.UKZN to host World Record Attempt
UKZN will host an attempt by 1 600 Durban schoolchildren later this month to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest practical science lesson.
The record attempt, to be held in the Sports Centre on the Westville campus on 24 October, has been lodged with Guinness by MAHLE Behr South Africa and the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME).
UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science is the major sponsor and has put its staff, students and facilities at the organisers’ disposal to help ensure the success of the event.
Other sponsors include eThekwini Municipality, SpecCom, Wave Paper, Hulamin, and the Zenex Foundation.
Minister of Science and Technology, Mrs Naledi Pandor; eThekwini Mayor, Mr James Nxumalo, and UKZN Vice-Chancellor, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, will be guests of honour.
Apart from attempting a genuine world record while having a lot of fun, the innovative project aims to develop a love for Maths and Science among schoolchildren. Participants are in Grade 8 and Grade 9, the critical period for making matric subject choices and educating pupils about the importance of core maths for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) careers.
Currently, the largest practical science experiment record which is held by the Royal Chemistry Society, involved 1 383 students. A target of 1 600 has been set for this record attempt to ensure a comfortable margin for the possible new record.
About 1 600 learners, 60 teachers, 50 stewards and 50 volunteers will join forces at the Sports Centre on the day, with students completing two different experiments which have been constructed using by-product materials kindly donated by MAHLE Behr to save on costs. Each participating school will receive a set of equipment after the event.
To meet the very stringent Guinness World Record criteria and standards, the lesson must take place in a given timescale, together in a pre-determined place.
‘We have to meet a number of pre-requisites in order to get the official stamp of approval from Guinness,’ explained Chief Organiser, Mrs Jolene van Heerden.
Video evidence of the entire record attempt is also required, as is photographic evidence.
‘Such strict rules are imperative because it gives credibility and weight to what is a ground-breaking effort,’ said officially-appointed Guinness World Record adjudicator and verifier, Professor Deo Jaganyi, who is Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. ‘Being part of the Largest Practical Science Lesson is the perfect vehicle to generate enthusiasm with 1 600 high school learners, and makes Science fun and exciting.’
Jaganyi’s two co-adjudicators include Lawyer and Judge, Ms Suzanne de Villiers, and Durban Metro Police’s Senior Superintendent Theuns van Heerden.
The record attempt will be an hour long. During the adjudication process learners will enjoy a fun science show, and get the opportunity to visit career stalls to find out more about STEM careers and study opportunities.
Follow the record attempt on Twitter @sciencerecordsa and Facebook ScienceRecordSA.
Sally Frost