SciFest Africa, a project of the Grahamstown Foundation, is South Africa’s national science Festival held annually in late March or early April in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.
The festival features over 600 events including lectures, interactive exhibitions, workshops, educational theatre, field trips, a soap box derby, laser shows, quizzes, science olympics, a film fest, science shows and tours. According to the festival organizers, about 58,000 visitors attended the 2008 festival.
The main aims of the festival, as stated by the organizers, is to break through popular misconceptions and create a new mindset about science, technology, engineering and mathematics by demonstrating that these disciplines underpin our everyday activities.
Scientists from several countries are invited to share their work, make science accessible to ordinary people, give career guidance, and act as role models for our youth.
SciFest Africa was the first Festival of its kind on the African continent and was launched in 1997 as a high profile, national event to promote a culture of science in a festive way. It was modelled on the Edinburgh International Science Festival and was formerly known as Sasol SciFest but changed its name to SciFest Africa after the 2007 Festival.
When it isn't Festival time, the non-profit organization SciFest Africa concentrates on various other projects related to science, technology, engineering and maths in South Africa: