Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Professor Blade Nzimande addresses awe-struck guests, inclusive of school pupils, inside the digital dome of the Nelson Mandela University’s multimillion rand, state-of-the-art Science Centre.
The Science Centre, situated on the Ocean Sciences Campus, was established as an expression of Nelson Mandela University's commitment to being an engaged institution, dedicated to using its resources, platforms, students and staff in pursuit of building a social justice-oriented learning society. It is a dynamic hub designed to cater to learners, students, scholars, academics and the wider public.
The R54 million building, which was funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training’s Infrastructure Efficiency Grant, aims to democratise the public’s access to science. Scientists will share complex concepts with the public and engage in discussions with them, while the exhibitions will be interactive.
The Centre is the most sophisticated in the country to date, with only two other comparable ones in Cape Town and Bloemfontein. Its centrepiece is a 15-meter digital dome/auditorium, which offers a unique immersive space for learning and visualising spatial models in an engaging and entertaining format.
It is akin to an IMAX theatre, but on a grander scale, fully enveloping the viewer. School learners who visit will enjoy a comprehensive tour, including a 3D show featuring videos showcasing topics such as life underwater or the potential for life in outer space.
*The new University Shop, which is an Alumni Association project, will also be housed at the Science Centre.