Human and Institutional Development, Science and Technology Promotion

The NCRST aims to create and deepen Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) awareness in Namibia, to recognize outstanding contributions made to RSTI in Namibia, and to identify the gaps in terms of Science, Technology and Innovation human and institutional resources and develop programs to address these gaps.

Recognizing the importance of science promotion and capacity development the NCRST has developed programmes geared towards creating awareness, public understanding and capacity building of science among different audiences in society.

Science and Technology Promotion

Unsatisfactory performances at school level, coupled with the low output of qualifications at tertiary level in this field, are good indicators that the education system does not yet adequately prepare pupils for the challenges beyond school in the Mathematics and Science fields.

Traditionally, Science and Mathematics were regarded as being extremely difficult and boring subjects and we believe that these myths have negative psychological impacts and implications on the over-all performance of these subjects.

In order to address some of these challenges, the Commission will continue to devise programmes aimed at promoting science, technology and innovation in Namibia.

National Science, Technology and Innovation Week/festival

This event is organised annually with an aim of providing a comprehensive, multi-facetted, interactive programme made up of national and international keynote addresses, illustrated talks, workshops, short courses, competitions, demonstrations, displays, exhibitions, sport science events and field trips, to enthral and inspire our budding young scientists (and their educators!).

Mathematics Olympiad

Namibia’s Mathematics Olympiad is an annual event where high school learners from all the regions compete against each other in solving mathematics problems.

The purpose of the Mathematics Olympiad is to promote mathematics in general, and popularize science and technology among our students, community and educators. It is a vehicle to encourage and challenge mathematically gifted young people to take a more active interest in the study of science by providing an opportunity for students to showcase their knowledge.

The objectives of the Mathematics Olympiad Competition are to:

  • To stimulate interest in young people in science, mathematics, and engineering;
  • To provide educational experience through participation in scientific research;
  • To give public recognition to learners for the work that they have done;
  • To stimulate learners interest in mathematics, science and technology while simultaneously promoting the development of the life skills of communication, decision making, evaluation of alternative solutions, and critical thinking;
  • To foster friendly international/national relationship among mathematician of all countries/regions; and
  • Create opportunities for the exchange of information on school syllabuses and practices throughout the world.

Biggest Brainer Science Quiz Competition

The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology, has identified the Science Quiz Competition as a unique and exciting approach to motivating, inspiring, encouraging and rewarding children in their quest for knowledge and providing them with the opportunity to showcase their scientific knowledge.

A Science Quiz Competition provides innumerable benefits to learners, which encourage their educational and even social development.  Participation in a science quiz competition stimulates learner’s interest in science and technology while simultaneously promoting the development of the skills such as communication, strategic thinking, teamwork, and lights the fire for knowledge.

Student decisions about study and career paths are primarily based upon interest in a particular field and on their perception of job prospects in that field. Positive contacts with science and technology at an early age can have a long-lasting impact.

The objectives of the Science Quiz Competition are to:

  • Expose learners to developments in Science and Technology;
  • Master different topics in Science and Technology;
  • Create awareness about the role of Science & Technology in society;
  • Instill in learners the values of knowledge, wisdom and compassion and make them smart citizens;
  • Generate scientific minded citizens; and
  • Adding fun to the learning of science;

National Science Fair system

This event is organised annually in collaboration with the the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture. The purpose of the Science Fair is to popularize science and technology among our students, community and educators. It is a vehicle to encourage student, parents and teachers to take a more active interest in the study of science by providing an opportunity for students to conduct and publicly present an independent scientific inquiry.

 

SCIENCE FAIR ONLINE SYSTEM

How to access the system

Please click here to Access The National Science Fair system Here. This part of the system can be used by Regional Science Fair committees as part of their scoring system during the Regional Science Fair.

Contact us

For enquiries, please contact: info@ncrst.na

Capacity Building

Capacity development in Research, Science, Technology and Innovation (RSTI) is an important vehicle towards attainment of Vision 2030, if Namibia is to become industrialized through development by its own citizens. The NCRST under the capacity development has interventions to enhance RSTI in the country. These interventions target various stakeholders in the RSTI land scape of Namibia.

Mathematics and Science Computer based Learning Centres

This project has been building capacity and upgrading the abilities of learners and teachers in the mathematics and science fields in various region across the country.  The pilot centre started in Windhoek but now the centre has expanded to other regions namely: Kharas, Kavango, Zambezi; Oshana and Khorixas.

The training product used is PLATO software that is internationally recognized as an accredited computer-based learning tool. Plato was developed in America by the Roach Corporation in conjunction with the University of Illinois but has been adjusted for Southern African conditions. Plato courseware is ideally suited to a variety of learning situations, such as alternative education, school to work programmes, workplace training and retraining endeavours, adult basic education developmental studies, and employment preparation programmes.

Whether presented in an instructor independent setting, as a supplement to a mainstream programme, or as an advanced course offering, PLATO courseware can meet the needs of a wide range of learner populations.  The NCRST is currently in the process of developing a software based on the newly revised curriculum in order to enhance the teaching and learning in the mathematics and science field across the country as well as to prepare users towards a 4th industrial revolution.

Science and Technology Demonstration Centres

As Namibia’s priority is to increase the number of students pursuing careers in science and technology, the science center project through the demonstration and interactive learning approach can provide an interesting and stimulating environment for learners as well as general public to appreciate aspects of science and technology in a leisure and entertaining manner.

The central focus of this project will be to advance the concept of edutainment through the educational experiences that include a hands-on, minds-on and hearts-on interactive exhibitions, science shows, demonstrations etc. This is an all-inclusive manner in which a learner engages all the aspects of his/her being, in order to learn, remember and most importantly to apply the information they interact with. This in the long run will transform in positive attributes that includes transformation to positive attitudes and behaviour towards science and technology in general.

The Science Demonstration Centers project comprises two components, namely the design and development of a fixed National Science Center in Windhoek, and the Mobile Science Center to take science to the rural schools and communities.

SADC Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Organisation (WISETO) Namibia Chapter

At the beginning of the twenty first century, women remain a minority in the scientific disciplines. Women have trickled up through the system for at least a decade and yet we seem to be no closer to equality. Far fewer women are successfully engaged in scientific enterprises than would have been expected given the increasing numbers of women in the workforce. Thus, measures should be taken to improve the current position of women in science, engineering and technology.

NCRST realize that now the challenge is to devise a more effective project for capturing and advancing women in the scientific hierarchy. In order to inculcate a positive attitude, activities must be put in place to instil the idea that women, can be successful in careers in science, engineering and technology, while they are still students and help them attain it.

The mission of the SADC WISETO Namibia Chapter project thus is to encourage more women to enter in science, engineering and technology by creating and fostering a supportive academic and social climate that will aid women in pursuing a career in science. This project is established to address the under-representation of women in science, engineering and technology.

Science, Engineering and Technology Awards

There is a general decline of interest in Science, Engineering and Technology worldwide, and in order to reverse this trend, different strategies targeting root causes of this phenomenon are implemented including promoting Science, Engineering and Technology through recognizing the positive contributions made by scientist, researchers, technologist and engineers and organizations working in these areas.

Therefore, the purpose of this Award System is to promote and create awareness of the important role that Science, Engineering and Technology plays in the economic and social prosperity of the country, through valuing and appreciating contributions of individual scientist, researchers, technologists, engineers and science institutions while the guiding principles will be Fairness, Equity, Gender sensitivity, Quality and Sustainability. The awards system intends to acknowledge science and technology institutions and individuals working in the areas of RSTI based on outstanding achievements in the field as well as noble initiatives promoting a science and research culture in Namibia.

National Research Symposium

The Symposium aims to form a strong network of researchers and research institutions country wide and the long-term aim is to serve as a platform for knowledge brokerage between researchers and industry to promote and enhance national innovation. This is one of the initiatives of the NCRST that is aimed at bringing together researchers and research institutions on one platform to share their research findings, discuss funding opportunities and possibilities for collaborations and networking.

Namibian Journal for Research, Science and Technology (NJRST)

Science has long been viewed as a dichotomy: natural and social sciences including humanities. However, this continued categorization faces challenges because topical research has embraced interdisciplinarity and multidisciplinary. It is no longer uncommon to have a research question been tackled by a combined team of natural scientists and social scientists as it is envisaged this would offer optimal solutions for maximal societal benefits. Funding agencies have since encouraged such research that embraces both worlds of sciences.

Indeed, dissemination of results has followed a similar pattern. Rigorous scientific approaches, including experimental designs, and modelling have emerged in the humanities, for example in archaeology, history and linguistics. Equally, health sciences, particularly public health, have involved theatre (performing arts) as a tool for improving uptake and scale-up of interventions.

Publications such as journals have demonstrated such a fusion between the sciences. The National Commission on Research, Science and Technology in pursuit of its mandate has established the Namibian Journal for Research, Science and Technology (NJRST), with an online version as well, which would further the blend of all sciences, provide a common avenue for disseminating research outputs.

OBJECTIVE
The main purpose for the journal is knowledge dissemination; the online version would serve the following specific objectives:

  •  enhance international recognition for an individual, department, university, institutions and the country at large;
  •  enable Namibian authors to gain recognition and acknowledgement as experts in a particular field at national and international levels;
  •  increase publication, online visibility and international indexing for Namibian researchers;
  •  ease of access to research results and findings in all discipline; and
  •  knowledge advancement.

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