ON 24 October, UKZN will host an attempt by 1 600 Durban school children to break the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest practical science lesson.
Hosted at UKZN’s sports centre on the Westville Campus, the record attempt has been lodged with Guinness by MAHLE Behr South Africa together with NGO, the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME). UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science is the major sponsor and has put its staff, students and facilities at the organisers’ disposal to ensure the event has every opportunity for success.
Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor will be adding her weight to the occasion as guest of honour, as will eThekwini Mayor Councillor James Nxumalo and UKZN vice-chancellor, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld.
The innovative project aims to develop a love for maths and science among school children. The learners participating are all in Grade 8 and 9, which is the critical period for making matric subject choices and educating pupils on the importance of core maths for STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers.
Currently, the largest practical science experiment record is held by the Royal Chemistry Society and the current record is for 1 383 students. A target of 1 600 has been set to ensure a comfortable winning margin for the new record attempt.
To make this mammoth undertaking a reality, 1 600 learners, 60 teachers, 50 stewards and 50 volunteers will all come together, and students will complete two different experiments. In an innovative attempt to save costs, the two experiments have been constructed using by-product materials donated by MAHLE Behr’s production processes. Each participating school will receive a set of equipment after the attempt.
To meet the very stringent Guinness World Record criteria and standards, the lesson must take place in a given timescale, together in a pre-determined place.
Video evidence of the entire record attempt also needs to be prepared and sent off to Guinness. Photographic evidence of the attempt taking place, capturing the details provided by the independent witnesses is also a condition.
The actual record attempt will take place for one hour.
