Starlit Creations – Young Minds Explore The Cosmos

Context of this book

Nowadays, there is a strong focus to include the Arts in the Mathematics, Science, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) cluster, and STEAM approaches (the ‘A’ representing arts) in education
is building up momentum. For this reason, the UWC Science Learning Centre for Africa (SLCA) invited school learners in 2023 to submit artwork for the National Science Week celebration. The focus of the learners’ artwork in 2023 was to express their views on the role of mathematics, science and technology in our daily lives.

In 2024, a consortium of like-minded institutions- the SLCA @ UWC, the Research Unit Self-Directed Learning @ North-West University, and the Iziko Museums of South Africa, in partnership with organisations working in the field of astronomy, such as the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), the Square Kilometre Array, the South African Radio Astronomy Organisation (SARAO), and the Inter-University Institute for

Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA)- invited young people to submit artwork in which they portray the role of Astronomy in our lives. More than 120 entries were received, and this book is a showcase of sixty of the artworks received. In 2024 South Africa hosted the Astronomy General Assembly, and given South Africa’s footprint in astronomy (e.g., co-hosting the SKA with Australia), astronomy as a theme was a good fit for the arts competition.

Art has, throughout the history of humankind, been a way of expressing views and knowledge on science. To illustrate, the painting below (done by Will Alves Joubert) illustrates the depth of interpretation possible.

The artwork captures the artistic interpretations of science and the universe through the ages, highlighting the deep connection between art and human intellectual pursuits. The artwork
depicts five dominant eras: (a) Ancient civilizations, such as the Mayans and the San; (b) the Classical World, with dominant Greek and Roman influences; (c) the Renaissance, which was characterized by scientific exploration, and artistic reawakening.

(a) Ancient civilizations, such as the Mayans and the San; (b) the Classical World, with dominant Greek and Roman influences; (c) the Renaissance, which was characterized by scientific exploration, and artistic reawakening. In the artwork, Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man is shown; (d) the Enlightenment, which brought much scientific progress, and scientific discoveries such as microscopes and the telescope; and (e) the current stage, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, depicted by the image of a robot, in the era of artificial intelligence. Central in the artwork, is the Khoisan. Carnarvon in the Northern Cape is both the home of the SKA radio telescope, and to the Khoisan. It speaks to the motto of UWC, ‘Respice Prospice’, looking back, in order to look forward. We need to learn from our rich indigenous knowledge. The San expressed their knowledge of the universe and nature through their rock art, which is also shown in the painting. The Khoisan people are scientists with a wealth of knowledge of plant use (ethnobotany). In the artwork, Aloe dichotoma (the quiver tree) is shown, that was used as quivers for their arrows. Also shown is the Eland, which played an important role in San belief, ritual and rock art.

Prof. Josef de Beer
Research Professor, Research Unit Self-Directed Learning, NWU

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