Global astronomers land in Cape Town
Giving SA space to show what it's capable of
For the first time in its 105-year history, the International Astronomers Union general assembly is being held on the African continent.
For the first time in its 105-year history, the International Astronomers Union (IAU) general assembly is being held on the African continent, taking place in the popular conference destination of Cape Town. Kevin Govender, director of the Office of Astronomy for Development and seasoned IAU attendee, leads South Africa's national organising committee. "We first bid to host in 2015. The bid could have been more successful. Then we bid again in 2018, and that's when we got a successful bid to host it in Cape Town," he said.
The event runs for 10 days from 5 to 15 August, with up to 11 different sessions occurring at any given time, he noted. Over 2 000 professional astronomers from 82 countries will engage in the international meeting.
Govender's excitement and enthusiasm were palpable. "I've attended every general assembly in the past 20 years," he told News24.
Showing what we're capable of
Hosting the meeting for a change presents an opportunity to showcase what Africans are capable of in the field of astronomy.
"If we can excel in a complex field like astronomy, imagine all the other things we can do. It's not just about how the world sees us, but also about changing how we see ourselves," said Govender.
"South Africa has already demonstrated its prowess in astronomy with world-class telescopes like SALT and MeerKAT. We have the capacity and expertise to contribute significantly to scientific advancements," he said.
SALT, or the Southern African Large Telescope, is based in Sutherland. News24 recently reported that the telescope had been equipped with advanced tools to detect exoplanets. These are planets orbiting stars other than the sun.
South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope, located outside Carnarvon in the Northern Cape, was launched in 2018. It forms part of the Square Kilometre Array project - one of the world's biggest telescopes.
The Office of Astronomy for Development is dedicated to finding ways astronomy can improve life on the ground.
"One of our flagship projects is astronomy tourism, which stimulates economic development in rural areas, encouraging people to visit these areas with their clear night skies and providing opportunities for locals to create new businesses and jobs," Govender said.
Another project is investigating the link between astronomy and mental health in partnership with psychologists.
Gazing up at clear night sky makes people contemplate their place in the universe, how small humanity is compared to the stars, and the potential for life beyond earth, according to him. These profound observations can also be harnessed to uplift people's mental health.
"For example, when someone is sad, depressed, stressed or anxious, we can use astronomy to change their perspective and perhaps bring peace and hope."
He added: "Yes, we are small in the universe, but that makes us so special. We have life on this planet, which is precious and worth protecting. Combining astronomy with ecology can create messaging that brings hope, reduces stress and encourages people to value and preserve our world".
Potential of related tech
Govender further emphasised the potential of related technologies to impact other disciplines and improve development data.
"Radio telescopes require enormous computing power, which drives technological advances. We want to leverage this computing power in other areas, like analysing population data or infectious diseases, using our facilities and skills to help those fields," he said.
By sharing South Africa's infrastructure and expertise, this will hopefully make a difference in development data and contribute to a better understanding of society, he explained.
-FIN24-