Mobile science lab enables prac at rural, under-resourced schools

In partnership with the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CASME), MAHLE Behr's South Africa's "Science2Go" mobile laboratory will enable thirty schools in the rural and under-resourced areas of Claremont, KwaDabeka and Molweni to perform curriculum-based hands-on experiments.

The colorful "Science2Go" vehicle has been converted and fitted to house the laboratory science equipment.

CASME have experienced facilitators and laboratory assistants who will be conducting the sessions at the thirty local schools. The lessons have been designed to align with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) requirements for Physical and Natural Sciences. The equipment will be taken to the school in the MAHLE Science2Go laboratory, utilised in the lessons and then returned for replenishment and maintenance.

Each school will be visited once per term (Terms 1 to 3) for a full day of practical activities. The programme will be structured to enable the facilitators to conduct three sessions of one and a half hours each across different grades, reaching a potential of 15,000 learners.

"One key advantage of the Science2Go laboratory is that one set of equipment can be used to serve multiple schools. Many schools do not have the funds to buy a full set of laboratory equipment and chemicals, so this shared approach helps a limited set of resources go a long way," said Henre Benson, Head of Operations for CASME.

Alex Holmes, Commercial Director for MBSA, said, "At MAHLE Behr South Africa we are particularly focused on the communities near to where we operate, and the areas in which our employees live. Our "Science2Go" programme is an innovative way to reach a larger number of students from our local area with high-quality science education. We believe that the portable science lab will inspire, educate and spark the interest of science leaders for tomorrow.