Astronomy for Development9th December 2015

ModeratorMr Kevin Govender, IAU Office of Astronomy for Development, South Africa

PanelistsDr Stephanie Dobrowolski, Solon Foundation, Sierra LeoneMr Sivuyile Manxoyi, South African Astronomical Observatory, South AfricaDr Wanda Diaz-Merced, Office of Astronomy for Development, Puerto RicoDr James Chibueze, University of Nigeria, NigeriaMs Anita Loots, South African Square Kilometre Array, South AfricaMs Eli Grant, Office of Astronomy for Development, South Africa

Twitter: #astro4dev #SFSA2015

3

ASTRONOMY

OPTICS

High-precision adaptive

optics

COMPUTERS

Fastest hardware

Complex software

ELECTRONICS Most

sensitive detectors

Fastest clocks

SPACE

Satellite Miniaturization

Precision

PHYSICS

Laboratory of extremes

Making heavy elements

CHEMISTRY

Producing organic

moleculesBIOLOGY

Building blocks of life

MATHEM-ATICS

Abstract thought

INSPIRATION

Career in science and technology

ANTHRO-POLOGY

Ancient civilizations

Our roots

HISTORY

Evolution of Universe

Our roots

PERSPECTIVE IMMENSITY OF

UNIVERSE

Tolerance and global citizenship

TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS

SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

CULTURE AND SOCIETY

ASTRONOMY

The IAU Strategic Plan 2010-2020:

• Dr Stephanie Dobrowolski, Solon Foundation, Sierra Leone

5

• Mr Sivuyile Manxoyi, South African Astronomical Observatory, South Africa

11

In service teachers

• Dr Wanda Diaz-Merced, IAU Office of Astronomy for Development, Puerto Rico

20

21

• Dr James Chibueze, University of Nigeria, Nigeria

22

Radio Astronomy - A Launch PadAstronomy is a multi-wavelength science,and drives technological development.e.g. low temp. tech (4 K), computing…

Astronomy facilities are expensive!

Instrument first, then train astronomer?

Train astronomer with existing archival data.Archival science not inferior!

~ $1.5 billion

HST

Ploughing back into West African AstronomyAstronomy facilities hard to operate in isolation!

Those trained in archival science in Nigeria

could play key role in astronomy development

in West Africa with the help of the WAROAD.

Africa VLBI Network (AVN)

Ghana station key! (Anita)

• Ms Anita Loots, South African Square Kilometre Array, South Africa

25

Physical Infrastructure (including data

transport networks, power, roads, etc.)

Science Infrastructure (including radio

observatories, high performance

computing facilities, etc.)

(Skilled) people(academics / researchers /

scientists, engineers, technicians, artisans)

Policy Environment & Governance (government

level policy, Institutions, etc.)

“Readiness” is not just about telescopes

Holistic approach – capacity building

27

Artisans - trades(formal training towards a

qualification as an artisans and other

tradesmen etc.)

Short courses not leading to degree / diploma

(eg short courses (soldering, CAD, FEKO etc.))

Observatory Essential Skills (hands-on 6 month training of 6

member team from partner country in SA and thereafter

during conversion)

Tertiary qualification(aimed at ensuring a robust user / research community, incl. scientists, engineers,

technicians, etc.)

Training for the AVN and towards self-sufficiency in maintenance and operations of AVN stations and participation in SKA2

28

• Ms Eli Grant, Office of Astronomy for Development, South Africa

29

Science Capacity

Innovation

Demand for human capitalAttraction of human capital “brain gain”Economic growthInfrastructureForeign investmentHealthEnergy…Etc.

Quality educationOutput: • Human

capital

Poverty reduction

UK science and total workforce by SES

Project IdeasBased on research gaps or areas of community need and using innovations from project delivery partners

ResourcesOpen access project materials; evaluation & measurement tools; summary of evidence base

OptimisationIncorporate existing evidence on what works/doesn’t work to improve project design & select comparison condition

EvaluationExperiments to measure impact, implementation and mechanisms

Knowledge BaseSTEM outreach & communicationEducationManagement/businessInnovationInternational development

Large-Scale DeliveryEducation policy/curriculum designCorporations (training & CSR)NGOsAstronomy & other big science HCD

C

B

A

Buck, Z. (2013) AER, 12(1), 010104

OAD Regional Offices

East Africa

EthiopiaWest Africa

Nigeria

Andean Countries

Colombia

Lusophone

Portugal

South West Asia

Armenia

Southern Africa

Zambia

Arab World/Arabic

Jordan

East Asia/Chinese

China

South East Asia

Thailand

OAD

Astronomy for Development9th December 2015

ModeratorMr Kevin Govender, IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (kg@astro4dev.org)

PanelistsDr Stephanie Dobrowolski, Solon Foundation (steph@solonfoundation.org) Mr Sivuyile Manxoyi, South African Astronomical Observatory (sivuyile@saao.ac.za)Dr Wanda Diaz-Merced, Office of Astronomy for Development (diazw@mac.com) Dr James Chibueze, University of Nigeria (james.chibueze@gmail.com) Ms Anita Loots, South African Square Kilometre Array (aloots@ska.ac.za) Ms Eli Grant, Office of Astronomy for Development (eg@astro4dev.org)

Twitter: #astro4dev #SFSA2015

Continue the conversation: www.astro4dev.org@astro4dev