Vutivi Baloyi - "My SAEON journey: From learner to scientist"

Pictured: Vutivi Baloyi, a grade 11 learner from Majeje High School in Lulekani-B, Phalaborwa, Limpopo.

Vutivi's presentation during the SAEON education symposium hosted by the Arid Lands Node in Kimberley, was about his three year journey with the SAEON Ndlovu node on its science education programme. His presentation, entitled "My SAEON Journey: From a learner to scientist", dwelled on what his expectation where when he began on the programme.

He anticipated the programme to be more of a formal talk in a classroom setting. Hence, the programme proved otherwise, it was a hands-on experience where the learners had to go out of classroom setting and get their hands dirty, interacting with scientists and field technicians, collecting data and then later analysing the findings.

Vutivi was the only learner during the symposium who has been long (three years) on the SAEON science education outreach programme, and appeared well learned and prepared. His involvement with the Ndlovu Node in Phalaborwa on the outreach programme has shaped him to be the person he is now, a scientist whose future aspirations are clear and well defined.

Vutivi clarified during the presentations that he is now able to state where he wants to be in the near future, what career path he wishes to embark on when he has competed his matric studies.