UCT Chemistry Inspires the Next Generation of Women in STEM at WGJS Science Week 2026

18 May 2026 | By Laa-iqa Rylands
The UCT Chemistry outreach team and a Wynberg Girls' Junior School teacher stand together in the school hall in front of a "Science: Magic of Matter" presentation screen, with experiment materials on the table beside them.
18 May 2026 | By Laa-iqa Rylands

On Monday, 4 May 2026, the UCT Chemistry Department proudly participated in Wynberg Girls’ Junior School’s Science Week celebrations, contributing to a day filled with curiosity, exploration, and discovery. The department kicked off the programme with two engaging presentations tailored to different age groups. The first session was designed for Foundation Phase learners, while the second catered to Intermediate and Senior Phase learners. Both sessions featured a range of fun and interactive experiments, sparking excitement and encouraging scientific thinking among the learners.

The department extends its appreciation to Ms Laa-iqa Rylands for coordinating the event. Special thanks go to Ms Claire Lawrence Naidoo for assisting with the preparation and trialing of experiments beforehand, as well as to Dr Samantha Douman and enthusiastic postgraduate students, Jessica Faure and Sandisiwe Mdoda, for their time, energy, and commitment on the day.

The Outreach Committee would also like to acknowledge Miss Hannah Gildenhuys, teacher intern at Wynberg Girls’ Junior School, for the important role she played in coordinating the Science Week launch day hosted by the UCT Chemistry Department team. Her enthusiasm, organisation, and support throughout the process were greatly appreciated.

Together, the team created an inspiring experience aimed at encouraging more young girls to pursue pathways in STEM fields.

This year’s Science Week theme, “She questions, she explores, and she creates,” reflected the school’s strong commitment to promoting women in science and nurturing a love for scientific inquiry among its learners. Deputy Principal Ms Jabu Nkosi thanked the team for their passion, knowledge, and partnership in creating an exciting and enriching science experience for the girls.

The department’s Outreach Committee also thanks Wynberg Girls’ Junior School for their generous donation towards the chemistry outreach fund. This support will help extend future initiatives and create opportunities to inspire learners in under-resourced schools.

The UCT Chemistry Department is proud to partner with schools such as Wynberg Girls’ Junior School in fostering scientific curiosity and empowering the next generation of women in STEM.

The UCT Chemistry outreach team and a Wynberg Girls' Junior School teacher stand together in the school hall in front of a "Science: Magic of Matter" presentation screen, with experiment materials on the table beside them.
Four members of the UCT Chemistry outreach team pose together in front of the "Science: Magic of Matter" presentation screen in the Wynberg Girls' Junior School hall before the Science Week demonstrations.
UCT Chemistry outreach team members in lab coats conduct an interactive demonstration at the front of the school hall, with a "Science is Cool" poster visible and a slide reading "Experiments: Magic or Science???" projected behind them.
A wide view of the Wynberg Girls' Junior School assembly hall filled with learners seated on the floor, watching the UCT Chemistry team deliver their Science Week presentation on stage.
Learners seated on the hall floor watch attentively as the UCT Chemistry team demonstrates States of Matter — solids, liquids, and gases — with "Science is Cool" and "Girls Rock" posters on display at the front.
A UCT Chemistry team member pours liquid nitrogen into a bucket, producing a dramatic cloud of vapour in front of a captivated audience of Wynberg Girls' Junior School learners during the Science Week assembly.
A close-up of UCT Chemistry team members handling test tubes and balloons being submerged in liquid nitrogen at the experiment table, demonstrating how extreme cold affects materials.
A young Wynberg Girls' Junior School learner in a lab coat participates in a hands-on chemistry experiment at the demonstration table, assisted by a UCT postgraduate student, with vapour from a liquid nitrogen container visible nearby.
UCT Chemistry team members demonstrate the Elephant Toothpaste experiment, with a large foam overflow erupting from a bottle on the demonstration table, to the delight of watching learners.
An overhead view of a learner in a lab coat holding a marshmallow on a stick over a liquid nitrogen container during a hands-on Science Week experiment, exploring states of matter.
Four UCT Chemistry outreach team members stand at tables lined with colourful liquid-filled beakers during an acids and bases demonstration, with a pH scale slide projected on the screen behind them.
UCT Chemistry team members conduct a chemiluminescence experiment at the demonstration table, with a glowing reaction visible and a slide reading "Chemistry can make Light! Chemiluminescence" projected behind them.
The full UCT Chemistry outreach team poses for a group photo under a purple and white balloon arch at Wynberg Girls' Junior School, celebrating the conclusion of their Science Week 2026 visit.