IAU General Assembly 2024 - Cape Town
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IAU Travel Fund for African Astronomers

November 17, 2023/in AfAS, News/by Daniel

IAU Travel Fund for African Astronomers

Every three years, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) organizes a General Assembly (GA) where thousands of astronomers meet to discuss progress in their scientific field. In 2024, and for the first time in the over 100-year history of the IAU, the GA will take place on the African continent. This is literally a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many African astronomers.

LSST Discovery Alliance (LSST-DA), in collaboration with the African Astronomical Society and the National Organizing Committee of the IAU General Assembly, is raising funds to support African astronomers to attend the IAU General Assembly in their own continent. This fundraising campaign is the sole avenue for individuals to donate to this program. Donations can be made from anywhere in the world.

Astronomy is currently an emerging scientific field in Africa. Although it is taught and researched, funding is often tight, and in particular, students and early-career researchers may not have local funds to enable them to attend professional conferences. Moreover, there is currently minimal engagement with African countries in Rubin’s LSST.

Attending a professional conference alongside the leaders in your field of study, including Nobel Prize winners, is often a life-changing and career-defining opportunity. In order to make the IAU GA a truly African and inclusive event, this fund will provide travel grants for professional astronomers who are working and living in Africa, including MSc and PhD students, to attend the GA.

Please join us in supporting this unique opportunity to expand inclusion in astronomy! LSST-DA will direct 100% of funds received to AfAS. If contributions exceed the demand for travel support through this program, AfAS will use them to support astronomy programs in Africa.

*Donations to the LSST-DA Africa Travel Fund are not CLOSED*

You can support the African astronomy community by donating a registration https://astronomy2024.org/registration/donate-your-registration/ or by making a gift to the African Astronomical Society. Please contact us at info@astronomy2024.org for more details.

 

https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/lsst-discovery-alliance-logo.jpg 150 459 Daniel https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IAU-logo-date-transparent.png Daniel2023-11-17 12:03:282024-06-19 11:52:13IAU Travel Fund for African Astronomers

Africa day 2023!

May 25, 2023/in AfAS, Africa, News, Outreach/by Vanessa McBride

Come join us in celebrating Africa and Astronomy in Africa this Africa Day on 25 May!

#AfricaLookUp #AfricaDay

As we celebrate Africa Day on the 25th of May, let us use this day to reflect on and appreciate the remarkable achievements made by the nations and individuals on this African continent. We should recognise that these successes have come through hard work, perseverance, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges that Africa faces. Yet, despite these difficulties, Africans have shown extraordinary resilience and a determination to succeed. As we commemorate Africa Day, let us commit ourselves to harness this spirit of resilience and creativity to continue advancing towards a brighter future for Africa and its people.

In honour of Africa Day, turn your eyes to the stars and embrace the wonders of the cosmos. Astronomy is a gateway to understanding our place in the universe and the unique role that Africa plays in it. It offers a platform for cross-cultural collaboration and opens doors for scientific and technological advancements. Therefore, we encourage you to use this day as motivation to promote and engage in astronomy activities. Whether it be stargazing, attending astronomy lectures, or participating in community outreach events, we can show the world the depth of talent and creativity that Africa has to offer. Together, let us create a brighter future for the continent through the exploration of the cosmos.

Share your African experience with us!

We’d like the World to get involved and celebrate what Africa means to them.

We encourage everyone to share an original picture or short video (under 5 mins) based on what you most love about Africa or your favourite African experiences. This could be anything: you can tell us about your culture, language or share your fondest memory from your time in Africa.

  Examples could include:

  • An interesting or beautiful place in Africa
  • A welcome to where you live in Africa, in your home language
  • People in cultural clothing/indigenous attire
  • Videos of singing and celebration, storytelling, reciting poetry, etc
  • Pictures of the African dark night skies
  • Pictures of your astronomy community/facilities in Africa
  • A Drawing, image or painting showcasing aspects of astronomy in Africa
  • Videos of people greeting in their home languages

Please share your photo/story/video on social media platforms using the hashtags #AfricaDay and #AfricaLookUp, alternatively, you can also email us your submissions to info @ astronomy2024.org (with “Africa Day Submission” and your name as the subject line) and we will share them on our website and social media platforms.

https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/BusanAfrica_cropped.png 488 892 Vanessa McBride https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IAU-logo-date-transparent.png Vanessa McBride2023-05-25 09:41:032023-05-25 09:41:04Africa day 2023!

The African Astronomical Society 3rd Annual Conference Special Session

April 2, 2023/in AfAS, Africa, Meetings/by Duduzile

The African Astronomical Society 3rd Annual Conference Special Session – IAU General Assembly 2024 in Cape Town: Gearing up for the GA in 2024

The African Astronomical Society’s third annual conference took place in Johannesburg, South Africa at the University of the Witwatersrand Origins Center from 13 – 17 March 2023. This meeting is especially important for the African community as it provides an opportunity for astronomers across Africa and around the world to engage, network, and reconnect.

On Monday, 13 March, the National Organising Committee of the IAU General Assembly 2024 arranged a Special Session to update the community on the progress of the very first General Assembly on African soil which is set to take place in August 2024.

Chairing the session was Professor Vanessa McBride, co-chair of the National Organising Committee(NOC). The opening talk was then given by the inspirational Dr. Khotso Mokhele, former President and CEO of The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), who played a major role in securing support for the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) Project, hosted at the South African Astronomical Observatory, the success of this also contributed to South Africa being awarded to host a huge portion of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), which will be the largest radio telescope ever built. In Africa, the SKA will be built in South Africa and 8 other countries. In addition, Dr. Mokhele played an important role in South Africa being awarded the bid to host the IAU General Assembly 2024.

What followed were presentations by various committee chairs, first by the co-chair of the NOC, Dr. Charles Takalana, Professor James Chibueze, chair of the Science Committee, Dr. Sally Macfarlane, co-chair of the Outreach, Development, and Education Committee and Mr. Prospery Simpemba, co-chair of the Africa committee.

Some of the main points echoed in the session were the following:

  • Africa should show science that is impactful and significant. It is not enough to host IAU-GA if there won’t be good quality science to share.
  • with all the astronomy developments in Africa, it is of utmost importance to prioritize the empowerment and development of the African people, let the science that we do and the achievements we celebrate also reflect in our societies and benefit everyone in our communities.
  • several planned activities rely on the power of collaborations, partnerships, knowledge sharing, and most importantly, proactive members willing to commit their time, hearts, and energy to the realization of this goal.

The African community is certainly excited about this big event and all hands are on board to ensure that this is one General Assembly the world will never forget, but most importantly, the community is working on various activities and projects to ensure that IAU-GA2024 leaves a lasting legacy to the lives of the African people and the development of astronomy in our beautiful continent.

We are looking at the year ahead with a bold and audacious vision.

It’s time for Africa!

https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FrNj4E1X0AMDFc9-e1680467282329.jpeg 546 1200 Duduzile https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IAU-logo-date-transparent.png Duduzile2023-04-02 22:30:132023-10-31 14:31:02The African Astronomical Society 3rd Annual Conference Special Session

Webinar about the image of the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way

June 2, 2022/in AfAS, Africa, Astronomical events, News/by wpadmin

The African Astronomical Society is organising a public webinar on the recently released image of the black hole in the centre of our Galaxy by the Event Horizon Telescope. This epochal image was everywhere in the media and all of us would like to know more about it, and what it represents. This webinar on the black hole image is being organised by the African Astronomical Society and the Department of Science & Innovation, South Africa. The poster is attached to this email and we request you to forward this to your colleagues and friends. The pdf has the links embedded. 

What: “The First Image of the Black Hole at our Galactic Centre”
When: 3 June 2022, Friday; 1400 CAT (1200 UTC)
Zoom registration link:https://bit.ly/3wWPRuO
YouTube live: https://bit.ly/3NMoN6P

You will need to pre-register for a personal zoom link (see above). You can also see the webinar live on youtube (see link above) instead.
The astrophysicists who will speak at the webinar are

  • Michael Backes (UNAM, Namibia)
  • Roger Deane (Wits & UP, SA)
  • Iniyan Natarajan (Wits, SARAO, Rhodes, SA)
  • Jeandrew Brink (UFS, SA)
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Newly elected Executive Committee member of the African Astronomical Society

March 23, 2022/in AfAS, Africa, News/by wpadmin

We extend our congratulations to the newly elected committee and look forward to our close partnership in realising the African vision of the IAU GA in 2024.

THEBE RODNEY MEDUPE (PRESIDENT)

Prof. Thebe Rodney Medupe is a professor of Astronomy at the North-West University, South Africa. He obtained his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cape Town in 2002 on the research area of stellar astrophysics with specialization in stellar pulsations. His PhD studies was a collaboration between UCT and the Danish university of Aarhus. He has co-authored over 55 articles with co-authors from all around the world. His h-index is 15. He has experience in both observational and theoretical (numerical) modelling of pulsations in stars. He has successfully supervised 5 PhD and 6 MSc students and many Honours students at NASSP and at North-West University. He was a co-founding member of the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP). From 2015 until 2018 he was the chairperson of the NASSP consortium. He pioneered the NASSP Winterschool as a vehicle of including South African students from universities that did not have astronomy research programmes into the astronomy community. The success of the Winterschool changed the face of astronomy in South Africa significantly. He has taught stellar structure both at Honours and MSc at the NASSP as well as at North West University in Mahikeng campus. Prof. Medupe founded astronomy research group at the Mahikeng campus in 2010, the group has been getting strong and now has 4 astronomers. He has supervised 5 postdoctoral fellows.

Prof. Medupe is also passionate about public outreach of astronomy, having been part of two African astronomy documentary movies, namely Cosmic Africa and the Scribes of Timbuktu. Cosmic Africa deals with African indigenous Astronomy. The Scribes of Astronomy looks at the astronomy content of the ancient manuscripts of Timnuktu in West Africa. The international success of Cosmic Africa has led to him being listed in Africa’s most influential people by the New African Magazine which is based in London in 2011 and 2014. Prof. Medupe was also invited to give public lecture on the subject of Cosmic Africa at the Royal Society events in London. He has written two children books titled “The Stars under the African Skies” and “Children of Stars”. He also has written a High School level book on “Astronomy during Timbuktu”. He has written chapters in books on the topic of history of African astronomy. Prof. Medupe also established and founded the Mahikeng Astronomical Observatory in 2015. The observatory was officially opened by the South African minister of Science and Technology in 2018. The main telescopes of this observatory are the 16inch Meade and the Planewave 20inch CDK20 with QSI 683 and SBIG Aluma AC4040 Cmos cameras. The observatory also has an echelle spectrograph with resolution R=10000. The observatory holds monthly open nights for the public and schools in the North West Province of South Africa.

Prof. Medupe’s leadership ability is shown by the fact that he is currently the deputy Dean for Community Engagement at the NWU since 2018. He has also been involved in the National Research Foundation (NRF) astronomy advisory Council and other panels. His experience and passion for Africa and history of Astronomy in Africa will be invaluable to the advancement of the African Astronomical Society.

Research scientist at the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, Ghana. Her PhD research was on understanding the evolution of massive young stellar objects using complex organic molecules such as methanol and methyl cyanide at the University of Manchester, Jodrell Bank Center For Astrophysics with supervision from Prof Gary Fuller. She was was part of the first batch of advanced students sponsored by DARA (Development of Africa through Radio Astronomy) funded by the Newton Fund to study in the UK. She is currently continuing her research into the Astrochemistry of Massive Young Stellar Objects using observation, theoretical and computational analysis at Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute/ Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory. She is a tutor and facilitator for the ongoing DARA Basic training at the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory. She is currently the administrative secretary of the astronomy outreach program PRAGSAG funded by the OAD. She is very active in outreach to young people especially girls and in mentoring other African students

Naomi believes Africa is ripe to take a bold step into being a contributing partner in astronomy research. She is a motivated and hardworking scientist who is eager to put Africa on the scientific map using her research work and her outreach activities. She is always ready to speak up about Astronomy and Africa’s important role in furthering the world’s Astronomy research goals and activities.

NAOMI ASABRE FRIMPONG (VICE-PRESIDENT)
ELIZABETH NALUMINSA

Elizabeth Naluminsa is a postdoctoral fellow on the astronomy operations team of the Southern African Large Telescope. She obtained her Phd researching on the gravitational instability of disk galaxies from the University of Cape Town in 2019. She is originally from Uganda and is Uganda’s  first female astronomer. Her research field is extragalactic star-formation, while her interests and expertise spread to astronomical instrumentation, software development, pipeline building, science engagement/outreach and teaching. With a passion for education and people, her personal mission has always been to “make science attainable, penetrable and relatable to everyone”.

Following an undergraduate degree in physics and education (physics major), she joined the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme in 2011 for her honours and masters degrees at the University of Cape Town after which she undertook her doctoral research under the South African SARChI bursary of the NRF. Post graduation, she returned to Uganda and worked as a lecturer at Kyambogo University Uganda while doing astronomy outreach to secondary schools, with resources support from the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development and the SALT Collateral Benefits programme. She held the first ever astronomy exhibition at Kyambogo university in 2020. She is at present involve in ongoing efforts by the Space Technology Agency Uganda to take astronomy to schools in the refugee settlements of Uganda, and documenting the indigenous astronomy knowledge of the refugee communities for posterity.

Mr Alemiye Mamo is an Astronomer and science communicator by profession. He is among the few individuals who laid the foundation for space Science development in Ethiopia. Mr Alemiye is currently working as coordinator of East Africa Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (EA-ROAD), National outreach coordinator (NOC) and researcher at Ethiopian Space science and technology institute (ESSTI) based in Ethiopia. Mr Alemiye has been working in the development of astronomy and space science in Ethiopia for the past two decades. He is one of the founders of the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) and a contributor in the establishment of Entoto Observatory which is now upgraded to ESSTI.

ALEMIYE MAMO YACOB
MIRJANA POVIĆ

Mirjana Pović is a Serbian-Spanish astrophysicist, working as an assistant professor at the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI), an associate researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía in Spain, and as an honorary lecturer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda. She obtained her PhD in astrophysics in 2010 from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (Spain). Her main research interests are galaxy formation and evolution, in particular nuclear activity in galaxies, star formation, morphological classification of galaxies, and galaxy clusters. In addition, over more than 10 years, she worked on development in astronomy, science, and education in different parts of Africa, through different projects and initiatives related to research collaborations, education, institutional development, human capacity building, policy development, and women in science. She is a current secretary of the IAU Division C on Education, Outreach and Heritage, African Astronomical Society Science Committee member, co-convener of the Astrophysics and Cosmology Working Group under the African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics, and founder of the African Network of Women in Astronomy. She received several awards and recognitions for her scientific achievements and contribution to society, in particular for her work in Africa, including the 2018 inaugural Nature Research Award for Inspiring Science, and the 2021 inaugural European Astronomical Society Jocelyn Bell Burnell Inspiration Medal. She believes that through education, science, and technology we can combat poverty in the long term and make our world to be a better place for everyone in the future, regardless of where the children are born.

Dr Sinenhlanhla Precious Sikhosana is a second-year South African Radio Astronomy postdoctoral fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC). Her research interests include studying non-thermal astrophysical processes and magnetic fields in galaxy clusters. Her research involves collecting data from multiple multi-wavelength telescopes, such as MeerKAT, GMRT, VLA, Chandra, and SALT.

In her undergrad years, she received a scholarship for being amongst the top 10 African female achievers in her college for three consecutive years. She has also received numerous awards in her postgrad career. Some awards include; UKZN’s Wonder Women in Science in 2017, the Department of Science & Technology TATA African Women in Science Doctoral Scholarship in 2018 and the Lo’real-UNESCO For Women In Science research grant in 2019. She was amongst the top 20 young scientists selected to represent South Africa at the 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in Germany in 2019. She was part of the South African Young Academy of Science’s blog team in 2020.

Dr Sikhosana is passionate about empowering the youth through education. Hence, she is part of UKZN’s Astrophysics Research Centre outreach committee. She has participated in various educational outreach programs in partnership with UKZN’s PR office. She was recently elected as the Astrophysics Research Centre’s diversity and inclusion committee member, as her passion also extends to the transformation of the science academic sphere.

SINENHLANHLA PRECIOUS SIKHOSANA
STHABILE KOLWA

Astronomy is one of my great passions and is the reason why I embarked on a journey to become a professional astronomer when I began my undergraduate studies. With scholarship awards from the SKA-NRF, I complete a BSc in Astronomy and Physics at the University of Cape Town. Choosing to stay in the field, I went on to complete an MSc in Physics, with distinction, at the University of the Western Cape. Thereafter, I enrolled in an International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) PhD program and earned a Dr. rer. nat. (PhD equivalent), cum laude, from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in 2019.

At the start of the post-PhD phase of my career, I took a postdoc position at the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA) in Cape Town for a year. While here, I continued working on research projects I had begun with collaborators from my former institute who supervised my PhD project. I also started working on projects associated with the MeerKAT International GHz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration (MIGHTEE) working group which I had formed a connection with during my MSc. While in the first year of the postdoc, I was offered a lecturing position at the Physics Department of the University of Johannesburg. Given my fondness for the teaching and learning process, I took on this new role knowing that I would have the opportunity to carry out research while also being more directly involved with students as a lecturer and project supervisor. The educational aspect of this role has provided me with the motivation to continue working in this field as I have a personality type that is geared more strongly towards altruism and being motivated by a greater purpose. Having a direct view of the impact higher learning has on young minds and lives has made my work in Astrophysics worthwhile.

Within research, my main research interests fall under Extragalactic Astronomy. My first research project involved a study of the correlation between group environment groups of AGN and their radio power which represents the strength of their jets (Kolwa et al 2019a). This publication was partly based on my MSc research work.
During my PhD, I became a member of a working group that investigates the circum-galactic medium within distant radio galaxies (beyond redshift two i.e. z > 2). We make use of ALMA (Atacama Large Millimetre/sub-millimetre Array) and MUSE (Multi-unit Spectroscopic Explorer) datasets to dissect the structure of the extended halo gas around these galaxies and attempt to trace their origin. These galaxies host radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) and are therefore excellent tracers for kinetic feedback between the AGN and the stellar disk as well as its extended interstellar and circumgalactic medium gas. In 2019, we published a peer-reviewed paper using the MUSE data to study the ionised component of the CGM around a z=2.9 galaxy (Kolwa et al 2019b). A follow-up study, which focusses on the molecular gas traced via neutral carbon line emission and continuum, is in preparation. Up until now, the complex physics underlying interactions between the radio jets produced by the AGN and the extended CGM have not been understood very well. This is especially true for galaxies at high redshifts. This subject is therefore a major frontier for new discoveries concerning the evolution of distant galaxies.

Additionally, as a member of the MIGHTEE working group, I am also interested in exploring the properties of star-forming galaxies and AGN host galaxies. The Early Science MeerKAT detections of such galaxies within the XMM-LSS and COSMOS fields will form the basis for our upcoming research. We will combine the MeerKAT data with uGMRT (upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope) detections within the same fields to obtain radio spectral indices spanning 0.3 – 2.0 GHz in observed frequencies. This study will later be extended to include multi-wavelength photometry with which we will perform a spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis. These procedures will provide insights into the star-formation and AGN properties of the galaxies detected by MeerKAT.
Throughout my early-research career this far, I have given numerous talks and seminars at local and international seminars, meetings, and conferences. I am also developing a popular science communication page where I discuss Astronomy developments within South African front in a way that is accessible to the public. It can be accessed at the web address: sthabile.medium.com (hosted by the website Medium).

While engaged in teaching and research, I also make it a priority to motivate future STEM within my immediate community. I aim to work with my group, Astronomy in Colour, to encourage young Africans to focus on building a future within Astronomy or any STEM field. We do so via webinars, social media, planetarium visits and school events/activities we are currently planning.

https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PHOTO-2022-03-18-18-19-54.jpg 960 1280 wpadmin https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IAU-logo-date-transparent.png wpadmin2022-03-23 14:00:122022-03-23 14:00:13Newly elected Executive Committee member of the African Astronomical Society

Special session at the African Astronomical Society Annual Meeting

March 11, 2022/in AfAS, Africa, Meetings/by wpadmin

The special session builds on the progress made at the Forum on Astronomy in Africa in October 2021. The programme is as follows:

15:15 Welcome & overview
15:25 Update from Science Committee
15:30 Update from Africa Committee
15:35 Update from Outreach Committee
15:40 Call for proposals to implement Vision 2024
15:50 Discussion
16:10  Meeting summary
16:15 Close

How to join the session:

Gearing up for the GA in 2024
Wednesday 16 March 2022, 15:15 CAT
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84607503107?pwd=anFKMGJHNWw0L095RERnRnUxVUwzUT09
Physical venue: SAAO auditorium

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FIRST EVER AFRICAN WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

March 2, 2022/in AfAS, Africa, News/by wpadmin

Cape Town – 2 March 2022

Two exceptional women in science are being recognised by the inaugural awards of the African Network of Women in Astronomy. The early career award goes to Dr. Marie Korsaga, Burkina Faso’s first woman astronomer and the senior award goes to Prof. Renée Kraan-Korteweg from South Africa.

The awards, worth €1,500 each, recognise and support the scientific achievements, and contributions to society, of women in Astronomy in Africa. They are given by the African Network of Women in Astronomy (AfNWA), a committee of the African Astronomical Society, and by the International Science Programme of Uppsala University in Sweden. The winners are also invited to give a plenary talk at the general assembly of the African Astronomical Society in March 2022.

Early Career Award: Dr Marie Korsaga, Burkina Faso & France

Dr. Marie Korsaga (supplied)

Don’t let “early career” fool you. Dr. Korsaga has many achievements under her belt. She is the first Burkinabe woman to obtain a PhD in astronomy. Dr. Korsaga is a postdoctoral researcher at the Observatoire Astronomique de Strasbourg in France, and a lecturer at the Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo in Burkina Faso. In her research, Dr. Korsaga works on dark matter and where it is found in galaxies. For that, she uses observations from optical, infrared and radio telescopes, giving her a broad skillset in astronomy. Dr. Korsaga is also a passionate advocate for women in STEM in the global and African astronomy communities. She has given a number of high-profile talks, including a TEDx talk. She has spoken at the African Union and was recently honoured by the city of Huesca, Spain in their newly unveiled sundial. She is also a founding member, and sits on the editorial board, of “L’Astronomie Afrique”, the first francophone online astronomy magazine in Africa.

Senior Astronomer Award: Prof. Renée Kraan-Korteweg, South Africa

Prof. Kraan-Korteweg is a senior research scholar at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She has held a number of high-profile positions over her career, including leading the Astronomy department at the University of Cape Town from 2004 to 2014 and Astronomy department at the University of Guanajuato in Mexico. Her research interests include unveiling the large-scale structure of the universe and understanding how it came to be. She is also a user of astronomical observations from various telescopes and has recently discovered a new supercluster of galaxies hidden behind the Milky Way galaxy. Her work is internationally recognised, and she has received various awards. Prof. Kraan-Korteweg has supervised over 30 graduate students in her career, attracted significant research funding (both for her own work, and for the departments she has led) and has been a key advocate for the growth of astronomy on the African continent as well as the support of women in astronomy. The award acknowledges the vast impact she has had for women in Astronomy in Africa.

Prof. Renee Kraan-Korteweg (supplied)

Many nominations were submitted late 2021 for the awards, and a prestigious panel of judges was invited to evaluate the submissions. The panel comprised:

  • Prof. Stephan Buchert, Senior Scientist at the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Uppsala, Sweden
  • Prof. Catherine Cesarsky, an Argentine and French astronomer, formerly president of the International Astronomical Union and the director general of the European Southern Observatory. She is currently Chair of the Council of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory.
  • Prof. Ewine van Dishoek, a Dutch astronomer and chemist, formerly President of the International Astronomical Union and a pioneer of the field of astrochemistry.
  • Prof. Debra Elmegreen, an American astronomer, and the first woman to graduate from Princeton University with a degree in astrophysics is President of the International Astronomical Union.
  • Mr Kevin Govender, Director of Office of Astronomy for Development and the joint recipient of the Edinburgh Medal together with the International Astronomical Union.
  • Prof. Ernst van Groningen, former Programme Director, International Science Programme, Uppsala University, Sweden.
  • Dr. Edward Jurua, astrophysicist, and leader of the research group in astrophysics and space science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda.
  • Dr. Jamal Mimouni, an Algerian astrophysicist and the President of the African Astronomical Society.
  • Prof. Samaya Nissanke, an astronomer at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and one of the recipients of the New Horizons in Physics Prize from the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.
  • Prof. Mirjana Povic, a Serbian-Spanish astrophysicist who works at the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute; inaugural laureate of the Nature – Estée Lauder Inspiring Science Award and founding board member of AfNWA.

AfNWA congratulates the winners of the 2022 African Women in Astronomy Awards and thanks the judges for their time and expertise. AfNWA also acknowledges the generous support of the International Science Programme (ISP), Uppsala University, Sweden.


Notes to the Editors:

African Network of Women in Astronomy (AfNWA)
AfNWA was set up in 2019 to connect and support women in astronomy across the African continent. It forms part of the African Astronomical Society, the professional society of astronomers in Africa. Astronomy is a growing field on the continent with new telescopes being built and producing innovative world-class science, such as the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa.
https://afnwa.org/
Contact: Prof. Vanessa McBride, vanessa@astro4dev.org

African Astronomical Society (AfAS)
The African Astronomical Society (AfAS) is the primary organisation representing professional astronomers from across the African continent and is funded by the Department of Science and Innovation in South Africa AfAS is based in Cape Town on the campus of the South African Astronomical Observatory.
https://www.africanastronomicalsociety.org/
Contact: Dr. Charles Takalana, charles.takalana@afasociety.org

International Science Programme
Uppsala University established the International Science Programme (ISP) in 1961. ISP has earned international recognition for effectively strengthening research and postgraduate education capacity in low income countries in the basic sciences chemistry, mathematics and physics.
https://www.isp.uu.se/
Contact: Prof. Carla Puglia, carla.puglia@physics.uu.se

Photos: Supplied

https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/afnwa2021winners-scaled.jpg 1407 2560 wpadmin https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IAU-logo-date-transparent.png wpadmin2022-03-02 14:31:062022-03-02 14:31:08FIRST EVER AFRICAN WOMEN IN ASTRONOMY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

10 December: Come hear about the JWST, by JWST scientists

December 7, 2021/in AfAS, Astronomical events/by wpadmin

JWST stands for James Webb Space Telescope. This is the new generation telescope that will overtake the Hubble Space Telescope after over 30 years of incredible astronomical images and science.

The JWST is due to launch on 22 December this year, and a lot is at stake. To learn more about this feat of science and technology, join us:

on 10 December 2021 at 13:00 – 15:00 GMT as we speak to:
Dr. Sarah Kendrew from the European Space Agency and the Space Telescope Science Institute in the USA, and
Mr. Robel Geda from Princeton University, USA.

Registration to the Zoom webinar

If you don’t register, the talks will be live on YouTube as well at this link.

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OUT NOW: African Science Stars, Special Astronomy and Space issue

November 30, 2021/in AfAS, Africa, News, Outreach/by wpadmin

Science Stars is pleased to announce the availability of the second issue of its quarterly African Science Stars magazine. Physical copies of the magazine are currently being distributed whilst the full magazine can also be downloaded online in PDF format.

Acknowledging the rise of Astronomy in Africa this latest issue delves deep into African Science trends, the team visit Sutherland and Botswana, three key leading lady scientists are profiled, Africa’s Top 10 Astronomy Universities are profiled, Egypt’s Dr Somaya Saad gives us the history of Astronomy in Egypt, upcoming Astronomy events are listed and this issue further carries more stories that give the young prospective reader insights on funding, trends and science factsheets. There are also a number of interactive give-aways in this latest issue as well as Space Science career insights.

The digital copy of African Science Stars can be downloaded on issuu.com (search for “African Science Stars Issue 2”) or go directly to: https://issuu.com/africansciencestars/docs/african_science_stars_issue_2 or https://assap.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ASSIssue2.pdf online. 

African Science Stars is distributed throughout South Africa, SADC countries and selected northern African countries. Primarily to: Science Centres, Universities, High Schools, Astro tourism sites, Road shows, Astronomical societies, Government ministries, Political parties’ offices, AU (via Africa Desk), Embassies ( via BM Diplomatic Consulting), Government libraries, DSI, SAAO, SARAO, SAASTA, SANSA, NRF, AFAS, AFAS Members, SADC STI, GCIS, African Space Agency, African Planetarium Society, IAU-OAD and the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology institute. The magazine is also available at selected Airport’s business lounges, Hotels and BnBs and libraries. 

African Science Stars magazine’s objective is to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to high school learners in rural and township schools throughout Africa. The magazine is edited by award-winning editor and academic, Unathi Kondile, who holds an MA in Media Studies from the University of Cape Town. Kondile works closely with the Department of Science & Innovation, the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) and various university staff members in science faculties.

 Websites: www.assap.co.za  |  www.africansciencestars.com  | https://issuu.com/africansciencestars/docs

For more information contact the editor: Unathi Kondile on +27 (0)82 619 8937 or email unathi@sciencestars.co.za

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Photo by cottonbro CGI from Pexels

Africa Forum Participants List

October 28, 2021/in AfAS, Africa, Meetings/by Vanessa McBride

(in alphabetical order by name – total of 430 registered participants – visualize the distribution on map below list)

Name Institution Country
Abbas Endisha Misurata university Libya
Abdelhafid Bani Naec morocco Morocco
Abdoulaye Ba Ba Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar Sénégal
ABDU ALI AMEDE Woldia University Ethiopia
Abhijeet  Bhardwaj American Physics Society India
Aboulahris Maria HAssan II University Morocco
Abraham  Akinwale International Space University Nigeria
Abraham Hamilton-Etrue Gyaase Senior High School Ghana
Abunie Gezahegn Ethiopian Space Science Technology Institution Ethiopia
Adaeze  Ibik University of Toronto Canada
Adahchour Abderrahim LPHEA  Morocco
AHANHANZO Pide Aristide Club Astronomique Orion-Benin Bénin
Ahmad Hamwi Ignitos Space Zambia
AJ Link Center for Air and Space Law USA
Ajith Sampath Univerisity of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Albert Wash Samuel National Space Research and Development Agency Nigeria
Alemiye Mamo Yacob ESSTI/EA-ROAD Ethiopia
Allen Mhagama University of Dodoma Tanzania
Amelia Sique Eduardo Mondlane University Moçambique
Amidou Sorgho CSIC-IAA Spain
Amith Rajpal Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, Durban Centre South Africa
Amjed Khurwat Roaya for Astronomy and Space Applications Foundation Libya
Ando  Ratsimbazafy Prince George Community College United States
Andoniaina Rajaonarivelo Haikintana Astronomy Association Madagascar
Ange Cynthia Umuhire Rwanda Space Agency Rwanda
Anke van Dyk UCT/SAAO South Africa
Anna Scaife University of Manchester UK
Anne Verbiscer University of Virginia United States
Annttoinette Anita Vuhya Meru University of Science and Technology Kenya
Anthony Mietas NRF/SAAO South Africa
Armine Patatanyan Office of Astronomy for Development Armenia
Arvind  Ramessur Deputy IAU NOC Mauritius  Mauritius
Arwin Neil Baichoo  IAU NOC Mauritius Team Member  Mauritius
Auke Slotegraaf Centre for Astronomical Heritage (CfAH) South Africa
Ayenew Yehualaw Kotebe Metropolitan University Ethiopia
Ayman  Ahmed EgSA Egypt
Ayodeji Ibitoye University of KwaZulu Natal Nigeria
Bai Bai Student  Taiwan
Balina  Galata Secondary school Ethiopia
Bashir Yusuf National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja.. Nigeria
Benard Nsamba Kyambogo University Uganda
BENHIDA Abdelmajid Université cadi AYYad Morocco
Benjamin Ayantunji National Space Research and Development Agency Nigeria
Benkhaldoun Zouhair  Cadi Ayyad University, Oukaimeden Observatory, Morocco Maroc
Bernard Fanaroff None South Africa
Betelehem Bilata Woldeyes Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Ethiopia
Birhan Haile UCT Ethiopia
Bisi Bernard  Ogunwale Ariel University Israel Israel
Bonaventure  Okere Centre for Basic Space Science, Nsukka Nigeria
Bonita de Swardt SARAO South Africa
BOP Cheikh Tidiane Université Cheikh Anta Diop Senegal
Boskri Abdelkarim  Cadi ayyad university Morocco
Bounhir Aziza UCA University Morocco
Bradley Frank SARAO/IDIA/UCT South Africa
Brandon Engelbrecht Univeristy of the Western Cape South Africa
Bret Yotti University of Cape Town South Africa
Brian Bichang’a South African Astronomical Observatory Kenya
Brian van Soelen University of the Free State South Africa
Brown  Joshua Rivers State University Nigeria
Bruno Henrique da Silva Bruno federal university of uberlandia Brasil
Bryceson  Msangi Babati District Council Tanzania
Bynish Paul SAAO South Africa
Camilo  Delgado-Correal Planetarium of Bogotá Colombia
Caroline Ungersbock Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme NPC South Africa
Carringtone  Kinyanjui Technical University of Kenya Kenya
Ceren Ulusoy BIUST Botswana
Charles Takalana African Astronomical Society South Africa
Chein Kuo The high school of NTNU Taiwan
CHENNAOUI Hasnaa Hassan II University of Casablanca Maroc
Chikondi  Kapote Astronomy club of Malawi Malawi
Chimwemwe  Kapichi  University of Malawi Malawi 
Chinyelu Dieyi NIGCOMSAT Nigeria
Chioma Franklynda Okany Centre for Basic Space Science Nsukka, NASRDA Nigeria Nigeria
Chippo Mchenga Mchenga Malawi astronomy Club Malawi
Chris  de Coning  Private  South Africa
Chris Stewart Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA South Africa
Christian Hettlage SAAO/SALT South Africa
Chukwujekwu Ofodum Centre for Basic Space Science Nigeria
Cláudio  Paulo Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique
Clifford  Nxomani National Research Foundation South Africa
Daniel Cunnama South African Astronomical Observatory South Africa
Daniel Egbo Egbo UCT/SAAO South Africa
David Buckley SAAO South Africa
Declan Peter KIRRANE AERAP ISC Belgium
Dejene Zewdie Woldeyes Universidad Diego Portales Ethiopia
Denis Gachuhi Wachira  University of Nairobi  Kenya
Dennis Kiyeng SPARC Kenya
Derck Smits University of South Africa South Africa
Dereje Wakgari Amente Wollega University, PhD scholar at Osmania University, India Ethiopia
Desta Fekede  Geleta Dire Dawa University / International Centre for Theoretical Physics Ethiopia
Dianna Martin  Martin  Northern cape tourism South africa
Dinah Mangope University of the Free State South Africa
Dinka Williet Casro Cameroon
Doreen Agaba Space Technology Agency Ltd  Uganda
Douglas Bullis Astronomical Society of Southern Africa South Africa
Edgar  Temu The University of Dodoma. Tanzania.
Edward  Jurua Mbarara University of Science and Technology  Uganda 
Effioanwan Etim Astronomers Without Borders Nigeria Network Nigeria
EL HALKOUJ  Thami Cadi Ayad University  Morocco 
Eli Kasai University of Namibia Namibia
Elizabeth Naluminsa South African Astronomical Observatory South Africa
ELY CHEIKH  Ould Mohamed Navee Mauritanian Association for Astronomy Mauritania
Emmanuel  NGONGA The University of Zambia Zambia
Emmanuel Obarafo Federal University of Technology Akure Nigeria
Emmanuel Proven-Adzri Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute Ghana
Encarni Romero Colmenero SAAO/SALT South Africa
Endeshaw Lake  Endeshaw Lake  T. ESSTI Ethiopia
Eric Kamau Maina Maina Rhodes University South Africa 
Esther Mungalaba  The University of Zambia  Zambia
Etienne Bonnassieux University of Bologna Italy
Etsegenet Alemu Ethiopia Space Science and Technology Instititute Ethiopia
Etteyeb Nejmeddine Tunisian Astonomical Society  Tunisia
EUGENE  OKWEI  UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS/KOMENDA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION  UK/GHANA 
Eugene Idogbe Centre for Basic Space Science-NASRDA Nigeria
EVARISTUS IYIDA University of Nigeria Nsukka Nigeria
Ezabo Baron DSAi Uganda Uganda
Fabio Luchsinger University of the Western Cape South Africa
Fatai Ayoola Shodunke Shodunke  University of Abuja, Abuja  Nigeria
Fatima Laouar Mathematics and subatomic physics laboratory LPMS Constantine Algeria Algeria
Feraol Fana Dirirsa ESSTI Ethiopia
Feven Markos Hunde Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI)  Ethiopia
Fouad  Sefyani Lakrizi Astronomical Oukaimeden Observatory  Cadi Ayyad University  Morocco
Fouad Sefyani Astronomical Oukaimeden Observatory. LPHEA. Cadi Ayyad University  
Frances Ngozika  Anekwe  Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Anambra  State Nigeria 
Francis  Chizea National Space Research and Development Agency Nigeria
Francis Omondi Univeristy of Nairobi Kenya
Francisco Fenias  Macucule Eduardo Mondlane university Mozambique
Francois Zinserling ASSA – Durban South Africa
Fred  David Eclectics International Kenya
GAD  EL-QADY National Research Institute of Astronomy and geophysics (NRIAG) Egypt
Garret Cotter University of Oxford United Kingdom
Genevieve Marshall International Astronomical Union Netherlands
Getahun Gezu getish Kotebe Metropolitan University Ethiopia
Getinet  Ayane Kotebe Metropolitan University Ethiopia
Ghazali  Mohammed Amateur Astronomer  Uganda
Ghion Ashenafi  Getahun Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Ethiopia
Giorgio  Senesi CNR – Istituto per la Scienza e Tecnologia dei Plasmi (ISTP) – sede di Bari Italia
Glenda  Snowball SAAO South Africa
Glober  Meshack Space Partnerships and Research Company  Kenya
Gloria Raharimbolamena University of Antananarivo Madagascar
Grace Djan North West University South Africa
Guennoun Meryem Faculty of science SEMLALIA Morocco 
Habeeb  Adenle Lagos State University Nigeria
Hana Bhorat ASSA South Africa
Hanna Nieber Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology Germany
Hannah Worters SAAO South Africa
Hassane Darhmaoui  Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane Morocco 
Hengxing Pan UWC South Africa
Hide Agata National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Japan
Hiiko Katjaita University of Namibia  Namibia
Hilda Hermann Independent Researcher UK / South Africa
Hubert  Mathebula  DSI South Africa 
Humbulani Mudau Department of Science and Innovation South Africa
Ikechukwu  Obi NASRDA-Centre for Basic pace Science (CBSS) Nigeria
Ilani Loubser North-West University South Africa 
Imen Titouhi  Tunis Science City  Tunisia
Imogen Whittam University of Oxford/University of the Western Cape United Kingdom
IRANKUNDA Eugene Rwanda Energy Group/Energy Development Corporation Limited ((REG/EDCL) Rwanda
Irene Irene professor high school france
Isaac HABUMUGISHA KABALE UNIVERSITY UGANDA
Isaac Mutie Technical University of Kenya Kenya
Isibabale Qhoboshiyane University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Ismael Moumen Université Laval/CFHT Canada
Itumeleng Monageng UCT/SAAO South Africa
Jabiri Abdelhadi Cadi Ayyad University / Marrakech  Morocco 
Jacinta Delhaize UCT South Africa
Jack Radcliffe University of Pretoria South Africa
Jagat  Acharjee Assam University India
Jamal  Mimouni University of Constantine 1, Constantine Algeria
James Chibueze North-West University South Africa
Jane  Abangwu University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria
Jean-Baptiste KIKWAYA ELUO Vatican Observatory Italy
Jeremy Main South African Radio Astronomy Observatory South Africa
Jerusalem  Teklu Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) Ethiopia 
Jessie Ndaba Astrofica Technologies South Africa
Jessymol  K Thomas SAAO South Africa
Johan  Theron Private South Africa
Johan Knapen Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias Spain
Johanne Naa Ayeley Ekue University Of Ghana Ghana
John Menzies SAAO South Africa
JOHN ODIRACHUKWU OKEKE OKEKE African University of Science and Technology Nigeria
Jones Chilufya University of Zambia Zambia
José Fernando Mandeur Díaz  Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes Mexico
José Miguel Rodriguez Espinosa Instituto de astrofísica de Andalucía Spain
Josep M. Trigo-Rodríguez Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC) Catalonia, Spain
Joseph  Omojola  University of the Witwatersrand  South Africa 
Joseph Mwatukange Mwatukange University of Namibia Namibia
Joseph Obu University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria
Joshua  Kalognia  Institute for Scientific and Technological Information  Ghana 
Joshua Attih University of Ghana Ghana
Josiah Faniyi Ministry of Education, Oyo State, Nigeria Nigeria
Joy  Olayiwola NASRDA/AWB Nigeria
Joyce Imara Nchom Nigerian Meteorological Agency  Nigeria
Julius Catabay University of the Philippines Philippines
Juma Deason Baraka Water Institute  Tanzania 
Kaab Mohamed Sultan Moulay Sliman University Morocco
Kabelo Kesebonye University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Botswana/South Africa
KAIRE Maram ASPA Sénégal
Kam S. Zacharie Université Joseph KI-ZERBO Burkina Faso
Kechil Kirkham IDIA South Africa
Keletso B. Dichaba BIUST Botswana
Kentaro Yaji National Institute for Fusion Science Japan
Kevin Govender IAU Office of Astronomy for Development South Africa
Kevin Rorke University of South Africa South Africa
Khadija El Bouchefry SARAO South Africa
Khalid Barkaoui Cadi Ayyad University Morocco
Khedidja DJEHA University of BLIDA1  Algeria
Khulu  Phasiwe South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) South Africa
Kimani Nyoike Leo Sky Africa Kenya
Kingsley Ahenkora-Duodu University of Leeds United Kingdom 
Kingsley Okpala University of Nigeria Nigeria
Kirubel Menberu Alemu Ethiopian Space Science Society  Ethiopia
Kleopas  Shiningayamwe University of Namibia Namibia
Kshitij Thorat University of Pretoria South Africa
Kumera  Assefa Addis Abab University Ethiopia
Kushal Khatiwada Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University Nepal
Kwazi  Mthembu  University of Pretoria  South Africa 
Kyle  Doane Digitalis Education Solutions United States of America
Lahcen Ouknine Faculty Of Sciences , Ibn Zohr University, Agadir Morocco
Lamessa  Fekede Dambi Dollo University Ethiopia
Lan Tran The University of Sydney Australia
Laurinda Jesuela D. Macaringue Eduardo Mondlane University  Maputo 
Lawrence Oyedeji Inumoh Institute for Space Science and Engineering Nigeria
LEBOGANG LEKGANYANE SARAO SOUTH AFRICA
Lee Townsend SAAO RSA
Lerato Sebokolodi Rhodes University South Africa
Lerothodi Leeuw UWC South Africa
Letjatji Legodi SARAO South Africa
Lev Horodyskyj Science Voices / Blue Marble Space Institute of Science USA
Lina Canas IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Japan
Linzi Stirrup University of Manchester UK
Lucia Marchetti University of Cape Town South Africa
Lusanda Tamesi Science Stars Magazine South Africa
Lutendo Ramadwa APA South Africa
Ma. Rosario C. Ramos Ramos PAGASA Philippines
Mamadou Mahamat Djabbi NAEC_Chad,NOC_Chad and OAD_Chad Chad
Mambwe kapembwa The University of Zambia Zambia
Mame Faty Lo Quest University Canada Canada
Mamta  Pommier University of Lyon France
Marc  Roffey Astronomical Society of South Africa South Africa
Marcelina Kinyumu Kenyatta University Kenya
Mariama BALDE Maya Institute of Nuclear and Applied Technologies of Cheikh Anta diop University  Sénégal
Marisa Geyer SARAO South Africa
Markus Boettcher North-West University South Africa
Martin Snow SANSA South Africa
Marwan AIT HADDOU 3AM Morocco
Mathias  Becerra Sanchez Nuestros Héroes de la Guerra del Pacífico Peru
Mathieu Isidro SKA Observatory United Kingdom
Mathipa Sebitsiwa Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome South Africa
Matt Hilton University of  KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Mattia Vaccari UWC South Africa
Maureen Umeh Nnamdi Awka University,Awka Nigeria
Mayssa  El Yazidi Center for Studies and Activities for Space “G. Colombo”- CISAS, University of Padova Italy
Mbonteh Roland Ndunge Cameroon Astronomy and Space Research Organization Cameroon
Mehbuba Ahmed Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Ethiopia
Mehbuba Mohammed Ethiopian Space scince and Technology Institute Ethiopia
Melvin Hoare University of Leeds UK
Mercy Onaopemipo Akintola Akintola Federal University of Technology Akure Nigeria
Meron Bekabil Wolikite University Ethiopian
Michael Backes University of Namibia Namibia
MICHELE GERBALDI Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris France
Michelle Lochner University of the Western Cape/ South African Radio Astronomy Observatory South Africa
Miriam Nyamai University of Cape Town South Africa
Mirjana Povic ESSTI Ethiopia
Mohamed Aboushelib National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics Egypt
Mohamed Darwish Darwish National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) Egypt
Mohammad Yahaya ABU Samaru zaria Nigeria
Mohao  Metivier Societe d’aatronomie haitienne Haoti
Molly N.  Kgobathe Astronomical Society of Botswana, University of Botswana Botswana
Mona  Molham NRIAG Egypt
Mortiaux  Véronique  Lycée français Jean Mermoz Dakar Senegal
Moses Kamwela Copperbelt University Zambia
Moses Mogotsi SAAO, SALT South Africa
Mukadi Chisabi The University of Zambia Zambia
Mulugeta  Adibaru Kotebe Metropolitan University Ethiopia
Munira Hoosain University of Cape Town/South African Astronomical Observatory South Africa
Munyaradzi Makoni Media South Africa
Mustapha Iderawumi Space in Africa Nigeria
Mutshidzi Mclloyd Nelwamondo  AfAS South Africa
Nadeem Oozeer SARAO South Acrica
Nadine Sims Science Stars magazine South Africa
Nancy Julianna Tovolahy University of Antananarivo Madagascar
Naomi  Asabre Frimpong Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute Ghana
Naoufel Ben Maaouia Tunis sciences City Tunisia
Narges Hatamkhani UCT South Africa
Narusha Isaacs University of the Western Cape South Africa
Nasser  Sqalli  Atlas Dark Sky Foundation 3AM Morocco
Nassima  Meftah eloued university Algérie
Nazir Makda South African Astronomical Observatory South Africa
Nebiyu Mohammed Ethiopian Space Science & Technology Institute Ethiopian
Nigist Beyene Bahir Dar University Ethiopia
Niki Tossou Club Chavillois d’Astronomie France
Niruj Mohan Ramanujam African Astronomical Society & Indian Institute of Astrophysics India
Nnaemeka Dom Onyeuwaoma  Center for Basic Space Science Nigeria
Nnaemeka Njoku-Achu  University of Nigeria, Nsukka Nigeria
Nnaji Chinedu Jude Nnaji UNN Nigeria
Nonofo  Mogopodi  Marang JSS /Stream International  Botswana
Noorali Jiwaji Open University of Tanzania Tanzania
Ntahompagaze Joseph University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology Rwanda
Obed  ASIEDU University of Energy and Natural Resources  Ghana
Ofentse  Letebele Iziko Museums of South Africa South Africa
Olayinka  Fagbemiro  National Space Research and Development Agency  Nigeria
Otlhomame  Thibelang  NA Botswana 
Pasindu Hatharasinghe  Sri Lanka Technological Campus  Sri Lanka 
Patrice Okouma Rhodes University South Africa
Patricia  Whitelock SAAO & UCT South Africa
Patrick Gaulme Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research Germany
Patrick Woudt University of Cape Town South Africa
Paul  Baki Technical University of Kenya Kenya
Paul Groot UCT/SAAO/Radboud South Africa/The Netherlands
Paul Ludick Private / amateur astronomer  South Africa 
Paul Woods Nature Astronomy UK
Peter  Okagu  Centre for Basic Space Science Nsukka  Nigeria 
Petri Vaisanen South African Astronomical Observatory South Africa
Pfesesani Van Zyl SARAO/HartRAO South Africa
Pheneas Nkundabakura University of Rwanda Rwanda
Prince Warren  William University of Dodoma Tanzania
Priscilla Muheki  Mbarara University of Science and Technology  Uganda
Priya  Hasan Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, India India
Prospery  Simpemba Copperbelt University/SAROAD Zambia
Prudence  AYIVI Astronomy club “Sirius Astro-Club Bénin” Benin
Pushty  Shrimankar H & H. B. Kotak institute of Science India 
Rajae  Ouherra  Student  Morocco 
Rajae Rajae ouherra Arab Astronomical society  Morocco
Rajeev  Gopal ASSA South Africa
Rameshwar Bankar Mahatma Fule College, Warud India
Ramotholo  Sefako SAAO South Africa
RANDRIAMANANTENA Zarason Herman University of Antananarivo Madagascar
RAZANAKOTO  Mializo Haikintana Astronomy Association  Madagascar 
Reikantseone Diretse University of Cape Town South Africa
Renée C. Kraan-Korteweg University of Cape Town South Africa
Richard  Wade University of pretoria South Africa
Rodney  Kumsinda Astronomy Club of Malawi Malawi
Roger  Mayala University of Kwazulu-Natal Afrique du Sud
Roger Deane University of the Witwatersrand South Africa
Romanus  Eze University of Nigeria Nsukka  Nigeria 
Ronel Du Preez NHLS; USS-Dauntless; Astronomy society Bloemfontein South Africa
Rosalind Skelton SAAO South Africa
Rubby  Aworka Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute Ghana
Rubén García-Benito Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) Spain
Ruth Taju Hassen  Hassen School Ethiopia 
SABIL Mohammed Oukaimeden Observatory-National School of Applied Sciences Beni Mellal-Sultan Moulay Slimane University Morocco
Safiya  Isah National Space Research and development agency,  Abuja Nigeria
Sally Macfarlane University of Cape Town South Africa
Sammy  Sir Ethiopian Space Science  Ethiopia
Samson Mulandi Mutunga University of Nairobi Kenya
Samson Mutunga University of Nairobi Kenya
Samuel  Ajakaiye Nigerian Communications Satellite Nigeria
Samuel Ibidapo Federal University of Technology Akure Nigeria
Samuel Siyoum Weldegiorgis Woldia University Ethiopia 
Samyukta Manikumar Self Kenya
Sandra  Benitez Herrera Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias Spain
Sara Lucatello INAF Italy
Sarah  Abotsi-Masters Ghana Planetarium / African Astronomical Society Ghana
Sarah  Blyth University of Cape Town South Africa
Sarah Buchner SARAO South Africa
Sarah White Rhodes University South Africa
Sebastião António Uane Vilanculos UEM-Mozambique Mozambique
Selina White Independent researcher Ireland
Shambel Sahlu Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Ethiopia
Sheriff Jimoh Geolinks Consults Limited Nigeria
Sigrid Shilunga University of Namibia Namibia
Siham Kalli M’sila University Algeria
SIMON  ANJELUS BRASHI OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA TANZANIA
Simphiwe  Madlanga South African Radio Astronomy Observatory South Africa
Sindhu Gaddam University of KwaZulu Natal South Africa
Sinenhlanhla Precious Sikhosana University of KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
Siri Lamoureaux University of Siegen Germany
SISAY FANTAHUN ABATE ABATE Ethiopian Space Science Society Ethiopia
Sivuyile Manxoyi SAAO South Africa
Solohery Randriamampandry SAAO / Univ. of Antananarivo South Africa
Solomon Tessema Ethiopian Space Science and Technology indtitute Ethiopia
Somaya Saad National Researh Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics Egypt
Sovan Acharya Sa citizen science group  India
Sqalli  Nasser  Atlas Dark Sky Foundation  Morocco 
Stelios Tryfon  1010 Asteroskopeion Cyprus
Sthabile Kolwa University of Johannesburg South Africa
Suanne Rampou Western Cape Education Department South Africa
Sudum Esaenwi Rivers State University, Port Harcourt Nigeria
Susan Murabana Owen  The Travelling Telescope  Kenya
Tahani Shatir University of Khartoum Sudan
Taiwo Olusayo Osanyin National Institute for Space Research Brazil
Takalani Nemaungani Department of Science and Innovation South africa
Talibi Hassan  NOC Morocco Morocco
Tana Joseph University of Amsterdam Netherlands 
Tankiso Moso  South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) South Africa
TEMENOU TIOLO Aurélien University Of Yaounde 1 Cameroon
TEMITOPE  ANJORIN MEDIA(RADIO STATION) NIGERIA
Tesfay Tesfu Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Ethiopia 
Thephilus Matsepane UCT/UP South Africa
Theresa de Young  SAAO South Africa
Thierry Martial Tchangole CosmoLAb Hub Benin
Thilina Heenatigala Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) Japan
Thutho Ndlovu University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) South Africa
TILAHUN GETACHEW Woreta Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Ethiopia
Timi Ekubo  Astronomers Without Borders. Nigeria  Nigeria 
Timothy C. Egbuim National Space Research and Development Agency Nigeria
Toivo Samuel Mabote Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Mozambique
Tolu Biressa Jimma University, Department of Physics Ethiopia
Tom Mutabazi Mbarara University of Science and Technology Uganda
Tombo Fitahiana Rarivoarinoro University of Antananarivo Madagascar
Trishna Subedi Amrit campus, TU Nepal
Tsegazeab Hailegebriel Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute Ethiopia
Tshiamiso Makwela University of Cape Town/ Max Planck Institute of Astronomy, HdA South Africa/ (Germany)
Tyler Bourke SKA Observatory UK
Unathi Kondile African Science Stars  South Africa 
Usman Yuguda Institute of space science and engineering NASRDA Abuja Nigeria 
Uzan Jean-Philippe CNRS/Intitut d’astrophysique de Paris France
Vanessa McBride OAD/SAAO/UCT South Africa
Vanessa Moss CSIRO Australia
Vivian Otieno Delft University of Technology, Delft,Netherlands. Kenya
Vivian Otugo Rivers State University, Port Harcourt Nigeria
Walter Silima University of the Western Cape South Africa
Wendkouni Jean Luc TOUGMA TOUGMA UJKZ Burkina Faso
Werner Oscar Tsekumah Not Applicable Ghana
William Christian Tchaptchet CASRO (Cameroon Astronomy ans Space Research Organisation) and University of Dschang Cameroon
William Garnier SKAO UK
William Gustave Société haïtienne d’astronomie (SHA) Haïti
Williams Onyinyechi NASRDA-Centre for Basic Space Science, Nsukka Nigeria
Wisdom Dlamini University of Eswatini Eswatini
WISDOM KWAME  ATTIPOE Astronomy House Foundation Ghana
Yewande  Adeyeye  National Space Research and Development Agency Nigeria 
Yosry Azzam National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) Egypt
Youssef Moulane Cadi ayyad university  Morocco 
Yunus  Manjoo  AfAS  South Africa 
Yutaka Shiratori Tokai Univ 日本
Zakaria  Belhaj  HPS Fondation  Morocco 
Zara Randriamanakoto South African Astronomical Observatory South Africa
Zeleke Beyoro Amado Kotebe Metropolitan University Ethiopia
Zwidofhelangani Khangale  SAAO & UCT  South Africa

A quick mapping based on the table above…

https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/pexels-cottonbro-cgi-8832726-scaled.jpg 2560 2560 Vanessa McBride https://astronomy2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IAU-logo-date-transparent.png Vanessa McBride2021-10-28 07:39:142023-05-31 16:51:06Africa Forum Participants List
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