Zim Science Fair to build exploration centre

Audrey Galawu

“Promoting STEM education without creating an enabling environment for exploration is like trying to promote swimming without ever letting the participants near water,” says Zimbabwe Science Fair founder and director, Knowledge Chikundi.

Chikundi has announced that they are building The Science Exploration Centre in Zimbabwe for students who are interested in science in order to create an enabling environment that significantly expands its participants’ capacity to do things they find meaningful and important.

The Centre is a response to the need for a physical and virtual environment that gives access to opportunities for exploration and timely knowledge, space to develop and try new ideas, and support infrastructure for building brighter futures.

Chikundi said the science centre provides an environment for arousal of latent curiosity and discovery. Science fairs and festivals provide platforms for showcasing the results of curiosity, discovery and creativity.

“It’s time to build! We are now building Zimbabwe’s first space for young people to tinker, explore, experiment, showcase, and work on things they find meaningful and important. A Science Exploration Centre.

“Giving young people access to a science centre and science fairs empowers them to create their best future.

“The design and building of elegant infrastructure, programs and exhibits will proceed slowly. As soon as the first structures are completed, however, the programs outlined below will be initiated immediately and will be continuing features of the exploration centre.

“The overwhelmingly positive impact of the science shows in remote communities led to the creation of “science oases” or mini-science centres as places for children in the communities to continue experiencing hands-on science and technology education,” he said.

The Centre will be the fixed venue for hosting the Africa Science Buskers Festival and Zimbabwe Science Fair and STEM bootcamps to turn every child’s interest into real-world STEM skills.

It will feature a “hall of fame” for displaying top projects or exhibits by students of the Science Fair and Science Buskers Festival.

Science shows such as STEM and the Africa Science Buskers Festival have engaged over 200 000 children in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana between 2016 and 2019.