Save our ScienCentre

As part of its LeadSA initiative, the Cape Argus is asking the public and corporates to contribute to a fund to ensure that Cape Town does not lose its science centre.

“A LeadSA campaign for the Cape Town science centre – that’s the best news that I have heard this year,” said Professor Mike Bruton, who established the MTN Sciencentre and serves on its board.

“What a relief, as I believe that this initiative will finally make it possible for us to save our science centre,” he said.

It’s not only Bruton who believes the science centre is vital. A number of people from around the city have thrown their weight behind the campaign.

“Science matters!” said Professor Renfrew Christie, Dean of Research at the University of the Western Cape. “Getting kids excited by science is one of the most important things we can do for the entire future of our country.”

Christie said there must be “explosive, lively, smelly, noisy, cuddly, star-struck, musical, wonderful places, outside of schools, which say to kids that science is fantastic!”

“Great cities have superb science centres, like those in London, Washington DC, Munich or Paris. It would be a total catastrophe if we let Cape Town’s excellent science centre die,” said Christie.

“Every great city should have a great science centre, just as it has great schools, colleges, universities, libraries, museums and art galleries, as well as performing arts and music venues, botanical gardens, aquariums and zoos,” says Bruton. ”In my opinion, a city that aspires to be the 2014 World Design Capital, and to have partnerships with places like Barcelona and to be regarded as the leading city in Africa for innovation, just cannot afford not to have a science centre.”

Guy Lundy, chief executive of Accelerate Cape Town, said the one thing that Cape Town should be focusing on is innovation.

“We have the ability to develop a hub of innovation, and having a science centre is one of the elements that attracts people who are focused on innovation,” he says.

Cape Argus executive editor Gasant Abarder said that if the science centre did not get the chance to re-open its doors to the public, it would be “a great tragedy for Cape Town”.

“As a society we need to place a higher premium on the development of science in this country,” Abarder said.

“We’ve shown with the Square Kilometre Array telescopes in Carnarvon that South Africa has what it takes to be a world leader in the field.

“Now we call on all in Cape Town (who) care about this beautiful city and its people to help save the science centre”.

The centre’s director, Julie Cleverdon, said it had already received tremendous help in kind, from offers of discounted roofing to support from the SA Institute for Civil Engineering and pro bono assistance from PriceWaterhouseCoopers to prepare a business plan, as well as pro bono work done by quantity surveyors and architects.

She said the centre would welcome any offers of discounted products for the refurbishment of the science centre.

For financial donations, deposits can be made in favour of: Interactive Science Foundation, Standard Bank, Cape Town branch, account number 07 009 8549, branch code 020 009.