in the classroom. Two science academics are specially brought to Hermanus to help present these workshops. They are Dr Sadha Pillay, a physics lecturer at the university of Kwazulu-Natal, and Melanie Sadeck, a chemistry lecturer at the Peninsula Technikon. Fraser assists them with the chemistry lectures.

A total of 18 teachers from all over the Overberg and Boland region gathered in Hermanus for this first workshop. Hermanus High School assisted by lending them apparatus needed for some of the experiments.

They are hoping to have 25 teachers at their next workshop in April.

'There are so few pupils coming out of high school with higher grade mathematics and science that there aren`t enough science students at tertiary level,' says the manager of HMO, Dr Peter Sutcliffe.

The HMO now has a staff complement of 20 plus and there is a lot of emphasise on post-graduate training, says Sutcliffe.

Workshops and learner activities for learners in the further education and training phase (Grade 10-12) also forms part of the Science Outreach programme.

Tour groups and other school groups are also taken on tours through the HMO.

A plan to have organised open days there are also in the pipeline.

One of the interesting features at the HMO is the museum where the history of magnetic measuring is portrayed. One of the first electronic magnetometers that was designed and built at the observatory can be seen in the museum.