A world of opportunity awaits those who explore it.

"UP with SCIENCE" offers bright sparks bright futures!

building a radio

JuniorTukkie and the departments of the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be presenting their science enrichment programme for secondary school learners, UP with SCIENCE, in 2016.

Fifty learners are selected annually to take part in a three year programme (from Grade 10 to Grade 12) which includes Saturday meetings once a month and a project week once a year. The programme is aimed at increasing young people’s interest in, knowledge of, and skills in science. English is the main medium of communication in the UP with SCIENCE programme.

Selection of Candidates

at the Tswaing crater

Participants in the UP with SCIENCE programme are selected from learners in secondary schools in the greater Pretoria area. The participants will be chosen so that the group reflects the racial, gender and economic diversity of South Africa’s population. Participants are selected on the basis of two important criteria: their academic potential and their interest in science. Indicators of these criteria include a recommendation by the science teacher at the school that the applicant attends, an essay by the applicant, stating why he or she is interested in science and school achievement in Mathematics and Science in Grade 9. Applicants should have at least 60% for Mathematics and Science and the average of their Grade 9 results must be above 60%.

A school may recommend a maximum of two learners. Only in exceptional cases will more than one learner from any one school be admitted to the programme. The programme is only open to South African citizens and foreign learners with a permanent residence permit.

What does the UP with SCIENCE programme consist of?

making ice cream

• Hands-on laboratory work
• Presentations by practicing scientists from various departments in the faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.
• Talks and lectures by well known scientists.
  

Year two: Grade 11
In the second year participants spend time working with researchers from the University in science laboratories on mini-research projects and assisting with "real science".
They are encouraged to enter the Northern Gauteng Science Expo and will receive career guidance based on the results psychometric tests.

Year three: Grade 12
During the last year of the programme the learners are exposed to different aspects of "science communication". These include verbal and electronic presentations, presenting a science show at a primary school, taking part in Citizen Science projects, communicating with scientists and more. Emphasis is placed on developing skills deemed important for a tertiary student, such as computer and Internet literacy, presentations skills, report writing and study methods.
 

in the chemistry lab

Years four to six: University!
Participants who complete the programme and are admitted for study courses offered by the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria will receive a grant in the first year of study equal to tuition fees; for subsequent years of study after the first year, a capped bursary will be awarded.

How to apply
Your science teacher must nominate you as a suitable candidate. A school may recommend a maximum of 2 learners. You, the nominated learner must be in Grade 10 in 2016 and take Science and Mathematics; Biology will be an advantage. If you have been nominated by your teacher, you must complete the UP with SCIENCE application form and return it to Sci-Enza together with the following documents:

• A certified copy of your Grade 9 year-end results;
• Your science teacher's written recommendation (a form with guideliens is provided)
• An essay, written in English or in Afrikaans
  Guidelines for your essay
  Select any science related field, e.g. agriculture, astronomy, chemistry, climate change, ecology, food science mathematics, nanotechnology, physics, water, etc. and tell us in no more than 500 words why you are inspired by this topic.
  The essay may be handwritten or typed and it must be your own work; please do not submit electronic essays
• A completed Biographical Questionnaire (available from your teacher)

Please send the application form, together with the above-mentioned documentation, to the following address
before 16 April 2016:

The UP with SCIENCE Project Manager:
Sci-Enza
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
University of Pretoria
Private bag X 20, Hatfield
0028 Pretoria

freezing a rose with liquid nitrogen

Please note: no late or incomplete application will be accepted.

Enquiries: Ms. Helga Nordhoff, Tel: +27 (0)12 420 2638/3767
e-mail : upwithscience[at]up.ac.za

Download forms:

• Application form - Afrikaans
• Application form - English
• Biographical Questionnaire - Afrikaans
• Biographical Questionnaire - English
• Letter of Recommendation - Afrikaans (as Worddokument; moet deur Wetenskaponderwyser voltooi word
• Letter of Recommendation - English (as Word document; to be completed by science teacher)

For more information about careers and study programmes in science visit the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Science's web site at: http://www.up.ac.za/faculty-of-natural-agricultural-sciences
or phone the public relation practitioners at +27 (0)12 420 2664/3244.