saasta.ac.za National Science Olympiad 2018 : South African Agency for Science & Technology Advancement

Organization : SAASTA – South African Agency for Science & Technology Advancement
Competition Name : National Science Olympiad 2018
Examination Date : 01 March 2018
Competition Deadline : 31 January 2018
Prize : iPods,iPads,Laptops,Book vouchers
Website : http://www.saasta.ac.za/competitions/national-science-olympiad/
Entry Form :  https://www.southafricain.com/uploads/9722-NSO2018.pdf

SAASTA National Science Olympiad

** The National Science Olympiad is one of SAASTA’s flagship projects. Since 2005, the now 53-year-old project has offered learners in grades 10-12 an exciting opportunity to compete in science with fellow learners from SADC countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Related / Similar Olympiad : SAASTA National Science Olympiad 2017

** The competition comprises an annual examination in science (Physical and Life Sciences). The top national performers win all-expenses-paid trips to the London International Youth Science Forum and the Australian National Youth Science Forum.

Enter The Competition

Easy Steps To Enter :
** Complete the entry form and return it to SAASTA as soon as possible.
** Complete the attached form and return it to SAASTA (with a duplicate copy) as soon as possible.

** Schools should confirm the number of learners entered in the Olympiad on the entry form. The entry fee for learners is R15.00 if entered before 29 September 2017, R20.00 if entered before 30 November 2017, and R25.00 if entered before 31 January 2018.

** All entry forms should be faxed to 086 636 7729 or 086 211 4077 or emailed to: nsops AT saasta.ac.za

** It is the school’s responsibility to check by email or fax if SAASTA has received their entry forms immediately after faxing or posting the entry forms. Failing to do so, any request for refunds will not be entertained.

** Schools should follow up with SAASTA concerning delivery of exam papers a week prior to the exam.
** Examination answer sheets will be collected within a week after the examination is written, failing which SAASTA should be notified in writing immediately.

** The examination date is Thursday 01 March 2018.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions :
Tel : (012) 392 9300 / 9346
E-mail : ramoloi AT saasta.ac.za

Prizes And Awards

** Over the years, prizes and awards were given to schools and learners during the Science Olympiad Award Giving Ceremony. During the past three years, over 30 awards in different categories have been made to deserving learners and schools each year.

Some of the main categories are :
** Top three national learners per stream (Physical Science and Life Science)
** Top learner from a previously disadvantaged school per stream (Physical Science and Life Science)
** Top girl learner per stream
** Top girl learner from a previously disadvantaged school
** Top learner per grade per stream (Grade 10 and 11)
** Top three learners from SADC countries (Namibia, Zimbabwe and Lesotho)
** Top schools with most participants
** Top schools within Harmony areas of operations.

Learners could win :
** iPods
** iPads
** Laptops
** Book vouchers
** The top 100 learners from different categories will attend a science focus week during June/July vacation in Pretoria.
** A trip to attend the International Youth Science Forum in London or the Australian National Youth Science Forum

Milestones And Challenges

The significant increase was among others due to :
** Our aggressive marketing strategy that enabled us to reach more schools in rural areas that had not been reached before;
** Collaborations between the Department of Education and provincial level departments through Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) coordinators; and

** Increased support by our partners in the business sector, in particular our main sponsor from 2009, Harmony Gold Mining Pty Company, as well as our previous sponsors, Mailtronic,Skynet, and Xahumba.

Identifying and Nurturing Talent :
** In line with the Department of Science and Technology’s Youth into Science Strategy and the Department of Education’s National Strategy for Mathematics and Science and Technology, the National Science Olympiad identifies and nurtures talent in SET. This approach contributes in increasing the human capital in the critical areas of Science, Engineering and Technology.

This is being achieved through :
** Our consistent effort to expose learners to international events such as the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) and the Australian Youth Science Forum;
** Hosting of Science Focus Week for top learners based on the Olympiad examination results;

** Our efforts to expose learners to the SET work environment through visits to industries, science councils and higher education institutions;
** Establishing an examination steering committee that comprises reputable professionals.