Physics Comment Magazine March 2018 Issue Physics Comment March 2018_v1.3 | Page 29

“I realised that High Energy Physics basically involves a lot of interesting stuff, like astronomy and dark matter.” Mdhluli’s research is on trying to find materials that can withstand the high levels of radiation for parts of the ATLAS detector. “If you want to study particles beyond the standard model, you need to get efficient and accurate data, so if the materials in the detectors deteriorate over time, then that means the signals that they get over time are not reliable. So, we are trying to make it as efficient as possible by making sure that the materials they are using will be able to last long periods and will have reliable signals coming through,” she says. Professor Elias Sideras-Haddad, Mdhluli’s PhD supervisor and a member of the ATLAS experiment, is enthusiastic about training students in nuclear and radiation physics: “The ATLAS experiment operates under high levels of radiation. South Africa has excellent capabilities to understand how detector components respond to radiation. Our work with the ATLAS experiment opens a new dimension and it demonstrates that South Africa has a lot to offer,” says Sideras-Haddad. Speaking at the HEPP workshop in Stellenbosch, Mathis Wiedeking of iThemba Laboratories said that South Africa has a long-standing collaboration with CERN. “Student training and the education of our next generation scientists is a top priority and a foundation for research development. South Africa plays a visible role in this field of Wits’ involvement at CERN has research and contributes quite already led to actual technological significantly,” he said. innovation in South Africa, where the Cape Town-based company, “The SA-CERN consortium has the Trax Interonnect built a new 16- capacity to attract young people layer electronics board specifically and get kids interested in science, for the ATLAS detector upgrade. and it plays a huge role in sparking their interest in science and This board was until recently the technology among young South most complex printed circuit board Africans.” Mellado agrees. “Our ever produced in South Africa. “The collaboration with CERN provides production of the board for ATLAS us with an excellent opportunity to was a challenge. Since then, we have develop human capacity in areas of improved on our own capabilities high-tech that are badly needed in and now we are able to produce even South Africa, contributing to the more complex boards,” says Daniel training of a new generation of Dock, Managing Director of Trax leaders. Technology transfer to Interconnect. South African industry is an important by-product of this interaction,” says Mellado. Science teaching and learning still a problem in some areas Report by Dr Buyi Sondezi, University of Johannesburg Science Promotion Strategies In an endeavour to deal with the challenge of reduced student numbers especially at the postgraduate level, one of Dr Sondezi’s strategies is to deal with the challenge from school level. It’s been few years now that various approaches are used in motivating learners to choose Physical Science at high school, and ultimately science-related courses at tertiary institutions. 29 | P a g e These programmes includes Science Learners’ Conferences, Laboratory visits at the University, specifically, University of Johannesburg (UJ). At the beginning of 2018, a visit to a specific area in KwaZulu-Natal, learners were invited for career guidance which revealed a challenge common in most rural areas. As Science careers were presented, learners raised the fact that their schools do not offer Physical Science streams which automatically closed doors to Science related career choices. The challenge raised was the lack of teachers to teach these subjects, generally regarded as national problem.