Before he knew it could be called science or astronomy‚ Azwinndini Muronga was fascinated with the sky and the stars in Limpopo. Now he is the new president of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP).“We did not have watches and did not have a concept of time. I relied on the sun’s shadow on the ground to tell what time I should go to school‚ or what time I should take the cattle to the veld‚” said the professor of physics at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).“We lived in a village where there were no lights. By looking at the stars‚ I could find my way back from the veld with the goats really early in the morning.”He was elected SAIP president at the beginning of the month‚ according to a UJ statement on Friday. One purpose of the SAIP is to encourage study and research in physics and related subjects. Muronga found out early about leading the uninitiated into science education.“If you are the first-born‚ once you go to school‚ you go to school for everyone in the family - especially if your parents never went to school.”Muronga joined UJ in 2010 to launch the Soweto Science Centre. This year 1000 grade 10 to grade 12 pupils attend maths and science lessons‚ tutorials and laboratory sessions the centre every week. Teachers are also trained there.He said the country needed serious strategies to strengthen mentorship‚ support and guidance in curriculum implementation at secondary school level‚ especially grades 10‚ 11 and 12.Muronga’s work in motivating and teaching young people in science fields is well recognised. In 2013 he received an award from the University of Minnesota for developing opportunities for young African scientists. The following year the South African National Science and Technology Forum recognised his contribution to science‚ engineering‚ technology and innovation...