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In this issue
- NSTF Awards - Call for nominations
- NSTF Awards Category B - An individual through research and its outputs over the last five years or less
- NSTF Awards Radio Talk Show - TUT Top Stereo (Tshwane University of Technology's campus radio station) interviews Mr Vis Naidoo, Chief Executive Officer of Mindset Network.
- NSTF Awards Discussion Forum
NSTF Awards - Call for nominations
The call for nominations for the NSTF Awards 2006/2007 has now been opened. This year, nominations can be submitted online from the NSTF Awards Web site at http://nstfawards.org.za/nominationinfo.htm. Alternatively for this year, you can still contact the NSTF secretariat if you wish a copy of the nomination forms to be e-mailed to you.
Each week we will be profiling an award category.
NSTF Awards Category B - An individual through research and its outputs over the last five years or less
This award is made to an individual who have made outstanding contributions to science, engineering and technology (SET) in South Africa through research and its outputs over the last five years or less in any sector or discipline of SET.
More information can be obtained about this NSTF Awards Category at http://nstfawards.org.za/awardsa-c.htm.
NSTF Awards Radio Talk Show - TUT Top Stereo (Tshwane University of Technology's campus radio station) interviews Mr Vis Naidoo, Chief Executive Officer of Mindset Network.
A guided tour through the Mindset offices in Johannesburg by the CEO of Mindset, Mr Vis Naidoo, certainly leaves one impressed by the sheer magnitude of the Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) employed and the organised communication structure of Mindset Network.
Mindset Network is a non-profit organisation that creates, sources and delivers, on a mass scale, quality educational materials through appropriate media to the primary and secondary school community, and health community - not only in South Africa but also in projects in over 15 African countries. A unique and innovative technology solution to reach even the remotest communities through an offline on-demand satellite based technology platform that distributes high quality multimedia education content.
Training of the use of the technology is also an integral part of the solutions. Currently, there are three solutions in operation.
- Mindset Learn provides educational content for students and educators for the final three years of high school (Grades 10 - 12). Receiving equipment has been installed in over 1 000 schools and content is also available in over 1 000 000 homes through satellite broadcast.
- Mindset Cabanga provides educational content for students and educators for Primary School Learners (Grade R - 7). Receiving equipment has been installed in the first phase of 50 schools.
- Mindset Health provides health related educational content for healthcare workers emphasising the need for lifelong learning. This channel also provides health related educational content for patients in waiting rooms at public hospitals and clinics. Receiving equipment has been installed in 130 hospitals and clinics.
Mr Naidoo explains that communication technology has now entered an explosive trajectory and since communication will always be a fundamental component of any civilisation, it is key that we be creative in applying these ICTs in a way that would improve education and knowledge diffusion. "In South Africa's attempt to develop itself in a modern economy and society, we will have to utilise the available technologies to support participation in a global arena. Otherwise, we would be left at being consumers rather than developers - at the bottom of any ladder", explains Naidoo.
"Individuals wanting to further a career in communication for development will have to have a sense of social commitment, be innovative and creative thinkers, and have a passion for what they do in order to multi-task and work under pressure. Crucially, anybody wanting to come into this environment should be able to listen and observe what is happening around them." Refiloe Khoali from TUT Top Stereo, will be conducting the interview with Mr Naidoo on Monday, 4 September at 13h00 on 93.6 MHz FM Stereo. People in Pretoria and surrounds, would be able to listen to this broadcast.
Academics are encouraged to extend the invitation to their student population, especially those interested in furthering a career in communication or communication technology, by posting comments or questions to the NSTF Awards Discussion Forum.
NSTF Awards Discussion Forum
Visit the NSTF Awards Web site (http://nstfawards.org.za/) to view the profiles of this year's NSTF Award Winners and at which campus radio station they will be interviewed. You are invited to post comments and questions to the NSTF Awards Discussion Forum (http://nstfawards.org.za/discussions.htm), which will be addressed in the live radio talk show.
Corporate organisations and companies are encouraged to extend this invitation to staff, using the company intranet, to participate in the NSTF Awards Discussion Forum in order to benefit from the wealth of knowledge held by these leaders in the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) sector.
For more details about the contributions of the NSTF Awards Winners, visit the NSTF Awards Web site at http://nstfawards.org.za/
Remember to post questions or comments that you want answered or addressed during the NSTF Awards Radio Talk-show discussion to the NSTF Awards Discussion Forum.
The NSTF Awards Discussion Forum can be found at: http://nstfawards.org.za/discussions.htm
The Web & Media Technologies Division of the MRC evaluates the use of a convergence of ICTs to optimise on the process of knowledge transfer.
We wish to thank the following campus radio stations for their participation in showcasing the contributions of the NSTF Award winners to the SET sector:
UCT Radio (University of Cape Town), MFM (Stellenbosch University), Rhodes Music Radio (Rhodes University), TUT Stereo (Tshwane University of Technology), Tuks FM (University of Pretoria), UJFM (University of Johannesburg), Univen Community Radio (University of Venda), UCRFM (Walter Sisulu University)
For more information, contact the NSTF Secretariat at:
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.nstf.org.za
Tel: +27 12 841 3987 x2708
Fax: +27 12 841 3025
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