Press Releases
United States Embassy and University of Pretoria Open Mae Jemison Science Reading Room in Mamelodi
November 14, 2008
WHAT:
U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Eric M. Bost, and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, Professor Calie Pistorius, will open the new Mae Jemison U.S. Science Reading Room at the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus
WHEN:
Friday, November 21, 2008
Time: 14:30 for 15:00
WHERE:
University of Pretoria, Mamelodi campus
BACKGROUND:
The Mae Jemison U.S. Science Reading Room is a partnership between the U.S. Embassy and the University of Pretoria to help educate students in the local community about science and related academic subjects.
It houses approximately 3,000 books and films, and 58 magazine subscriptions with an emphasis on science, health, technology, the environment and related topics. It also has five computers with Internet access and exhibition space for rotating exhibits, science experiments and demonstrations.
The Reading Room is named after the first African-American woman astronaut, Dr. Mae Jemison, whose historic flight on the Space Shuttle Endeavor took place on September 12, 1992. Dr. Jemison served as a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut for six years. She is currently the CEO of BioSentient Corporation, a medical technology company, and Chairman of the Board of the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.
For more information:
Sharon Hudson-Dean 079-111-8276
Sindi Zwane 082-823-8612