In 2020 Mrs Theron was selected as one of two schools in our district to participate in a pilot program that aims to improve Nuclear Science and Technology (NST) awareness in Africa.  Dr Margaret Mkhosi, the coordinator of the project and an expert in the field, visited Hoërskool Dinamika in 2021 and introduced the grade 8 and 9 learners to NST.

In 2022 is Mev Theron en Me Shereen Hlongwane van Phelindaba Secondary in Tshwane Suid distrik genooi om Suid Afrika te verteenwoordig by ‘n NST kursus wat spesifiek vir Afrika-lande deur die IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) aangebied is. Hulle het twee se weke opleiding in Oostenryk ontvang by die IAEA se kernwetenskappe laboratorium in Seibersdorf.  Deel van die opleiding was om self met stralingsdetektors en radioisotope te werk.  Die IAEA het tydens die opleiding beloof om aan elkeen van die onderwysers wat die kursus bygewoon het ‘n gespesialiseerde stralingsdetektor te borg wat hulle in staat sal stel om eksperimente met hulle leerders uit te voer.

Upon her return from Austria, Mrs Theron started developing a learning programme for Nuclear Sciences and in 2023 she started teaching it to the gr 10 Physical Sciences learners at Dinamika that volunteered to become part of the programme as an extramural activity.  This pioneering group of learners finished the learning programme in June 2024, but sadly no practical work could be done as we were still awaiting the arrival of the instrumentation kit.

Die tweede jaar van die kernwetenskappe leerprogram het in kwartaal 3 afgeskop met dertig nuwe graad 10 Fisiese Wetenskappe leerders wat aangedui het dat hulle vir die volgende jaar meer oor die wonder van die atoomkern en stralingsfisika wil leer.  Intussen het die beloofde stralingsdetektors toe ook in Suid Afrika aangekom!

On 31 July the detectors were personally handed over to Mrs Theron and Mrs Hlongwane by the Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Ms Samantha Graham-Marè.  The event was hosted by the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) at Pelindaba, Hartebeespoort and was attended by various stakeholders from NECSA, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) and the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE).  The new group of ‘Nuclear Namies’ were there to bear witness to the event and had the priviledge of hearing first hand how important this project is to the Ministry and all the stakeholders involved.

Mrs Theron is deeply humbled by the opportunity to be part of this pioneering project and very enthusiastic about sharing her passion for NST with our learners.  The following is quoted from her presentation at the handover ceremony:

‘My goal (with the learning programme) is not only to inspire learners to venture into NST as a career, but to also do my part in creating an educated public.  I believe that Nuclear science holds the promise of transformative breakthroughs, from advancing energy solutions and medical technologies to enhancing our knowledge of fundamental physical processes. The importance of this field cannot be overstated, and it is through collaborative efforts like this project that we will unlock its full potential.  My hope is that NST will become part of our school curriculum in the future. Learners, you are the future.  I want to leave you with a quote from Marie Curie…the Mother of Radiation… that I hope will inspire you as much as it inspired me:

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. 

Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.

Hoërskool Dinamika is baie trots op Mev Theron en haar leerders vir die baanbrekerswerk waarmee hulle besig is.