Welcome
To UNIZULU
Science Centre
A University of Zululand division which aims to encourage and promote
Learn All About It
Welcome To UNIZULU
Science Centre
A University of Zululand division which aims to encourage and promote
Exploratorium
The Science Centre (Exploratorium) forms the base for all activities with more than 200 interactive experiments on display for visiting school-learners, in addition to a 200 seater, state-of-the-art auditorium. Most of the learners in our contact area have no access to scientific equipment, and gain at best a theoretical knowledge of the subject. The Science Centre seeks to provide a “hands-on” experience of Science for these learners. The Science Centre is visited by up to 30 000 learners each year, mostly from severely disadvantaged, rural schools. Visitors enjoy a science show, science workshop, time with exhibits and a visit to the adjacent career guidance centre.
South Africa
Award
Winning
Kwazulu natal
State-of-the-art
Auditorium
Richards Bay
career
guidance
centre
Planetarium
USC has an inflatable planetarium – in which up to 60 learners can enjoy a perfectly accurate depiction of the night skies. Various programmes revolve around this, involving sundials, telescopes and optics.
60 learners
Inflatable
Planetarium
ancient times
Sundials
astronomical object
telescopes
and optics
Early Childhood Development Centre
USC has a dedicated Early Childhood Development Centre opened in 2011 with funding from BHP Billiton and a donation of exhibits from Graz in Austria. It is the only dedicated children’s museum on the continent of Africa.
writing and drawing
Architecture
identifying shapes.
Cognitive
and
Intellectual
jumping or running
gross
motor skills
Mobile exhibits
The UNIZULU Science Centre has pioneered the Australian “Science on the Move” programme in South Africa, setting up mobile exhibits in rural schools and taking shows and educator workshops out of the Centre. These mobile exhibits (which were developed in-house) have toured several schools.
South Africa
Science on
the Move
Kwazulu natal
Educator
Workshops
KwaDlangezwa
Rural schools
Special Events and Festivals
Regular special events and focus weeks (like National Science Week in August) are held each year to maximise media coverage and impact on the surrounding communities. Since 2015, Zulfest, the Zululand Science Festival, has been held in May each year, attracting the best of local and international presenters to USC.
innovation
National
Science Week
Zulfest Est. 2015
Zululand
Science Festival
Worldwide Exclusive
best of local
and international
presenters
Educator Enrichment Courses
Many three-day and one-day courses are run for Science educators annually to consolidate and broaden their skills, in conjunction with the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME). These courses provide vital in-service training for educators in Science, Mathematics and Biology. USC has also provided science and maths teacher training in 4 educational districts for the Department of Education.
innovation
Three-day and
One-day Courses
CASME
Centre for the
Advancement
of Science and
Mathematics Education
Worldwide Exclusive
Vital in-service
training
Competitions
Competitions are run for learners to generate enthusiasm for the subject. These have included Bridge Building, Water Competition, Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, Astronomy Quizzes and Essay Competitions.
innovation
Eskom Expo for
Young Scientists
Zulfest Est. 2015
Astronomy
Quizzes
Worldwide Exclusive
Essay
Competitions
Resource Centre
A resource centre of equipment, audiovisual aids and reading matter has been set up in the new Richards Bay Centre (run by CASME) to allow educators access to these vital teaching-aids.
innovation
Equipment
Zulfest Est. 2015
Audiovisual Aids
Worldwide Exclusive
Reading Matter
Matric Workshops
Science Workshops focusing on skills in preparation for the final exams are presented twice a year to over 5000 matric students at 11 rural venues. In 2020, owing to the COVID Lockdown, a series of videos (Essential Skills for Matric Science) was made so that these workshops could be accessed virtually:- over the internet or from memory sticks
innovation
5000 Matric
Students at 11
Rural Venues
Zulfest Est. 2015
Essential Skills
for Matric Science
Worldwide Exclusive
Final exams
Preparations
university of zululand
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Key Activities
Second Girls in Control Workshop
News
In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the University of Zululand’s (UNIZULU) Department of Mathematical Sciences recently hosted
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UNIZULU hosts the informative Seminar on Indigenous Knowledge Systems
News
The Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) has been used as the melodic instrument to tune some cords in the society. The IKS refers to local knowledge and information that is unique to a given culture or society. This awareness includes all
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UNIZULU Staff Member Excelled In Postgraduate Studies
News
Cytochrome P450 enzymes play a key role in producing secondary metabolites or natural compounds. Secondary metabolites are widely used in human and veterinary medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing. Many bacterial species are known to produce secondary metabolites. However, the role of
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UNIZULU Keeps Empowering Educators in the District to Improve Maths Pass Rate
News
The University of Zululand (UNIZULU), on Tuesday and Wednesday (16 and 17 May), hosted its annual mathematics convention for educators working within the King Cetshwayo District in an effort to improve the pass rate of school learners in the district.
The
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Girls In Control For Zululand
News
Professor Syamala Krishnannair, a specialist in Automation and Control in the Department of Mathematical Sciences coordinated the first ‘Girls in Control’ workshop .This notable event took place at UNIZULU Science centre on 25 July 2022 .
The first session of the
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Record 30000 Visit UNIZULU Science Centre
News
The UNIZULU Science Centre ended the year 2017 on a high note, having reached a record number of 30 008 visitors during the course of the year.
“With schools closed and the goal agonisingly close, special public events this week ensured
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FOCUSING ON
SKILLS IN
PREPARATION
visited by up to 30 000 learners
each year, mostly from severely
disadvantaged, rural schools
Essential Skills
for Matric Science
consolidate
and
broaden
their skills
run for
learners
to generate
enthusiasm
A resource centre
of equipment,
audiovisual aids
and
reading matter
what matters most is
Early
Childhood
Development
Centre
what matters most is
dedicated
children’s
museum
what matters most is
4 educational districts
what matters most is
the Department
of Education
Science
on the Move
Allow Educators Access to these Vital
Teaching-Aids
At A Glance
For school bookings and more information contact the Science Centre on: