https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240827/historic-first-africa-showcases-advancements-in-astronomy-1068027689.html
Historic First: Africa Showcases Advancements in Astronomy
Historic First: Africa Showcases Advancements in Astronomy
Sputnik Africa
Africa hosted its first global gathering of astronomers in Cape Town, South Africa. The event featured competitions, symposia, and lectures that elevated... 27.08.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-08-27T20:31+0200
2024-08-27T20:31+0200
2024-08-27T20:31+0200
african currents
podcasts
sputnik africa
south africa
cape town
astronomy
east africa
west africa
central africa
north africa
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/08/1b/1068028917_0:88:400:313_1920x0_80_0_0_d46bf5ece824142f923370624b6a8dcc.jpg
Historic First: Africa Showcases Advancements in Astronomy
Sputnik Africa
Africa hosted its first global gathering of astronomers in Cape Town, South Africa. The event featured competitions, symposia, and lectures that elevated Africa's standing in astronomy. It provided an opportunity for young scientists to interact with top astronomers to foster their passion for the field.
The world's leading astronomers, academics, and space science researchers convening on African soil for the first time has elevated the continent's global astronomy status. This will place Africa at the forefront of advanced astronomical research and promote the development of "astro-tourism" across the region, remarks Professor Bonginkosi Emmanuel Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, during an interview with Sputnik Africa.James Okwe Chibueze, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of South Africa, emphasizes the importance of engaging with communities meaningfully. Genuine community engagement should involve helping people gain more profound knowledge and interest in astronomy, making astronomy popular and persuading decision-makers to support it, especially to keep young people interested in STEM fields.To find out what else our guests had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
south africa
cape town
east africa
west africa
central africa
north africa
southern africa
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2024
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
News
en_EN
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik Africa
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Chimauchem Nwosu
https://cdn1.img.sputniknews.africa/img/07e8/06/0b/1066992175_0:0:278:278_100x100_80_0_0_b5f6eaa3b85dbfcd0266ea860848a996.jpg
podcasts, sputnik africa, south africa, cape town, astronomy, east africa, west africa, central africa, north africa, southern africa, аудио
podcasts, sputnik africa, south africa, cape town, astronomy, east africa, west africa, central africa, north africa, southern africa, аудио
Historic First: Africa Showcases Advancements in Astronomy
Africa hosted its first global gathering of astronomers in Cape Town, South Africa. The event featured competitions, symposia, and lectures that elevated Africa's standing in astronomy. It provided an opportunity for young scientists to interact with top astronomers to foster their passion for the field.
The world's leading astronomers, academics, and space science researchers convening on African soil for the first time has elevated the continent's global astronomy status. This will place Africa at the forefront of advanced astronomical research and promote the development of "astro-tourism" across the region, remarks Professor Bonginkosi Emmanuel Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, during an interview with Sputnik Africa.
"This event has, in fact, allowed us to showcase African astronomy on the global stage. And we are convinced that this will go a long way in positioning Africa as a high-tech destination for astronomy sciences and facilities. We also are very hopeful that this will help us in our plans as South Africa, together with the rest of the continent, to promote what one can call astro-tourism into our country and the continent as a whole," Nzimande says.
James Okwe Chibueze, Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of South Africa, emphasizes the importance of engaging with communities meaningfully. Genuine community engagement should involve helping people gain more profound knowledge and interest in astronomy, making astronomy popular and persuading decision-makers to support it, especially to keep young people interested in STEM fields.
"We should do community engagement. It is nice to distinguish between doing public outreach and well-structured community engagement [...]. However, with community engagement, you want to carry the entire people you are dealing with through to making, well, either find a new knowledge, getting more deeply involved in thinking more about astronomy [...]. More importantly the powers that be. People who make decisions for them to see the need to keep the curiosity and young people going by funding astronomy. Because if you can hold down the interest of young people and keep them curious, they may not always become astronomers, but they will stay in STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics]," Chibueze stresses.
To find out what else our guests had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
