Africa-Press – Eswatini. The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Kwaluseni Campus played host to the highly anticipated launch of the 2025 Curiosity Cube, a mobile science lab that promises to revolutionize STEM education in the Kingdom.
The launch, held in partnership with Merck’s Curiosity Cube, UNESWA, and the Southern Africa Innovation Support (SAIS) Initiative, drew a crowd of educators, learners, and scientists eager to witness the power of interactive STEM learning in action.
Minister for Education and Training who was expected to grace the could not make it but a representative from the ministry was present, Vince Chancellor Justice Thwala, lauded the initiative for introducing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced science concepts to primary and high school learners in an engaging, hands-on manner.
“The Curiosity Cube is a game-changer for STEM education in Eswatini,” Prof Simelane said. “By providing young learners with free access to state-of-the-art experiments and tech demos, we are sparking curiosity and reshaping the future of science education in our country.”
According to UNESWA management, the cube will tour schools across the country from July 1 to 11, 2025, offering learners a unique opportunity to learn directly from real scientists.
The Ministry of Education and Training was represented by Chief Inspector for Science in primary schools, Jimmy Dlamini, who thanked Merck for partnering with them. “We are grateful to Merck for bringing this innovative approach to STEM education to our country,” Dlamini said.
“The Curiosity Cube will undoubtedly inspire a love for science and technology in our young learners, and we look forward to seeing the impact it will have on our education system.”
Professor Justice Thwala expressed the university’s excitement about the partnership, highlighting its potential to benefit students. “We are thrilled to partner with Merck and the Curiosity Cube initiative, bringing cutting-edge STEM education to our students,” Prof Thwala said.
“This collaboration is a game-changer, providing our students with a unique opportunity to explore AI and science in an interactive and engaging way. It’s a chance for them to shine, learn, and develop essential skills that will shape their future.”
Dr. Thabile Ndlovu, also thanked Merck for their partnership. “We appreciate Merck’s commitment to promoting STEM education in Eswatini,” Dr. Ndlovu said. “This partnership will have a lasting impact on our students and the education sector as a whole.”
Lina Sibiya, representing Merck, expressed excitement about the partnership and the global initiative. “We are so excited about the partnership and the global partnership as a whole,” she said.
“We have five Curiosity Cubes, 2 in Europe, 2 in North America, and now one in Southern Africa. Our mobile science lab aims to spark curiosity across Southern Africa, with 100 events planned and a target of reaching 15,000 students this year, focusing on AI.”
The Vice Chancellor of UNESWA, Justice Thwala, also thanked Merck for the partnership and encouraged students to take advantage of this rare opportunity.
“We urge our students to make the most of this initiative,” Thwala said. “The Curiosity Cube is a unique opportunity for them to engage with cutting-edge technology and develop essential skills that will benefit them in their future careers.”
Sibiya also highlighted the importance of the partnership with UNESWA and the role of volunteers, including UNESWA students.
“We are grateful to Dr. Thabile Ndlovu and the UNESWA team for making this possible,” she said. “There’s an increase in STEM skills, and we’re thrilled to be part of it. Our three main experiments will give students a hands-on experience with AI and science.”
The event was attended by teachers and students from different primary schools in the Manzini region, professors, and volunteers, including students from UNESWA’s Faculty of Science. The Dean of the Science Faculty was also in attendance.
With its focus on interactive experiments and tech demos, the Curiosity Cube is poised to ignite a passion for STEM subjects in young minds, setting them up for success in an increasingly technology-driven world.
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