The survey, sent out to 7 000 national respondents, invited learners to voice their opinions about maths and science on the HIP2B2 website. The results are being released to coincide with National Science Week (10 to 17 May), the theme of which is “Tomorrow’s Science and Technology are in our Youth’s Hands”.

Nine out of ten (93%) respondents conceded that pursuing maths and science afforded them the best career prospects ahead of sport (3%) and music (1%), acknowledging dreams of becoming the next Lucas Redebe, David Beckham or Beyonce are just that – dreams, and making subject choices that offer multiple possibilities as the ‘hip’ thing to do.

Interestingly only 13% of the survey respondents felt that the lack of qualified maths and science teachers contributed to poor results and enrolment. Close to a quarter (22%) stated that maths and science are expensive subjects to teach and schools simply can’t afford the necessary equipment to teach the subject effectively.

Mark Shuttleworth launched the HIP2B2 brand five years ago. A self-confessed geek, who became a billionaire in his twenties by breaking new frontiers in computer technology, Shuttleworth started HIP2B2 with the intention of making science, maths and technology ‘sexy’ to high school learners.

Through its interactive website, a weekly television series on SABC2 with viewers averaging around 623 500 per episode, a magazine that is distributed to 720 schools in nine provinces and mobizine (a weekly mini news-letter sent out to cellphones), the HIP2B2 brand has established itself as a vital role player in encouraging South Africa’s youth to take science seriously as a career option.

To further drive home the message that the study of maths and science is the key to realising dreams HIP2B², assisted by the Department of Education, is hosting iThink during National Science Week, where school teams around South Africa will simultaneously compete against one another in a variety of science and maths related tasks, riddles and problems. Over 600 pupils are expected to participate.

“Sadly, maths and science have been largely neglected at schools in, South Africa with the result that this country lags behind many others when it comes to breaking new ground in the rapidly changing world of technology,” says Shuttleworth. He stresses that an extra hour, or even a few minutes a day spent on studying these subjects can pay huge dividends down the line as analytical minds are much in demand.

Conceding that limited resources do play a contributing factor, Shuttleworth is quick to add that not enough is being done to encourage children to “get out there and invest in themselves and the power of their minds.”

The survey also highlighted high awareness amongst young learners of the current AIDS epidemic in South Africa and the role that science could serve in ending the crisis. When asked to rate which scientific discovery of the future they consider to be most important, more than half (60%) selected a vaccine for HIV, followed by a sustainable alternative to current fossil fuels (24%), thereafter the stabilisation of global food supplies to ensure food quantities are secure for future generations (11%).

Lastly, contrary to a poll by the United Kingdom’s Royal Society, which found Isaac Newton to be much more influential than Albert Einstein, South Africa’s future doctors, scientists, captains of industry, Nobel laureates and “Afronauts” voted for Einstein as the greatest contributor to science.

National Science Week takes place from Saturday 10 until Saturday 17 May, for a list of events taking place in your region visit www.hip2b2.com. Schools wishing to participate in the iThink challenge on Monday 12 May can contact Lizelle de Bruin on 076 686 6750.