The theme this year is International Year of Light and Light Based Technologies.
This is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technolog and the idea behind it is to underline that science really is for everybody – young and old alike – and it is all around us.
Various institutions – not only science centres – around the country celebrate this event by holding different kinds of activities.
There are also expos in shopping malls, special talks, workshops and many other events.
Sibo is also celebrating.
She is having a science story competition and you are invited to write a short story using the “cool words” which appear at the end of her weekly blog in the African Reporter.
Don’t worry if you missed them, they are listed at the end of this article or you can visit her blog https://blog.sibo.co.za/ to meet Sibo and find the words and their meanings.
The winning stories will be printed in the Springs Advertiser and African Reporter and will also feature on Sibo’s website and blog (https://www.sibo.co.za).
First prize is an autographed set of Sibo’s Story Books (12 titles).
Second prize is six Sibo titles (of your choice) and third prize is two Sibo titles (of your choice).
Rules
- The story needs to have a science slant to it – using at least 15 of the 21 cool words.
- It should not be more than 500 words long.
- Both adults and children are welcome to enter.
- Entries must reach us on or before August 14.
- You can email them to sibo@sibo.co.za, fax them to 086-242 2187 or send them via post to Sibo’s Science Story Competition, Postnet Suite 180, Private Bag x1, The Willows, 0041
- The competition will be judged by writer Ginny Stone, who has penned the Sibo books, and her decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding her decision.
Cool words
Use at least 15 of these words in your story: array; galvanize, dollop, follicle, discombobulated, argle-bargle, chuffed, acne, photonics, snigger, dank, tolerance, agitated, nook, dodgy, miffed, pow-wow, skulk, vamoose, vim, heebie-jeebies.
