The Scholar Ship docks in Cape Town to bring science to young South Africans

The ‘floating university’ or Scholar Ship  as it is more commonly known, docked in Cape Town recently. The Scholar Ship Research Institute hosted a capacity building workshop onboard the ship for young African scientists to promote “science-based responses by Africans to challenges and opportunities facing their continent”.

SAEON’s Egagasini Node stepped in to extend the opportunities this afforded to their broader marine network, such as capacity building and education outreach. Below is a report written by Dirk Snyman, one of the young scientists from the SAEON Graduate Students’ Network, who attended one of the free on-board courses offered in Information Technology Applications.

Floating hub for young scientists - By Dirk Snyman and Sebataolo Rahlao, Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch

The M/V Oceanic II (“The Scholar Ship”) is a “floating university”, housing students on a voyage across the globe. 

During the course of the voyage, students on the ship engage in academic and scientific activities, including classes and experimental work. The Oceanic spent a week docked at the V& A Waterfront, en route to Europe. During this time, the Scholar Ship Research Institute (responsible for running the Oceanic) collaborated with the World Academy of Young Scientists to present a workshop on Information Technology Applications in Science, hosted on board the ship.

The aim of the workshop was to promote the capacity building of young scientists to conduct research and to commercialise the results of that research for the public good, particularly in developing and transitional economies. The workshop was attended by young scientists from different countries in Africa, half of whom were women. It was of particular relevance to students from developing countries, as it had a strong focus on resources that are freely available on the Internet, such as free access information and open source software.

The students were divided into three workshop groups according to their particular interest. The topics of the workshops were: accessing of free scientific articles and funding opportunities (especially after university life); remote sensing and GIS; and entrepreneurship and property rights of scientific research.

The students left the workshop in good spirits and equipped with new-found skills and renewed enthusiasm for making a success of their scientific and professional careers.

SAEON Egagasini introduces LEAP School learners to “floating university”

- By Penny Price

The SAEON Egagasini Node arranged an on-board tour for Grade 12 learners from the LEAP School, a specialised Science and Maths school for previously disadvantaged learners. 

The excursion was a great success as it opened the eyes of these learners to opportunities within the scientific field that they might never have otherwise been exposed to. 

The learners were greeted by the Captain, the Dean and the Head of Research on the ship and told about how the ‘floating university’ works, where it goes and what it does. 

They were then showed around this magnificent ship, which used to be a cruise liner and still seemed to be comprised predominantly of dance floors! Fortunately oceanographers from team Egagasini were on hand to assure the learners that scientific research vessels were not usually this plush, should they be considering a career involving scientific research at sea. 

To show their appreciation at being given this opportunity, the learners sang vibrant traditional songs for the staff.  This was very well received.  After a buffet lunch enjoyed in the on-board restaurant, the learners went to the Two Oceans Aquarium, a bonus outing organised by Egagasini’s Education Outreach Officer Thomas Mtontsi, where they enjoyed an interactive lesson in marine biology.