Team Week: Day 3 & 4

The Arid Lands Node's Team Week continued with planning sessions on the node's scientific programme and science engagement programme.

On day 3, Johan Pauw (MD), Tim O'Connor (Observation Science Specialist) and Leazill Peenze (HR Practitioner) from SAEON head office joined the ALN team in a workshop for strategic planning of the node's scientific programme. Casper Crous, who facilitated, challenged the team to not only think of the status quo, but to have a future-orientated outlook. Starting with a blank slate, the team listed the key environmental changes in the arid parts of South Africa which should be investigated. Some of these are already, either partially or fully, addressed by the node's existing projects, however several opportunities were identified to expand the scientific programme. Climate change emerged as the leading theme, a golden thread that interacts with many other factors.

On the 4th and final day, the focus was on the node's science engagement programme and Kogie Govender (SAEON Science Engagement Coordinator) facilitated the strategic planning workshop. The excellent preparations by Kogie and Mtho Moyo (SAASTA intern at the ALN) were key in enabling the team to come up with activities that will support teachers and learners with the school curriculum. It was also decided to have a focus on BEd students at Sol Plaatje University, to help prepare them to teach scientific material in an interactive way.

These planning sessions were invaluable, not only in providing focus to the ALN team, but also by providing the team the opportunity to take ownership of the node's programmes through their participation.

Photo: Team Arid Lands, bolstered by National Office. Left to right: Johan Pauw, Elvirena Coetzee, Mthokozisi Moyo, Casper Crous, Helga van der Merwe, Betsie Milne, Hana Petersen, Gina Arena, Maletsatsi Mohapi, Tim O’Connor, Juan Swanepoel, Marco Pauw, Joh Henschel. Inset: Tshililo Ramaswiela, who was unfortunately unable to participate.