Press Releases
United States Embassy and University of Pretoria Inaugurate Mae Jemison U.S. Science Reading Room in Mamelodi
November 21, 2008
A partnership between US Embassy and University of Pretoria to support education of local students in the sciences
PRETORIA – The U.S. Embassy and University of Pretoria officially opened the Mae Jemison U.S. Science Reading Room at the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi campus on Friday, November 21.
U.S. Ambassador, Mr. Eric M. Bost, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, Professor Calie Pistorius, cut the ribbon officially opening the new American-sponsored collection. The Mae Jemison U.S. Science Reading Room has approximately 3,000 books and films, and 58 magazine subscriptions with an emphasis on science, health, technology, the environment and related topics. The reading room also has five computers with internet access, and exhibition space that will serve as a venue for rotating exhibits, science experiments and demonstrations. The 50-seat capacity auditorium will be the site of lectures, presentations and digital video conference programs with national and international experts.
The total cost of the project is approximately R2.5 million.
U.S. Ambassador Eric M. Bost noted, “The Mae Jemison U.S. Science Reading Room is one of the most ambitious long-term education projects undertaken by the US Mission to South Africa. It is a significant example of pro-active partnership between the Embassy and an important South African institution, the University of Pretoria, in response to the South African government’s call for better science education for underprivileged young people. We look forward to working with all of our partners in Mamelodi to bring exciting and challenging science programs to students and teachers of that area.”
The Science Reading Room is a partnership between the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy and the University of Pretoria and is designed to encourage the study of the sciences and to assist local students in their quest for knowledge in science and technology.
According to Mr Edwin Smith, Director of the Mamelodi Campus, the Reading Room will have local high school learners as its primary beneficiaries. These learners will participate in structured and planned programs but will have access to the facility in general as well.
“However, UP students, local school teachers and community members interested in science or working with or in science will also have access to the Reading Room and its facilities. The University envisages its Maths and Science after-school program benefiting from the facility and resources, as well as its other community engagement programs needing to utilize the facility and resources,” he added.
The Reading Room is named after the first woman of color to go in to space, Dr. Mae Jemison, whose historic flight 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 chair of the board of the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.
For further information, contact Embassy press officers:
Sharon Hudson-Dean 079-111-8276
Sindi Zwane 082-823-8612
