Chinese astronauts attend National Science Week

TWO Chinese astronauts are guests of honour at the National Science, Technology and Engineering Week hosted by the University of Namibia (Unam).

The theme of this year’s Science Week is ‘My Environment, My Treasure’. Yang Liwei, Deputy Director General of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, said when he was in outer space looking back at Mother Earth he was truly impressed that the human race could reach outer space. He said he consciously made the choice to love Earth and all its people while looking at the magnificent sight that is our planet. Unam Chancellor and former President Sam Nujoma said at the opening of the event that Namibia had the capacity to produce enough science professionals to meet its needs but that children often saw science as a difficult field.Overcoming this belief required that children be exposed to scientific games, critical thinking and problem solving at an early age, he said.Deputy Minister of Education David Namwandi said science as an economic development tool was often taken for granted. He said a strong national science base could lead to rapid technological advancements, which in turn could lead to an accelerated economic growth. During the Science Week professionals in the fields of science, technology and engineering will give public lectures and give students a chance to pose questions.