Scifest Africa was established in 1996 to promote the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of science, technology and innovation (STI). The project is supported by South Africa’s National Department of Science and Innovation and various other cash and in kind sponsors.
The project consists of two components, namely the National Science Festival held in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), Eastern Cape in March every year, as well as regional and national outreach programmes implemented throughout the rest of the year. Scifest Africa identifies and designs unique interactive events and educational resources with scientific integrity to advance science, facilitate learning in an informal and non-threatening way, and provide learners with a great opportunity to discover science outside the classroom.
Scifest Africa also allows South Africa and the world’s leading scientists the opportunity to share their work, make science accessible within the reach of ordinary people, network with one another, provide career guidance and act as role models for our youth, in order to encourage the youth to embark on careers and become leaders in these fields.
Scifest Africa is a project of the Grahamstown Foundation, a not-for-profit public benefit organisation established in 1969 and based in Makhanda, Eastern Cape. The mission of the Grahamstown Foundation is “that all might have life and have it more abundantly”, and it realises this mission through quality awareness and education and training projects such as Scifest Africa.
Scifest Africa 2020
Scifest Africa goes online!
The 24th edition of South Africa’s National Science Festival has been reimagined as an online festival, which will run from 1 October 2020 until 31 March 2021.
Recognising the importance of plants as foundation for all life on Earth, the 2020 Festival theme “Take root…nurture!” will celebrate the International Year of Plant Health as proclaimed by the United Nations. Other themes pertinent to our times; renewable energy, the adoption of technology and many others will also be part of the Festival programme. The primary aim will be to continue promoting the awareness, understanding and appreciation of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Innovation in South Africa, on the African Continent and the world. Whilst an online delivery of the festival presents significant challenges, Scifest Africa is excited about the potential of extending its reach to learners, educators, scientists, researchers and innovators locally and abroad.
Scifest Africa’s online festival programme will feature workshops, demonstrations, webinars, lecturers, interviews, competitions and shows will be on offer covering a range of diverse topics such as:
- Climate change;
- Agriculture;
- Recycling;
- Water and energy conservation;
- Indigenous knowledge systems;
- Innovation in all fields; and
- Space Education
Scifest Africa invites you to journey on the ‘Road to Digital’ as South Africa’s National Science Festival takes bold new steps and finds innovative ways to inspire, educate and engage with all lovers of all things scientific and science related in the digital world.
View the 2018 Programme
View the 2019 Programme
