The Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) project is ushering in a new era of training and skills development, with 20 students from Kenya and Madagascar recently completing intensive training at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in South Africa. This training, held from 4 to 15 November 2024, is part of DARA’s Basic Training programme aimed at developing expertise in astronomy, radio astronomy, and data science across Africa.
Advancing Radio Astronomy Skills
DARA’s Basic Training programme exposes students to practical techniques in radio astronomy. Participants undergo training at HartRAO or the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI), gaining invaluable hands-on experience. The new phase of DARA will train over 220 students from eight African countries in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) partnership, running until March 2027.
This training initiative builds on previous successes and includes a unique focus on students from South Africa’s Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs), providing opportunities to science and engineering graduates who might not otherwise access such advanced training.
A Comprehensive Training Experience
Before arriving at HartRAO, the trainees completed introductory courses in astrophysics, programming with Python, and optical astronomy. At HartRAO, they were introduced to radio astronomy telescopes and instrumentation, followed by hands-on sessions operating the 26m single-dish telescope and participating in the Space Geodesy Programme.
Dr. Roelf Botha, manager of SARAO’s Space Geodesy Programme, emphasized the importance of exposing students to the full data collection and processing cycle. This holistic approach not only accelerates learning but also opens doors to adjacent career pathways.
Voices of the Trainees
For many students, the training was transformative. Malagasy MSc student Koloina Razafinjato Rambeloson highlighted how the programme introduced her cohort to geodesy and demonstrated the broader applications of radio telescopes beyond astronomy. Kenyan trainee and space engineer Geovian Tadzi Stower expressed gratitude for the opportunity to gain hands-on experience that equips them to contribute meaningfully to scientific progress in their home countries.
Expanding Horizons
Following their training at HartRAO, the 20 students will complete a final course on data reduction and analysis techniques in early 2025. They will also participate in DARA’s annual networking event in February 2025, where they will interact with industry leaders and gain career guidance through workshops and CV coaching.
Dr. Bonita de Swardt, SARAO Programme Manager for Strategic Partnerships, lauded the programme for enabling students to transfer their skills to sectors like space science, technology, and Earth observation, creating solutions that benefit African societies.
A Vision for the Future
Carla Mitchell, SARAO’s Africa Programme Manager, highlighted the pivotal role of HartRAO in DARA’s vision to establish Africa’s first dedicated training site for radio astronomy technologies and space geodesy. With its state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated support from DARA, HartRAO is perfectly positioned to nurture the next generation of African scientists and engineers.
This initiative underscores Africa’s commitment to advancing scientific innovation and building regional capacity in radio astronomy and related fields.
