I'm not a scientist, but have worked in this facility for the last 20 years. I'm
surrounded by experts and am not shy to ask for anything - in fact - I think I
drive them nuts on occasions!

One of our functions is to take visitors through the facility and show people
what a working lab is all about. We have a video that we kick off with -
explains what goes on in the facility in 12 minutes. We then visit most of the
places that get mentioned in the video. Radiotherapy, nuclear research, control
room, radioisotopes and materials research. Real scientists and technicians talk
to the visitors.

Due to the fact that Science in general but specifically Physics is in rather a
dreadful state in South African schools, we provide hands-on, curriculum-based
workshops for learners and educators. These are not only educational but are
fun and use easy to get stuff. Topics include things like the motor effect,
electrostatics, electromagnetism, etc.

I know what I was doing on the 15th April - frantically trying to finish the
layout for the Phat Physics Game to send to the printers. The game was one of
my pet projects for IYP2005 - it basically a board game, with general
science/physics questions - a lot of them related to Einstein and his work. The
aim is to get cards spelling IYP2005. It's best played in teams. One person is
the "Professor" and has the answer sheet. You shake a dice, move to the
allocated space on the board and pick up the corresponding card. You then answer
the question. If you get it right, you keep the card. Get it wrong, it goes back
to the bottom of the pack. But there are not only questions on the cards -
there are wild cards - like - you may not keep this card. Or... your laboratory
is untidy - give your "P" to the opposing team. Or horror of horrors - put
ALL your cards back on the board.

In order to iron out any wrinkles in the game before we had it manufactured - I
made 5 copies of the game and we played it as one of our workshops for 7 days at
the Grahamstown SASOL Scifest (an Annual event held in SA, sponsored by SASOL).
I was somewhat nervous the first day, explained to the participants that they
were game guinnea pigs, and that we would appreciate their comments. Then we
stood back and watched. Wow. It was so great. They all had such fun. Marvellous
debates and dialogue (sometimes heated) raged all over the workshop venue. We
had 5 tables of 10 people - each table playing a game. I can tell you I was
extremely relieved - each time I'd explained the concept of the game to a
Physicist - I'd received a sceptical - hmmm - we'll have to see if it works or
not. IT WORKS.

The game is now at the printers and once I get it back it will be distributed to
schools and science clubs throughout the country. It's aimed at high school
learners. I'm planning on making one for primary school level but funding will
probably be an issue.

Anyway - I'm attaching some pics of kids playing the game - they speak for
themselves. Also one of me - doing what I'm always being pestered by kids to do
- giving new meaning to the words "having a bad hair day" on the VDG generator.

Above and below are school kids playing our Phat Physics Game.

Here I am, my hair full of static electricity from our Van de Graaf generator.