Alberton Record
Dinamika learners attend nuclear seminar
Hoërskool Dinamika participated in the nuclear seminar hosted by Minister of Energy and Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The seminar aimed to explore the current and future role of nuclear power in South Africa and was held at Meadow Manor in Pretoria.
Science stream educator Marizelle Theron was specifically invited to the conference due to her involvement with the Nuclear Sciences and Technology Pilot Project for Secondary Schools led by Margaret Mkhosi. Theron was requested to bring two learners, one male and one female, from Dinamika’s initial group of nuclear scientists. She selected Trishca Bothma and Juan Theron as they had expressed a keen interest in furthering their education in this field.
The three representatives from Dinamika were surrounded by key figures from the nuclear sector during the seminar. They engaged in various panel discussions covering topics such as the status of nuclear energy in South Africa, the industry’s readiness for pressurised water reactors and small modular reactors, and applications of nuclear energy beyond energy production.
Furthermore, the learners had the opportunity to meet Samantha Graham-Marè, the deputy minister of energy and electricity. Minister Ramokgopa commended the learners for their enthusiasm towards the nuclear sector and encouraged them to pursue their studies with dedication.
Ramokgopa emphasized the importance of having passionate learners in the nuclear field to ensure that South Africa stays ahead in power supply due to the insights these learners will possess. The learners highlighted the broad applicability of nuclear sciences beyond power generation and acknowledged nuclear power as a crucial element in addressing the country’s load-shedding challenges.
They found it captivating to witness scientists engaging in discussions and deliberating on the advantages and disadvantages of different reactor types. Additionally, they expressed enrichment from listening to international speakers participating online and gaining insights into global trends in the field.
Theron concluded by stating, “Watch the space.”
