Science in a nutshell: The creators of the science posters for junior schools are (from left) Pavs Pillay, Dr Laura Roden, Assoc Prof Steven Richardson, Assoc Prof David Reid, Prof Kathy Driver (Dean of Science) and Prof John Webb. (Absent: Dr Mike Lucas.)

The Faculty of Science's marketing committee has produced a set of four engaging posters for distribution to junior schools throughout South Africa.

Each poster deals with a different scientific topic: plants and how they change with the seasons; the geology that lies beneath our feet; numbers in history and indigenous ways of counting; and climate change, particularly the effects of global warming on oceans.

This latest set complements the seven posters produced in the past two years, these titled Astronomy: Place in the Universe; Geology: Rocks of Table Mountain; Zoology: History of Life on Earth; Chemistry of Colour; Statistics of Growth and Life Expectancy; IT: When I speak on my cellphone, where does my voice go to?; and World of Nano-technology.

As a result of the popularity of and high demand for the posters last year, an additional 12 000 posters have been printed this year.

The posters are funded by the Department of Science and Technology and have been launched ahead of National Science Week, from 3 to 7 August. During that week they will be distributed to schools nationally as part of the DST drive to popularise science among young learners.

The MTN Science Centre will bring the UCT scientists responsible for conceptualising the posters together with the teachers who will use them as teaching resources.

The UCT scientists who produced this year's posters are Dr Laura Roden (Department of Molecular and Cell Biology), Dr Mike Lucas, (Department of Zoology), Pavs Pillay (Department of Oceanography), Prof John Webb (Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics), and Associate Professors Dave Reid and Steven Richardson (Department of Geology).

The Dean of Science, Professor Kathy Driver, said she hoped the posters would have a "measurable impact" on curious young learners.

"Our scientists reach out and share their knowledge and love of their subject with learners who may not readily have access to the fascination and the wonders of science. Their imagination and creativity makes us proud. Well done!"