"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," Nelson Mandela.

Scientists and researchers from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) will support Mandela Day on 18 July 2010 by donating their time to empower South African students through education.

CSIR scientists and researchers have signed up as tutors for Dr Math, an information and communications technology system developed by the CSIR Meraka Institute, in support of the call to give 67 minutes for Mandela Day. These volunteers will be available to assist learners requiring additional help with mathematics for the period 12 to 24 July 2010.

Laurie Butgereit is the developer whose creativity sparked the development of Dr Math. She explains how CSIR staff members can make a difference to learners who require additional assistance with mathematics, chemistry, physics, life sciences and information technology - all subjects that underpin science, engineering and technology (SET) skills.

"Through Dr Math, learners have access to the group of registered tutors who are online on computers to receive their requests for help via MXit, a popular chat service. Learners put through requests using MXit and receive responses via MXit. A flow management system ensures that requests are distributed to tutors who are available to help. The emphasis is on teaching skills rather than supplying answers," says Butgereit.

Interactions with learners are defined by a code of conduct, and tutors also sign an informed consent before they receive a manual to assist them in carrying out their duties. Laurie says the two-week period (12 to 24 July 2010) spanning Mandela Day will correspond with the reopening of schools after the long winter holidays.

"Kids have been contacting us during the holidays and we are sure that we will receive numerous requests for help as the last two terms of 2010 kick off."

Dr Math has thousands of active users.

CSIR tutors will be able to answer questions at matric level; computer literacy is also a requirement. Questions received from learners range from finding explanations for basic definitions to calls for help on how to solve problems.

"We encourage tutors to teach methods, rather than supplying the answer,"says Butgereit.

Students can subscribe to Dr Math by sending an Mxit contact request to 079 992 3962. If they use Google Talk or any open source Jabber server, the contact details are dr.math.rsa@gmail.com