National Science Week 2022 Commemorations

The Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology (MCKT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development through the Botswana International University of Technology (BIUST) and other stakeholders will host the National Science Week, from the 22nd – 26th August 2022 at Masunga Senior Secondary School, Masunga village, under the theme, “STEM – Advancing Life for Sustainable Development”. The National Science Week of 2022 (NSW2022) will be officially opened by the Minister of Communications, Knowledge and Technology Honourable Thulagano M. Segokgo in the company of the Minister of Education and Skills Development Honourable Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe on the 23rd August 2022 from 0840hrs at Masunga Senior Secondary School.

The National Science Week (NSW) is an annual event held during the last week of the Month of Science (August), whereby the Ministry (MCKT) along with various stakeholders, undertakes numerous Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based activities for public awareness and national impact. The intention is to influence policy for sustainable development, leverage technology to reach more Batswana and for shared value promotion. These activities also target students, to encourage them to take up STEM related subjects.

This year’s Science Week will consist of a number of activities ranging from demonstrations on glass blowing, science circus and astronomy; robotics and coding boot-camp Hackathons and Mecathons; exhibitions of relevant agricultural, energy military and medicinal plant technologies; panel discussions on RSTI and its relevance; presentations on the Dombashaba Ruins, RSTI and Indigenous Knowledge Systems; including seminars and lectures among other activities. NSW2022 will be officially closed on Friday 26th August 2022 with prize giving for the Hackathons and Mecathons. Attendants and participants at the NSW2022 will include Vice Chancellors of various Universities, Research Institutions across the country and from neighbouring countries, schools, out of school youth and members of the community from Masunga and nearby villages.

For Botswana to compete globally in the knowledge economy, critical human resource development in the fields of mathematics, science and technology is critical and the commemorations are geared towards stimulating such latent potential.