PO Box 9823, Pretoria, 0001 • Tel: +27 12 841 3987 • Fax: +27 12 841 3025 • E-mail: enquiries@nstf.co.

za • Website: www.nstf.org.za

Today’s research... tomorrow’s innovation

18 January 2017
To:
Ms Pam Hugo and Ms Janetta Nel
Provincial Mathematics, Science and Technology coordinator
Private bag x 20565
Bloemfontein
9300

P.Hugo@fseducation.gov.za
jwnel@mymtnmail.co.za

The 2016/2017 NSTF ‘Brilliants’ Programme

a programme of the
NSTF - South32 Awards

Dear Ms Hugo and Ms Nel,

I thank you for your Department’s assistance in the past to identify the top Grade 12 learners in Physical
Science and Mathematics. The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) has been running this national
programme of recognition for top performers for the past 14 years. It has made a difference to the lives of
many learners who would have gone unrecognised were it not for this collaboration with Provincial Education
Departments and the Department of Basic Education.

A similar letter to this one has been sent to the Education MEC in your Province, to request the list of the top
100 learners in Physical Science and Mathematics. The Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Mr Enver Surty is
also updated every year.

How the NSTF Brilliants Awardees are selected: The lists of the 100 top performers in Physical Science and
Mathematics in the National Senior Certificate are requested from the MST Coordinators of the Provincial
Education Departments at the beginning of each year. Two top performers from each province are then
selected by the NSTF, a young man and young woman of each province, based on their performance in Physical
Science as well as Mathematics, and their chosen field of study. Only learners who matriculated at public
schools are selected. Thus the NSTF Brilliants programme consists of first year students who are all registered
at South African universities, for science-related careers.

NSTF is a Non-Profit Company (NPC) as stipulated in the Companies Act, No 71 of 2008.

Company Registration No. 2007/029165/08
VAT Registration No. 4030242848 S.E.T. for socio-economic growth
NPO Register No. 92042
Donor tax exemption for all donations to the NSTF
The Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation is sponsoring this programme as we have recently been awarded a grant for
promotion of science, engineering and technology to the youth, in terms of the Foundation’s Anniversary
Project – FUCHS: The Golden Years.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) also sponsors the programme and has granted funding for
top-up bursaries for certain selected students of the NSTF Brilliants Programme.

Background on the NSTF Brilliants Programme: The NSTF’s Brilliants Programme uses the NSTF- South32
Awards Gala Dinner, to give recognition to 18 First Year Students (one male and one female) studying in the
sciences, medicine, and engineering, who obtained top marks in both Physical Science and Mathematics in
the National Senior Certificate Examinations, as identified by the Provincial Education Departments and
selected by the NSTF.

The NSTF Brilliants Programme (previously called the Education Recognition Programme) has proved to be a
valuable project, because so far more than 160 deserving, previously disadvantaged students have been
inspired, motivated, and often assisted in getting bursaries over the past years. The 18 selected students are
sponsored to attend the main Awards Gala Dinner, including their transport and accommodation. They also
receive special mention during the main ceremony, and receive certificates. Their schools are informed in
writing and the principals are welcome to attend the Awards Gala Dinner. The Ministry and Department of
Basic Education as will as the DST have given their support to the Brilliants Programme over the years.

The NSTF-South32 Awards celebrate, acknowledge and promote excellence in the South African Research and
Development (R&D) community by cross-cutting sectors, levels, gender, and race while recognising both
individuals and organisations. These Awards celebrate scientific research that is professional, innovative,
forward looking and relevant to both South Africa and the rest of the world. Approximately 15 Winners are
announced at the prestigious ceremony every year, which is taking place by the end of June 2017 this year. The
NSTF-South32 Awards effort includes initiatives to raise awareness among the youth and the general public
about South African research, the importance of science and technology, and the brilliance of our scientists.

As you know, top results in Grade 12 do not guarantee success, and many school leavers and even graduates
struggle to find appropriate work and studies, and to find direction in their lives. The NSTF shares a concern
about these young people with many professionals in our society. In particular, we want to encourage students
to complete their studies in science, medicine, or engineering as far as they possibly can (preferably up to PhD
level), and to find their way to one of the many interesting and fulfilling positions available. It is critical for the
future of our country that enough good passes in matric mathematics and physical science are produced,
AND that some of these young people make a choice for studies and careers in the sciences, medicine, and
engineering.

Programmes run with the NSTF Brilliants Awardees

1. Personal and professional development programme: There will be a Motivational Programme for the
Brilliants students during the morning of the Awards Gala Dinner end of June 2017. The purpose of this
programme is to motivate students and to brief them on how to prepare themselves for available
opportunities in careers of science, engineering and technology (SET). If the students do not yet have
bursary support, we also strive to assist them to access bursaries. We encourage them to continue with
their chosen field of studies, and to find their way to an appropriate career path. Topics addressed
include:
 How do you discover your career path and prepare for the workplace

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  How to develop your personal life through acquiring life skills (self development, assertiveness, time
and financial management, and planning for the future etc); and
 Challenges that students face every day and how to overcome these

2. Recognition of the NSTF Brilliants Awardees: The Brilliants Awardees will be recognised at the NSTF
Awards Gala Dinner that starts at 19:00 on a date at the end of June 2017. The patron of the Awards is
the Minister of Science and Technology and she presides over the ceremony. The previous winners of
these professional Awards are widely recognised as worthy recipients. The students attend the Gala
Dinner and are called to the stage to be recognised with certificates. A few of the students are selected to
address the audience on why they have chosen science as a career. Members of the media attend the
Awards Gala Dinner, and we ensure that there is publicity for the Brilliants Programme, the students and
the provinces and schools where they matriculated. The Brilliants are also profiled in the Awards
publication for the gala dinner, called the Who’s Who of science, engineering, technology and innovation
in South Africa as well as on the NSTF website (see “Mzansi Bright Spark Interviews” on the homepage).

3. Tour: The day before the Awards Gala Dinner, the students go on an educational tour relevant to a
specific science field. This year, the NSTF- South32 Awards celebrate the 2017 International Year of
Sustainable Tourism for Development, as declared by the United Nations. The NSTF is specifically focusing
on this theme and will organise a tour that coincides with this focus. Last year, the focus was on Crop
Science and Food Security to celebrate the 2016 International Year of Pulses and the students were
introduced to the CSIR Biomanufacturing Development Centre, as well as AGT Foods in Krugersdorp.

We thus request the list of the top 100 performers in Physical Science and Mathematics in the NSC
Examinations of 2016, by end of February 2017. We would appreciate your assistance in this regard.

You are also cordially invited to attend the Awards Gala Dinner at the end of June 2017. We would be
honoured and delighted to host you. Regrettably we are not able to sponsor your travels, but will reserve a
seat for you free of charge. Please let us know by no later than 9 June 2017 whether you want to make use of
this offer, and we will send you further information.

Background: The NSTF Awards were established in 1998. This was just three years after the founding of the
NSTF, a uniquely South African stakeholders’ forum of SET Organisations, which was set up to oversee the
establishment of the national science system and as policy sounding board.

In the NSTF Office, Ms Thendo Budeli is responsible for the NSTF Brilliants Programme, and to make all the
practical arrangements. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any further information by email
thendo.nstf@gmail.com or at telephone number 012 841 3987 or 012 841 4591. Visit our website at
www.nstf.org.za to read more about the NSTF and other projects.

Thanking you in anticipation!

Yours sincerely

Ms Jansie Niehaus

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Executive Director