/ 12 December 2011

Science should be fun

Science Should Be Fun

Nasi Rwigema was born 25 years ago in Transkei to parents of Ugandan and ­Zimbabwean descent. He works as project manager at Solafrica, a South African solar power project developer. Its work entails the development of utility-scale solar-power-generation plants in South Africa.

Solafrica’s initial project is to develop one of the most advanced, concentrated solar thermal power plants in the country and it will bid in the first round of the South African Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (Refit) programme in the next few months.

Rwigema is also completing an MSc in aeronautical engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand.

He was one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in 2010.

Which school and university did you attend?
Northcliff High School. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Which branch of engineering did you study at tertiary level?
Aeronautical engineering, which includes studying vehicles that fly, from fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to gliders.

How did you get to know about it?
I was inspired by an interesting aircraft, the Grumman X-29, with forward-swept wings, that I saw in a book. I did a science project in grade 9 studying the effects of forward-swept aircraft wings. I exhibited the project at the science expo and was asked to conduct wind-tunnel tests on the models that I built to validate my hypotheses. This process got me interested in aeronautics.

Please explain what aeronautical engineering is all about?
It is the application of the science of fluids to the engineering of vehicles that rely on such phenomena for their primary operation. It covers the design of all flying and sailing vehicles, as well as any forms of study that require the assessment of fluids’ impact on structures.

Science is great — because it helps you understand the physical world around you, how it operates and what it’s comprised of.

I admire — creations and their creators that significantly change the way in which we conduct our lives for the better. That implies that these creations do not harm us or the world around us today or in the future.

What sparked your interest in science?
I am a curious person and grew up as a child that liked to create toy machines and solutions. Science seemed to help me understand why and how the physical world worked.

Was there a particular event or person that persuaded you to pursue a career in your specific field?
My favourite teacher at school was my grade 11 science teacher who made classes fun and I did really well in her subject. She also helped affirm within me that I would probably enjoy a career that included science.

How can young people get involved in your area of specialisation?
I strongly encourage all young people to study science and maths while at school. I also think languages are very important.

I would recommend that scholars progress immediately into tertiary studies and take gap years with an under or postgraduate degree
in hand.

What value would you say engineering adds to our lives in today’s world?
Engineering is the basis of the built environment. A good engineer knows that their designs will only ever see the light of day with a solid business plan. But if you think of the computer screen or piece of paper you are reading this on — the desk and chair, the home, office or classroom, the vehicle that brought you there and just about everything else in between, you’ll begin to see that engineering is involved in almost everything around you.

What do you do when you are not working?
Other than spending time with friends and family, I’ll either relax a little or try and learn something new.

What is your message to science teachers and learners?
Find a way to make it fun. The learning process isn’t always concrete and engaging and I tended to find value in science and mathematics retrospectively.

A more practical way of teaching and learning science could help get the message across easier and keep the student interested.

I believe tangible references to how we may use the knowledge in our lives make us appreciate the content and actively want to understand it.

Where can learners get more information on the subject?
Excellent online educational resources exist with a simple search. I would urge learners to speak to their teachers and visit their local libraries and book stores. Alternatively, they can always find me on Twitter@Nasi_R