PRACTICAL DEVELOPMENT Sasol Techno X seeks to expose the many facets of technology, encouraging leader to explore a range of disciplines and career choices
International integrated energy and chemicals company Sasol hosted yet another successful Techno X exhibition that ran from August 3 to 7 in Secunda, Mpumalanga, attracting almost 22 000 people, including thousands of learners from various schools from all the provinces of South Africa.
Sasol Techno X focuses on displays, workshops, tours, talks and hands-on activities aimed at enthusing learners, students and the general public about the endless possibilities of science and technology.
The event seeks to expose, at a practical level, the many facets of technology, encouraging learners to explore the range of disciplines and career choices that science, mathematics and technology have to offer.
Techno X is specifically focused on inspiring learners from Grade 5 to Grade 12 to elect careers in mathematics- and science-related fields. The event encompasses over 60 exhibitions by various academic institutions, business and government departments.
For the time first time, Mpumalanga was this year chosen to host the event at the Sasol Secunda recreation club. This year’s theme was ‘Today’s minds, tomorrow’s future’, and emphasised the way science and technology shape and develop future generations.
“Sasol Techno X is a significant event in the education calendar and is one of the many ways that Sasol is demonstrating its commitment to developing South Africa’s future leaders in the science-, mathematics-, technology- and engineering-related fields,” said Sasol senior VP of public affairs and real estate services Wrenelle Stander.
Further, members of the Free State provincial government, including the education MEC, department heads and local and district officials attended this year’s event. Among Sasol’s top-level management, executive VP’s Vuyo Kahla and Stephan Schoeman attended Techno X.
Renowned for being the largest career expo of its kind in South Africa, Techno X was established in 2000 and has since become well entrenched.
Several local business organisations exhibited at the 2015 iteration of the expo, including the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research, Astronomy South Africa, the Osizweni Education and Development Centre and PetroSA.
Several educational and learning institutions also exhibited at the event, with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and the University of Limpopo returning to the expo. At the previous instalment of Techno X, both institutions bagged awards. VUT was recognised for having the best exhibition by a technology university, while Limpopo University received the accolade for running the best workshop.
Other featured institutions at TechnoX were the Aleph Learning Academy, the MegChem Academy of Engineering and the Umalusi.
Meanwhile, Sasol’s continued commitment to education development was further showcased earlier this year when the energy and chemicals company collaborated with the Supreme Education Council and Friends of the Environment Centre, announcing the launch of the Qatar e-Nature schools contest, based on the Qatar e-Nature mobile application, a project which is now in its second year. The contest focuses on highlighting issues such as environmental awareness for the younger generation.