H2O Today exhibition is big on edutainment
MELROSE – A Melrose couple who have achieved a lot in academia aims to also achieve a lot in educating the public about the importance of water preservation.
A couple based in Melrose – from humble beginnings in the Free State made their way to Gauteng to play significant roles in terms of leadership, management and academia.
Doctor More Chakane and his wife Dr Palesa Motshabi Chakane have been married for 17 years and the couple has a trail of qualifications. Both have PhDs in their respective fields with Palesa being the first African person in the country to have a PhD in anesthesiology as well as the first African female to have it in cardiac anesthesiology.
While the cardiac anesthesiologist is the academic head of the department at Wits University and the president of the Anaesthesiology Society of South Africa, her husband is currently busy with his Master’s of Law (LLM) in the law of corporate governance law. He has also been the CEO of Sci Bono Discovery Centre based in Newtown for almost three years now.
People, young and old will be interested in the H2O Today exhibition currently running at the centre since last year in September.
“The H2O Today exhibition is an international world-class exhibition that is here just in time when there is a lot of water depression in SA. The exhibition is an attempt by us to educate the public about the need to save water. It is a very big 400m² exhibition in Sci Bono. What I like about it is that it teaches you about water content in different ways and not only one,” explained Chakane.
He added that as scientists they have long-predicted that in 2025 Gauteng will be water depressed. What happened in Cape Town was just the beginning and it is happening here even earlier than 2025. “Recently we saw Tshwane where there were serious water shortages there. As we speak, the Vaal Dam is sitting at 51 per cent which is normally 70 per cent around this time. The issue of water is becoming very critical and if we are not careful, very soon we will be running short of water.”
He went on to say that the interactive exhibition has more than 18 various screens, 3D pictures, professional actors and various child-friendly games to teach how water is used to generate electricity, save animals and so on. Chakane said the unique part of the exhibition is that they partnered with Market Theatre Laboratory around Newtown as well as the Smithsonian Institution Travelling Exhibition Service who has curated the exhibition.
“The exhibition is supposed to end in March but we are negotiating with the curator to keep it permanently because of the water crisis that we face.
“We hope that when people come out, they realise that every little drop counts and use hashtag #ThinkWater. The time has come for people to do small little things to save water.”
Infographic:
Did you know?
- Even though 70 per cent of earth is water, only 3 per cent is drinkable
- In Gauteng, 40 per cent of your tap water comes from Lesotho and it costs a lot of money to pump it all the way to here.
Tips to save water:
- When you brush your teeth, don’t leave the water running
- Take a shower instead of a bath
- Harvest rainwater
- When you come across a leakage stop and report it.
There is free parking at Sci Bono with the entrance at R45 children, R60 adults.
Details: Sci Bono Discovery Centre www.sci-bono.co.za; 011 639 8400.
Do you have any edutainment activities in the community? Invite us by email to naidines@caxton.co.za
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