African Astronomical Society

🌍🚀 Excited to have participated in the Pan-African School for Emerging Astronomers #PASEA2024, held at the Monastir Sciences Palace (Palais des Sciences MSP) in Tunisia from September 2-6! 🚀🌍 As the first participant from Libya to present Roaya for Astronomy and Space Applications Foundation, it was an incredible experience to learn from James O. Chibueze, who gave a fascinating lecture on Radio Astronomy. We explored the process of gathering astronomical data, the software tools used to clean and filter that data, and how to create and analyze radio images of celestial objects. This hands-on experience with data processing and image analysis has opened new doors to understanding the universe through a radio astronomy lens. Being part of this event has further fueled my passion for STEM education and its intersection with global challenges like climate change. I’m eager to apply these skills and insights back home and encourage more youth to pursue careers in astronomy and space science. A big thank you to the PASEA team, the lecturers, and all the participants for making this a truly inspiring journey. Let’s continue to push the boundaries of science and innovation across Africa! 🌟 #PASEA #STEMEducation #SpaceScience #RadioAstronomy #Libya #AfricaInScience #STEM

Today, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Ms. Thobekile Ngwane , the President of the Zimbabwean Astronomical Society Our journey with Ms. Ngwane began in July 2022, through a recommendation by Prof. Shazrene Mohammed, as we sought a regional citizen science collaborator from Zimbabwe. It has been a true blessing to work with her group, as she has made remarkable contributions by actively engaging students from Zimbabwe in our projects. Ms. Ngwane’s passion for astronomy outreach has been evident since her undergraduate days at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), where she co-founded the Applied Physics Astronomy Club. This initiative was aimed at spreading the love and knowledge of astronomy among students. Her dedication to the field grew further when she pursued a master’s degree in Astronomy at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. During this time, she co-founded the Zimbabwe Astronomical Society (ZAS), which has since become an official entity uniting professional astronomers in Zimbabwe. In recognition of her outstanding work, and through the generosity of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) and Dr. Charles Takalani, the AfAS Secretariat, we are proud to officially donate a Celestron NexStar 60 GT 60mm Refractor Telescope to the Zimbabwe Astronomical Society. This gift is intended to support and enhance astronomy education and outreach in Zimbabwe, as our collaboration with ZAS continues to grow.

I had the pleasure of co-speaking with Marian Selorm Sapah at the Empowering Girls for STEM and Astronomy event, organized by PRAGSAC and funded by the African Network of Women in Astronomy of the African Astronomical Society. We engaged with the bright young ladies of Accra Girls Senior High School, discussing careers in astronomy, space science, and the critical role of women in STEM. It was an inspiring experience to share insights and encourage the next generation of female scientists! #WomenInSTEM #Astronomy #SpaceScience #STEMEducation #ANWA #PRAGSAC

October has started on a high!! I am humbled to be featured on the latest AfAS Newsletter. This edition covers the highlights and insights from the AfAS2024 conference held in Marrakech, Morocco. My article reflects on the insights gained from the engagements and interactions at the conference. You can find the newsletter and the article here: https://lnkd.in/d7Tg7AAR #AfAS2024 #AfricaLookUp #STEM