Rhodes University’s Chemistry team and Merck unite to spark curiosity in young minds

Date Released: Mon, 3 November 2025 13:31 +0200

By Ndalo Mbombo

 

“We believe that we need a lot more scientists and a lot more people who are numerate in our society,” says Joyce Sewry, Senior Lecturer in the Chemistry Department at Rhodes University.

Her words echo a broader reality, both locally and globally - not enough young people are achieving strong results in maths and science, and many drop these subjects as soon as they become electives. This trend limits the number of students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields at university.

Despite strong policy commitments, South Africa’s STEM education system continues to struggle with inequality, poor infrastructure, and a shortage of qualified teachers, which slows the country’s transition to a knowledge-driven economy.

Although Rhodes University’s outreach aligns with this broader need, the Chemistry Department’s approach goes beyond statistics. For them, exposing young people to the excitement and possibilities of science and maths is about nurturing curiosity and expanding worldviews.

Since 1998, the Rhodes University Chemistry Department has been involved in STEM-focused outreach programmes. This dedication to upliftment led to Rhodes University being selected by Merck, a leading global science and technology company committed to inspiring enthusiasm for science, as one of the stops on its mobile science lab’s debut African tour.

From 13 to 18 October, the mobile science lab, called the Curiosity Cube, was situated on the Rhodes University campus.

The Curiosity Cube team, the Chemistry Department and student volunteers from the Science Faculty welcomed learners from Samuel Ntlebi Primary school, Archie Mbolekwa Primary school, Ntaba Maria Roman Catholic Primary School, Fikizolo Primary School and C.M. Vellem Primary School to experience this year’s Artificial Intelligence-themed interactive lessons.

Designed to “spark students’ curiosity in STEM,” the Curiosity Cube primarily targets under-resourced schools, explained Africa coordinators Adela Madaree and Rachel Hormeku. Its mission supports the Chemistry Department’s long-standing outreach work, which began with distributing microchemistry kits and training teachers across the Eastern Cape.

That initiative evolved into the ongoing Khanya Maths and Science Club, which continues to make STEM learning more accessible in Makhanda. Joyce Sewry has been a driving force behind these efforts, contributing to both the early outreach projects and their continued growth.

“We want to give children as many opportunities and greater choices in life,” she said. Sewry shared that the Rhodes University outreach programmes are about more than just encouraging children from a young age to run towards STEM subjects; instead, they help children gain perspective and experience the joy of discovery.

For Sewry, the greatest impact is not measured by how many learners go on to study science at university, but by the excitement and curiosity the programmes spark. She recalls one learner who joined the Khanya Maths and Science Club and later became active in community engagement at Rhodes University. “There’s the story of a young learner being told about insects,” she said, smiling. “It sparked something in her - a desire to learn.”

The Merck Curiosity Cube visit was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the young learners. The Chemistry Department is excited to continue the partnership, with the Cube scheduled to return next year for its second African tour - bringing new experiments, new ideas, and new opportunities to inspire the next generation of scientists.

 

Source:Communications