Page 5 - The Edge Newsletter Sept 2023

The ecstatic professor performs experiments and demonstrations as part of his teaching and learning programme. “I try my best to teach with visual aids, demonstrations whenever possible.Writing up a bunch of formulae that show how rockets work in space is not the most exciting thing to students. Launching a rocket across the classroom is an unforgettable experience,” said Prof Govender.
He explained that he uses experiments to get students to engage with him during the lesson. He further said that the students are always eager to participate in the experiments. “Can you imagine what it feels like to encounter a cloud that is almost 200 times colder than an ice-cube? Simply mind-blowing,” beamed Prof Govender.
Prof Govender said that he is an astrophysicist and many of his experiments and demonstrations relate to physical phenomena, some of which include fluid flow, materials science, optics and waves, to name but a few. “Putting it this way sounds really boring and one-dimensional.The shows focus on stuff that make people go wow! Some examples include: baking bread using ice-cream, dunking marshmallows into liquid nitrogen, launching water and methanol rockets, combining fire with music, etc. The shows also aim to debunk myths and misunderstandings such as the sky being blue because of the reflection of the sea.
He shared that the experiments create an exciting and dynamic atmosphere. “The reactions of the students are priceless, especially if a demonstration is counter- intuitive. Students also get to think out of the box, to look at phenomena differently and come up with their own interpretations. In my class, seeing is no longer believing,” commented Prof Govender.
Prof Govender has presented his shows to thousands of students, school learners, educators and the general public over the past 25 years. Some of the kids that have seen the show in primary schools have now gone on to become maths and science teachers, engineers, mathematicians and physicists.
The all-rounder professor is active on social media, and has joined TikTok this year. He has uploaded amazing experiments but he feels he needs to produce more content. His TikTok channel is called the cool-science- guy. Besides physics and mathematics, Prof Govender loves dancing and his dance moves can be observed on Tik Tok, at Megan_Neetu.
Prof Govender is currently working with the IQRAA Foundation to promote science and mathematics amongst school learners.
The professor has travelled around the province to perform his shows for various corporate companies,
Department of Education as well as at the Durban Playhouse and iZulu Theatre, Sibaya. He indicated that he is curious and always fascinated with how things work. He wanted to share his curiosity with kids and parents.
“This was the springboard for my first science club. From there on, it started to grow with more people getting interested in science experiments. I really started infusing demonstrations in my lectures during my stint at UKZN where I lectured mathematics and applied mathematics to first year engineering students. These lectures have become legendary amongst students. Launching rockets into the lecture venue ceilings, boiling water in chocolate teapots to collapsing 210 litre steel drums using the atmosphere, always ensured that the classroom was packed,” explained Prof Govender.
At the moment, Prof Govender is refining his culinary skills using physics and chemistry. He is hoping to share these skills with his students and the wider public.
“Through my experiments and demonstrations I want to break the image of a professor who is seen as an old being with glasses, wearing a white lab coat with dishevelled hair about to fall over and die.Why can’t we have academics who are loud, bold, who love wearing bright colours, people that can dance and have fun,” concluded Prof Govender.
Pictured: Professor Megandhren Govender Sibahle Ngcobo
RISING STARS
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MATHEMATICS LECTURER USES HIS SCIENCE EXPERIMENTSANDDEMONSTRATIONSTO
ENGAGE WITH HIS STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE
Professor Megandhren Govender is from the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Prof Govender’s role includes being a teacher of mathematics, research, community outreach and being involved in the larger community of the University.