Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy Phase 2
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
We will conduct a training programme in radio astronomy in Africa that will help to drive economic growth. South Africa is hosting part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) - the major next generation radio telescope and the first big science project on the African continent. A network of up to 2000 dishes will eventually spread out across southern Africa to give the telescope its powerful resolution to see small structures in the sky. To this aim South Africa is partnering with eight other countries in Africa that will host these outstations. However, there is virtually no astronomy activity in these countries at present and so SKA-SA are building the African VLBI Network (AVN) as a precursor instrument and very useful addition to the world's radio astronomy networks in its own right. The AVN will consist of 30 m class radio dishes in each partner country, either converted from defunct telecommunications dishes or newly built ones. The UK team has experience in the conversion of old telecommunications dishes for radio astronomy purposes through its involvement in a similar project at the Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall.
The UK team, together with SA colleagues, will provide a basic training in the AVN countries so that the local people can use and help run the radio telescopes there. The STEM skills learnt as part of this training can be applied to a range of industries such as telecommunications, space science, land management and computing. Therefore the training will result in a pool of local talent who can help to drive economic growth in the AVN countries. An integral part of the training programme will be interaction with entrepreneurs who have experience of setting up businesses using related technologies. Advanced training will take the form of a number of MSc and PhD bursaries. The students will undertake research training using the interferometric radio telescopes and spend time in both the UK and SA to help forge strong research links. A virtual centre of excellence will be established that pulls the various strands of training, research and industry together.
Showcasing the radio astronomy facilities in these countries and demonstrating how the skills and technologies used in radio astronomy can be applied to many areas of industry and commerce can lead to a general upskilling of the population.
The UK team, together with SA colleagues, will provide a basic training in the AVN countries so that the local people can use and help run the radio telescopes there. The STEM skills learnt as part of this training can be applied to a range of industries such as telecommunications, space science, land management and computing. Therefore the training will result in a pool of local talent who can help to drive economic growth in the AVN countries. An integral part of the training programme will be interaction with entrepreneurs who have experience of setting up businesses using related technologies. Advanced training will take the form of a number of MSc and PhD bursaries. The students will undertake research training using the interferometric radio telescopes and spend time in both the UK and SA to help forge strong research links. A virtual centre of excellence will be established that pulls the various strands of training, research and industry together.
Showcasing the radio astronomy facilities in these countries and demonstrating how the skills and technologies used in radio astronomy can be applied to many areas of industry and commerce can lead to a general upskilling of the population.
Planned Impact
Industries in the AVN countries that rely on having people with advanced STEM knowledge and with drive and ambition will benefit from this programme through having a pool of trained and motivated individuals. Overall this programme aims to provide a basic training for 240 young people across Africa and an advanced training to 13 students. As in any country not all of these will go on to become academics, the majority will go into industry and commerce taking their advanced knowledge and skills with them. Economic activity as a whole will benefit as some of these people start their own businesses inspired by the entrepreneurs they have met during the training programme. These could be in diverse fields such as telecommunications, space science, geodetic applications such as land management or climate change, or computing and big data challenges. Showcasing the hosting of major international scientific facilities such as the AVN and SKA on the African continent will raise the aspiration of the population as Africa demonstrates that it can take its place on the modern scientific stage in the 21st century.
Organisations
- University of Leeds (Lead Research Organisation)
- Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Africa (Collaboration)
- Eduardo Mondlane University (Collaboration)
- University of Manchester (Collaboration)
- Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station (Collaboration)
- North-West University (Collaboration)
- Rhodes University (Collaboration)
- The Botswana International University of Science & Technology (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (Collaboration)
- University of Hertfordshire (Collaboration)
- Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Institute and Observatory of Geophysics of Antananarivo (Collaboration)
- University of Namibia (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF MAURITIUS (Collaboration)
- University of South Florida (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Kenya (Collaboration)
- Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (Collaboration)
- Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (Collaboration)
- University of Central Lancashire (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA (Collaboration)
- University of Zambia (Collaboration)
- University of Cape Town (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
Publications
Bempong-Manful E
(2020)
A high-resolution view of the jets in 3C 465
Worrall D
(2020)
A high-resolution view of the jets in 3C 465
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Obonyo W
(2021)
A multi-epoch study of radio continuum emission from massive protostars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Bowler S
(2017)
Africa: radio astronomy for development
in Astronomy & Geophysics
Phiri S
(2021)
ALMA 13CO(J = 1-0) observations of NGC 604 in M33: physical properties of molecular clouds
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wandia K
(2023)
An interferometric SETI observation of Kepler-111 b
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Wandia K
(2023)
An Interferometric SETI Observation of Kepler-111 b
Andriantsaralaza M
(2020)
CO in the C1 globule of the Helix nebula with ALMA
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Proven-Adzri E
(2019)
Discovery of periodic methanol masers associated with G323.46-0.08
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Gurvits L
(2021)
High-resolution radio astronomy: An outlook for Africa
in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union
Gurvits L
(2020)
High-resolution radio astronomy: an outlook for Africa
Andrianjafy J
(2023)
Image plane detection of FRB121102 with the MeerKAT radio telescope
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Andrianjafy J
(2022)
Image plane detection of FRB121102 with the MeerKAT radio telescope
Baldi R
(2021)
LeMMINGs III. The e- MERLIN legacy survey of the Palomar sample: exploring the origin of nuclear radio emission in active and inactive galaxies through the [O iii ] - radio connection
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dullo B
(2023)
LeMMINGs V. Nuclear activity and bulge properties: A detailed multi-component decomposition of e -MERLIN Palomar galaxies with HST
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dullo B
(2023)
LeMMINGs. VI. Connecting nuclear activity to bulge properties of active and inactive galaxies: radio scaling relations and galaxy environment
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Girdhar A
(2024)
Quasar feedback survey: molecular gas affected by central outflows and by ~10-kpc radio lobes reveal dual feedback effects in 'radio quiet' quasars
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Radcliffe J
(2024)
Revisiting a flux recovery systematic error arising from common deconvolution methods used in aperture-synthesis imaging
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Saide R
(2023)
Simulation of the Earth's radio-leakage from mobile towers as seen from selected nearby stellar systems
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Njeri A
(2023)
SPARCS-North Wide-field VLBI Survey: exploring the resolved µJy extragalactic radio source population with EVN + e-MERLIN
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Muxlow T
(2020)
The e-MERGE Survey (e-MERLIN Galaxy Evolution Survey): overview and survey description
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy Phase 2 - Extension |
Amount | £453,741 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/T001798/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2019 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Institutional Sponsorship for Leeds |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/W507994/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2021 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | Leeds QR GCRF PhD Studentship on Politics of science, technology and innovation in Africa: The case of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project in Ghana |
Amount | £94,638 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Research England |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Leeds QR GCRF PhD Studentship on UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF LARGE-SCALE RADIO ASTRONOMY PROJECTS ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT WITH PHYSICS IN GHANA |
Amount | £89,502 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Research England |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 03/2022 |
Description | STFC GCRF Foundation |
Amount | £344,896 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/R002878/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2018 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | STFC Official Development Assistance (ODA) Institutional Award |
Amount | £130,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 12/2018 |
Description | UKRI GCRF IAA Award Business and Antenna Consultants |
Amount | £50,247 (GBP) |
Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
Department | Global Challenges Research Fund |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 03/2019 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Eduardo Mondlane University |
Country | Mozambique |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute |
Country | Ghana |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Institute and Observatory of Geophysics of Antananarivo |
Country | Madagascar |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | North-West University |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Rhodes University |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Africa |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | Technical University of Kenya |
Country | Kenya |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | The Botswana International University of Science & Technology |
Country | Botswana |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Cape Town |
Department | Department of Astronomy |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Central Lancashire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
Department | Centre for Astrophysics Research (CAR) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Mauritius |
Country | Mauritius |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Namibia |
Country | Namibia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Pretoria |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of South Florida |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of Zambia |
Country | Zambia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DARA |
Organisation | University of the Western Cape |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership has come together to deliver training in radio astronomy to countries in Africa that are part of the African VLBI Network and African partner countries with South Africa in the SKA project. Hoare leads the project and the project is managed from Leeds. Leeds organised the recruitment of PhD/MSc students for UK partners. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from collaborating institutions are delivering some of the training in Africa. All UK partners will be hosting PhD or MSc students from the participating African countries. |
Impact | The collaboration has delivered an up-skilled cohort of young people with knowledge of radio astronomy, research and computing skills and an awareness of how these could translate in to the commercial sector, especially in the space sector. Links have been made between the academic institutions and the space industry in the UK and SA. Well-equipped computer labs have been established in each country. English skills have been provided where required. Collaborations at individual university level are being made between the six UK university partners and the six host sites for the in-country astrophysics training in African partner institutions. The partners were all part of the original application and all feed in to the development of the project over time via meetings at the DARA annual network meeting and Steering Committee meetings. Each partner has a collaborative agreement with the University of Leeds governing the relationship. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | 4th UN Space Generation Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | DARA sponsored the 4th UN Space Generation Workshop held in Accra, Ghana and virtually. The workshop event manager was a DARA UK PhD student and several of the organising team were former or current DARA trainees. DARA sponsored the travel of the African organising team to the event. Policymakers from the AU and EU were participants as well as representatives from all corners of the space industry. This raised the profile of DARA in the wider African space sector. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://spacegeneration.org/af-sgw2021-home |
Description | A Centenary of the Discovery of Astrophysical Jets - Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A DARA UK Advanced Student led the organisation of the international conference A Centenary of Astrophysical Jets: Observations, Theory & Future Prospects. The conference which brought together observers and theorists from around the globe reviewed progress over the past century and discussed the prospects for future research on jets at a time when major new astronomical facilities, such as SKA and JWST, are on the horizon. The conference was held in the Council Chamber of the newly-inaugurated Square Kilometre Array Organisation global headquarters at Jodrell Bank Observatory and attracted over 120 astronomers from more than 45 institutions across the globe. The abstracts, presentations, and posters will soon be published to make the proceedings widely available to the scientific community. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://indico.skatelescope.org/event/534/ |
Description | Astro-Camping in Botswana |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The astro-camping night brought together students in STEM fields with village elders to learn about modern vs indigenous, cultural astronomy. Eight students attended the event on a hilltop at Paje River Camp. Discussions and stargazing were complemented by the screening of Cosmic Africa -- a movie featuring Prof. Thebe Medupe. This part has resulted in a quarterly collaboration between Botswana International University of Science and Technology 's (BIUST) Physics and Astronomy club. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Astronomy and Geophysics article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | An article on DARA was written for the Astronomy and Geophysics - house magazine for the Royal Astronomical Society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://academic.oup.com/astrogeo/article/58/3/3.29/3861226 |
Description | Business Daily Africa article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Former DARA student wrote an article for Business Daily Africa arguing the case for the defunct Earth Station at Longonot in Kenya to be redeveloped for radio astronomy and space industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/tech/Why-Kenya-should-not-abandon-the-Longonot-/425847... |
Description | DARA Twitter Feed |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Twiiter feed from the DARA project website |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://twitter.com/dara_project |
Description | Elimisha Msichana, Elimisha Jamii |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | DARA funded PhD student at University of Manchester Ann Njeri Ng'Endo created the Elimisha Msichana, Elimisha Jamii (Swahili for Educate a girl, Educate the entire community) project. She setup a scheme to mentor 14-19 year-old schoolgirls through their high school education, so-far this has reached over 800 schoolgirls, plus parents, teachers and local leaders in 10 schools in Kitale, Kenya. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Joint media statement on the outcomes of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) African Partner Countries |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | DARA was highlighted in the joint media statement on the outcomes of the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) African Partner Countries. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.dst.gov.za/index.php/media-room/latest-news/2653-joint-media-statement-on-the-outcomes-o... |
Description | Kenya Outreach Project 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | In preparation for the upcoming one metre optical telescope observatory being built in Samburu County, DARA students from the Technical University of Kenya travelled for eight hours outside of Nairobi to visit four schools to introduce astronomy through fun and engaging activities, including talks on careers available in radio astronomy and a chance at observing using an optical telescope. In addition, the team interviewed members of Rendille, a Cushitic nomad community in northern Kenya, and a member of the Samburu tribes who outlined the communities' astronomical beliefs as part of ethno-astronomy data collection to aid in further outreach work in the local area. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | MadAstroMag in Madagascar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | DARA trainees in Madagascar developed a magazine to circulate to local schools that provide information and orientation to high school learners so that they have ideas about their future career and academic goals and inform about the local Astronomy activities and the SKA/AVN project. Topics covered in the magazine included astronomy, physics, chemistry, engineering, geophysics and agronomy. 620 copies were delivered to 7 schools in Morondava, Madagascar, reaching 1900 high school pupils. During each school visit the project team presented the overall concept of the magazine, followed by a question and answer session with students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Madagascar Outreach Project 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | DARA trainees in Madagascar went to the town of Arivonimamo, the site for Madagascar's potential radio observatory, and carried out five days of outreach to over 1000 young people, with 250 students taking part in four activities on each day that promoted astrophysics and radio astronomy in Madagascar. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Merseyside Astronomy Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Hoare presented a talk on DARA and African radio astronomy at the Merseyside Astronomy Day 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | NatureJobs Blog - Isaac |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A DARA MSc student wrote about his experiences in NatureJobs blog. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2018/02/28/african-astronomy-and-how-one-student-broke-into-the-f... |
Description | NatureJobs Blog - Naomi |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Article by DARA PhD student in NatureJobs blog about her experiences as a DARA student. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://blogs.nature.com/naturejobs/2018/02/26/a-student-shaping-the-future-of-african-astronomy/ |
Description | PRAGSAC in Ghana |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Former and current DARA trainees in Ghana gave an introduction to astronomy to 800 students in 7 different junior high schools in Accra to raise STEM awareness. Astronomy clubs were started in each school as well as workshops for the teachers and a visit to the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://pragsac.org/ |
Description | Pint of Science Talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Hoare presented a talk on DARA and African radio astronomy at a Pint of Science event in Leeds in April 2018. About 40 members of the general public were present and there was a good discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presidential launch of Ghana telescope |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The President of Ghana inaugurated the newly converted radio antenna in Ghana. During his speech he announced a four-fold increase in spending on science in Ghana and explicitly made the link between space science and economic development. This was a major media event with coverage world wide. Prof Hoare attended on behalf of DARA. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://presidency.gov.gh/index.php/2017/08/24/president-akufo-addo-launches-ghana-radio-astronomy-ob... |
Description | SSPI Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Podcast with the Director of Research at Space & Satellite Professionals, Lou Zacharilla on the occasion of DARA winning the SSPI Better Satellite World award in 2018. Interview with Prof Melvin Hoare (DARA PI), MR Ian Jones (CEO, Goonhilly Earth Sation Ltd) and DARA PhD students Naomi Frimpong and Saul Piri. Audience is mostly from the space and satellite industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Sayari in Kenya |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Eight DARA trainees undertook a development project to train guides from two game lodges based in the Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya. Two four-day long trainings were conducted concurrently at Governor's Camp Mara and Ashnil Mara Camp. Ten lodge guides were trained in basic optical astronomy, ethno-astronomy, light pollution awareness and telescope operation enabling them to educate tourists visiting the game parks and reserves. Each lodge was also provided with a telescope. The trained guides will also conduct outreach sessions within the local community to educate them about conservation and light pollution. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://sayarikenya.org/ |
Description | Science in Parliament article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Hoare wrote an article on DARA for the Science in Parliament magazine Winter 2018 edition that is circulated to MPs in the UK. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.scienceinparliament.org.uk/ |
Description | Space in Africa article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The DARA PI gave an interview on the project to Space in Africa - an online media source that produces authoritative business and market analysis reports for the African Space and Satellite Industry segments. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://africanews.space/prof-melvin-hoare-is-driving-development-in-africa-with-radio-astronomy/ |
Description | Times Higher Education article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An article on the DARA project was written with input from Prof Hoare for the Times Higher Education newspaper. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/africa-calling-stars-sky-and-greater-good |
Description | Tour of Ghanaian Universities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Prof Hoare and a DARA PhD student conducted a tour of 6 Ghanaian universities to advertise the work of the DARA project and publicise the opportunities for students in the area of radio astronomy and development in Ghana. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://ucc.edu.gh/news/students-asked-embrace-study-astronomy |
Description | Tour of Zambian Universities |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Prof Hoare (DARA PI), Saul Piri (Zambian DARA PhD student) and Steve Jones (DARA Business Consultant) visited four Zambian universities to advertise the opportunities within the DARA training project, radio astronomy and SKA, and space related business. Audiences of around 100 students in each location. Discussions with senior university management about astrophysics teaching and research were also had. Many questions and discussion were sparked. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | UK Space article on DARA SSPI award |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The award of the SSPI Better Satellite World award was covered by UK Space and numerous other space industry new outlets. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.ukspace.org/news-item/dara-project-wins-better-satellite-world-award |
Description | UN African Space Generation Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The DARA project funded six young people to attend the 5th UN- African Space Generation Workshop in Cape Town 26-27 Nov 2021. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://spacegeneration.org/5th-af-sgw21-home |
Description | University of Leeds showcase |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A piece highlighting the work of DARA was selected to showcase the international work of the University of Leeds on their website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://medium.com/university-of-leeds/a-space-science-project-in-africa-is-opening-up-new-horizons-... |
Description | University of Namibia web article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | An article for the University of Namibia website on the basic training programme taking part there. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.unam.edu.na/news/building-capacity-in-radio-astronomy-in-namibia |
Description | Zambia Shooting Stars Outreach Project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | DARA trainees at University of Zambia's set up the Shooting Stars outreach project and visited three secondary schools to raise awareness of radio astronomy, DARA and Zambia's part in the SKA. Their school visits were covered in the local radio and TV news outlets, with the lead of the project appeared on the local morning show. A radio astronomy public engagement event was also held in the town shopping centre where hard-to-reach members of the general public gained an understanding of radio astronomy's impact to the Zambian economy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/UNZA.Shootingstars.DARAproject |