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Written by Lowvelder Editor - Thursday, 22 July 2010 16:14

Mpumalanga HIP2B Brand Ambassadors from left to right, Isabel Greyling of White River, Mark Shuttleworth and Pieter du Plessis of White River.

NELSPRUIT - HIP2B² is calling for maths and science-savvy learners in grades eight to 11 to submit applications for the Mpumalanga round of the national 2010 HIP2B² iTHINK Challenge. The competition will be held on Wednesday July 28 at Rob Ferreira High School, White River, from 12:00 to 17:00.
This event will coincide with National Science Week (NSW) taking place from August 1 to 7, which HIP2B² is hosting in association with the Department of Science and Technology.
The Mpumalanga round will begin with an introduction by HIP2B² TV show presenter Erin Classen. He will highlight the success stories of local and international entrepreneurs, such as the HIP2B² founder and the first African in space, Mark Shuttleworth and international IT-billionaire Bill Gates, who showed that a small idea coupled with belief in yourself can make you a big success.
Thereafter, Mpumalanga HIP2B² brand ambassadors Isabel Greyling and Pieter du Plessis will host a "For Learners by Learners" mini-conference based on the 2010 NSW theme "Science in Economic Development."
This will highlight examples of local entrepreneurs who use Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Coalition (STEM) in their everyday lives while running and maintaining sustainable businesses and creating much-needed jobs within their communities.
"Our aim is to bring STEM subjects to life in a relevant, exciting and inspirational way, which sparks within learners a sense of curiosity in these subjects as well as the world around them," says Cathryn Treasure, general manager of BSquare Communications.
"The challenge is an ideal vehicle to showcase STEM and to bring together groups of learners from different backgrounds and school environments to interact and to show them how STEM underpins our everyday lives."
Participants will be given the opportunity to put their maths, science and technology knowledge to the test over five consecutive knockout rounds of quizzes, challenges and experiments. The last team standing wins the title of Mpumalanga 2010 regional HIP2B² iTHINK Challenge and stands in line to participate in the final round against the other eight winning provincial teams, in Cape Town on September 20.
One team will take home not only the national 2010 HIP2B² iTHINK Challenge title, but each team member will also walk away with a brand new laptop.
Each team may not exceed four members and a maximum of two teams (or eight learners) per school may enter. They must be accompanied by a teacher and/or guardian and must submit their enrolment and indemnity forms on or before Friday July 23. No on-the-day entries will be accepted. Entrants will be divided into inter-school teams.
Enquiries: Lizelle de Bruin on 021-976-3366 or fax
021-979-5343.