AIMS South Africa continues to foster empowering conversations, ensuring that the next generation of women in STEM is equipped to thrive. On 22 November 2024, the House of Science’s Women in STEM mentoring programme featured an inspiring session with Dr Zara Randramanakoto, an Astronomer and co-founder of Ikala STEM (Women in STEM – Madagascar). During
From 18 to 20 November, Dr Rejoyce Gavhi-Molefe, AIMS House of Science Manager, attended and presented an insightful talk at the Communicating Discovery Science Symposium, hosted by the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST) at Stellenbosch University. The three-day symposium was attended by researchers and practitioners in science communication. They shared various
On Saturday, 9 November, AIMS South Africa held its first-ever Computational Thinking course for teachers, led by an expert facilitator from SAP and AIMSSEC staff. This event was groundbreaking, as learners from Masibambane and Lavender Hill High Schools — who recently completed algorithmic thinking courses at AIMSSEC — supported and even taught alongside the facilitators,
In computer science education, the concept of an algorithm, an unambiguous step-by-step instruction to solve a problem, is often best explained through practical, unplugged activities. These activities, such as making a peanut butter sandwich or folding a paper plane, are effective because learners can relate to the results from their everyday life and have likely
On 14 November AIMS South Africa hosted a public lecture titled “Folding Numbers – Mathematics Meets Origami,” presented by Prof. Michael Winckler from Heidelberg University. This two-part event – lecture and hands-on workshop – showcased intricate connections between the ancient Japanese art of paper folding and modern mathematics. It attracted more than 100 people, including
On Saturday 26 October 2024, a unique gathering took place at Crestway High School, bringing together learners from Lourier Primary School and Crestway High, united by a common interest in computational thinking. This event took a novel approach by mixing different ages in a cross-age setup, allowing them to collaborate on constructing algorithms. This format
Proud to share an intriguing article by AIMS founder Prof. Neil Turok on The Conversation.
On 25 October, the AIMS Women in STEM initiative welcomed Prof. Corinne Manogue as a special guest mentor for its monthly session. Prof. Manogue, a distinguished physicist from Oregon State University, was visiting AIMS as a lecturer. The theme for the session was, “Mentoring for Personal & Professional Development.” She shared her personal and professional
The dedication of learners who sacrifice their weekends to further their education at AIMS South Africa is a powerful testament to their commitment and determination. Their willingness to invest time in learning, particularly in mathematics, reflects a deep passion for knowledge and a strong desire to excel. These learners display exceptional self-discipline and perseverance, knowing
Imagine attending a school labelled the ‘worst performing school in South Africa.’ How would that impact your sense of identity and potential in mathematical and algorithmic thinking? AIMS South Africa is committed to catering to inquisitive minds. We instil the joy of learning and help learners experience success as they understand it. It was an
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