Making the transition to a low-carbon future ... spearheading advances in technology ... dealing with the problems of climate change ... investigating bio-control ... harnessing mathematics and physics to bring about improvements in every field – these are just some of the challenges facing scientists today. Challenges that affect industry and society at every level.

Looking to the future
Against this backdrop, the quality of tertiary science education is pivotal to our future.

In partnership with Government, Wits has begun work
on the Wits Science Stadium, which will provide comprehensive leading-edge facilities, comparable with the best in the world. A further R140 000 000 over the next three years is required to complete the project.

Essentially a centre for teaching, learning and research, the new Wits Science Stadium will incorporate:

• World-class laboratory, teaching and tutoring facilities catering exclusively for first-year students - ensuring that they are provided with the nurturing essential to learners making the transition into higher education and increasing pass rates;
• A new home for Mathematical sciences, incorporating the Schools of Mathematics, Computational and Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics & Actuarial Science, as well as the proposed National Centre of Mathematical Science;
• The revamp of existing science facilities to accommodate and encourage the growth of post-graduate research;
• A future development of a full Science Engineering and Technology Library, incorporating much needed archives for the University's many valuable collections of historical and technical information.

The project will be underpinned by a 30% increase in staff numbers over the next five years and by a cultivation of industry relationships to prioritise and promote relevant research.

In short, the new Wits Science Stadium facilities will enable further progress and depth in a number of key strategic priorities for the University. These include:

• Growth in the pipeline of top-end Engineering and Science graduates for the workplace, for postgraduate studies, and for the next generation of academics in these fields;
• Further strengthening the profile of our students to ensure we recruit the best talent from all corners of our society.
• Further growth and depth in the high-end research output that underpins our knowledge and social development.

Importance of these fields of study
Research has shown that an investment in science and technology benefits the development of an entire nation. The DoE has contributed a sizeable amount of money to begin the project, but the University has also made a commitment to raise R 140 000 000 over the next three years in order to complete the development

Any donation, of whatever size will assist the Faculty in its efforts to provide the best facilities possible for developing a new generation of top scientific brains.

Please click here to support our Undergrad Science Centre.

For more information, please visit Faculty of Science.