Natasha introduces wonders of science
2007-04-25
TO introduce schoolchildren to the wonders of science is one of the many passions of Paarlite Natasha Kruger, who has been the science liaison officer for the Ellerman Resource Centre (ERC) at Stellenbosch University for the past two years.
The ERC, the outreach arm of the University’s Department of Botany and Zoology, has had a revamp under Natasha’s guidance, moving away from providing static museum exhibitions and posters into the electronic age of the Internet.
Scholars and teachers can now download interesting articles from this growing resource at www.sun.ac.za/erc, including information about careers in biology, bees and the interaction between animals and plants.
For teachers, there are resources on how to do various hands-on activities, such as plant surveys, the construction of a herbarium, and methods to collect insects.
Her outreach programme does not stop at a computer screen, however. She often gives talks to schools about careers in the field of biology, and has organised a donation of microscopes to needy local schools.
Many learners from schools like Noorder Paarl Secondary and Klein Nederburg will also know her as the friendly biology teacher who takes them on insect collection trips when they visit SunZone, Stellenbosch University’s science education programme for high school students.
Last year she also conducted a marine workshop during the Paarl Science Week, in which she gave scholars the opportunity to be up close and personal with a cat shark, lobsters and shrimps.
“My aim is to provide learners with the tools they need to do their own projects, and to enable them to ask the right questions to do this,” she explains her methodology.
So far, the position at science liaison officer has been a valuable experience.
The hands-on interaction with learners has been most exciting, and has taught Natasha about the ins and outs of environmental education and how to think on her feet.
Also, as editor of the Department of Botany and Zoology’s regular newsletter Akkerdier she helps to disseminate the research done in the Department.
Last year she was a driving force behind the Girlhype conference that brought 100 grade eight girls with a love of maths, science and technology to the Stellenbosch campus.
The various departments within the Faculty of Science worked together to introduce the girls through a series of workshops to zoology, microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry, physiology,
physics, geology, mathematics and engineering.
Natasha, the daughter of Paarl Hospital superintendent Dr Breslau Kruger and wife Miranda, was a regular in the Paarl Post at school, thanks to her swimming achievements as a provincial swimmer for the Paarl Aquarius club.
After school she took her love for water one step further when she followed her BSc in Zoology and Botany at the University of Cape Town with a master’s degree in Marine Biology.
She focused on the effects the Saldanha Bay harbour has on sea creatures living in its soft sediments.
“I’m probably not what you’d call the typical marine biologist – I’m neither a surfer chick nor a salty seadog,” she smiles about the surprised reaction of many people upon hearing what her chosen field of study is.
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