First Ever Africa Science Buskers Festival at the Embassy in Harare

First Ever Africa Science Buskers Festival at the Embassy in Harare  

Friday 3 March was a big day for science in Africa as the first ever Africa Science Buskers Festival took off at the Australian Embassy in Harare.

Jointly organised by the Embassy and the Zimbabwe Science Fair and funded through the Direct Aid Program, the festival promoted science education with schools from all over Zimbabwe, and also with school from Zambia and South Africa 'busking' for first prize with their best scientific presentations.

Out of 213 entries, 20 finalist teams from both junior and senior schools competed in this competition. The projects and designs from Africa's innovators of the future included amongst others nanofertilizer, self-cleaning car paint, a hydraulic gate opening system and an innovative solar water pump. Ambassador McCourt took the opportunity to celebrate women in science with many projects, including the senior school winner Carol van Rooyen, coming from young women.

Over 300 visitors attended the festival which received wide coverage on local and international radio, tv and across online and print media.

The embassy teamed up with local Zimbabwean Knowledge Chikundi, who was inspired by his work with Australian scientist, Dr Graham Walker and the fabulous work done in previous years bringing Science Circus Tours to Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Mauritius. Mr Chikundi will shortly travel to Australia to receive intensive science centre leadership training as an awardee of an Australia Awards Fellowship.

A Zambian group of schools has already shown interest in hosing the 2018 Africa Science Buskers Festival and we hope to cooperate with other Africa Posts in future to make this a truly international festival, driven by young African innovators.