Kindly note that the AfAS2020 Scientific Conference has been postponed and new dates will soon be announced.
Dates: 16th to 19th of March 2020
Venue: Southern Sun – Cape Sun, Cape Town
Day 1 (16 March 2020): Science Focus
| 08:30 | Registration |
| Session 1: Opening Chair: TBC | |
| 09:00 | Opening, Welcome address and the Keynote address: 09:00 – 09:10: Welcoming and opening Remarks by the President of AfAS (Prof. Jamal Mimouni) Introduction of the South African Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Prof. Jamal Mimouni) 09:10 – 09:30: Keynote Address by the South African Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Dr. Bonginkosi Emmanuel Nzimande) |
| 09:30 | Prof George Ellis (UCT, RSA) The Present State of Cosmology Invited Science Talk (25 + 5 minutes) |
| 10:00 | Prof Remudin Reshid Mekuria (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia) Multi-wavelength emissions from dark matter annihilation processes in galaxy clusters using cosmological simulations Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 10:15 | TBC |
| 10:30 | Mr Charles Takalana (WITS, RSA) Simulated differential observations: Probing the DA and EoR with the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich Effect Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 10:45 | Elimboto Yohana (UKZN, RSA / Tanzania) Recovering 21-cm signal from simulated FAST intensity maps Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 11:00 | Coffee |
| Session 2: Chair: TBC | |
| 11:15 | Dr Fernando Camilo (SARAO, RSA) MeerKAT Updates and Early Science Invited Science Talk (25 +5 minutes) |
| 11:45 | Prof Russ Taylor (UCT, UWC, IDEA, RSA) MIGHTEE: The MeerKAT International GHz Tiered Extragalactic Exploration Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 12:00 | Dr Kenda Knowles (UKZN, RSA) Galaxy Clusters with MeerKAT Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) Remote Talk |
| 12:15 | Prof Lerothodi Leeuw (UNISA, RSA) Constraining Proto-clusters with MeerKAT Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 12:30 | Dr Sarah White (SARAO/RU, RSA) Radio emission from active galaxies Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 12:45 | Dr Rhodri Evans (University of Namibia, Namibia) Observing the Galaxy’s blackhole with the Africa Millimetre Telescope Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 13:00 | Amidou Sorgho (UCT) A new HI survey of the M81 group Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 13:15 | Lunch |
| Session 3: Chair: TBC | |
| 14:15 | Dr Mirjana Povic (Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI)) Development of extragalactic astronomy in Ethiopia and East-Africa through nuclear activity in galaxies across cosmic time Invited Science Talk (25 +5 minutes) |
| 14:45 | Dr Moses Mogotsi (SAAO/SALT) Multi-Wavelength studies of Multi-Phase Extraplanar Gas Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:00 | Dr Zara Randriamanakoto (SAAO) Star clusters and radio AGNs as vital tools to study galaxy formation and evolution Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:15 | Antoine Mahoro (SAAO) Properties of X-ray detected far-IR AGN in the green valley Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:30 | Dr Emenike Nwaokoro (Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria) X-ray emission in low mass galaxies Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:45 | Coffee |
| Session 4: Chair: TBC | |
| 16:00 | TBC |
| 16:15 | Dr Solohery Randriamampandry (SAAO / Univ. of Antananarivo) Environmental effects on star formation main sequence in the COSMOS field Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 16:30 | Narges Hatamkhani (UCT) Galaxy clusters in the Vela Supercluster Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 16:45 | Prof Cláudio Paulo (Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique) Statistical analysis of radio halo and relics sample in Galaxy Clusters Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 17:00 | Prof Ilani Loubser (North-West University, SA) Stellar and dynamical masses of the most massive galaxies in the Universe Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 17:15 | Tahina Princy Ranaivomanana (University of Antananarivo, Madagascar) The SUNBIRD survey: Young massive star clusters hosted by strongly star-forming galaxies. Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) Remote Talk |
| 17:30 | 10 Short Poster Talks (2 + 1 minutes each) |
| 18:00 | Close |
Day 2 (17 March 2020): Science Focus
| 08:30 | Registration |
| Session 1: Chair: TBC | |
| 09:00 | Dr Michelle Lochner (AIMS/ SARAO) Machine Learning in Astrophysics Invited Science Talk (25 +5 minutes) |
| 09:30 | Dr Stephen Potter (SAAO) The African Intelligent Observatory (AIO) Invited Science Talk (25 +5 minutes) |
| 10:00 | Dr Petri Vaisanen (SAAO/SALT) Astronomy at SAAO and SALT for the 2020s Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 10:15 | Dr Encarni Romero Colmenero (SAAO/SALT) An update on SALTContributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) Remote talk |
| 10:30 | Dr Vanessa McBride The neutron star populations of the Small Magellanic Cloud Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 10:45 | Dr Eli Kasai (University of Namibia) SALT Spectroscopy of Blazars for the Cherenkov Telescope Array Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 11:00 | Coffee |
| Session 2: Chair: TBC | |
| 11:15 | Prof James Chibueze (North-West University, SA) New Frontiers in Our Understanding of the Formation and Evolution of Stars in the Milky Way Invited Science Talk (25 +5 minutes) |
| 11:45 | Priya Shah (Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad) Kinematics and Progress of Star Formation in Star Clusters with Kottamia Observatory Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 12:00 | Tolu Biressa (Jimma University) The Rate Of Star Formation In Interacting Molecular Clouds With Stellar Activities Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 12:15 | Dr Arpita Roy (The Australian National University) Origin of WNL stars: their impact on the chemical evolution of galaxies Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 12:30 | Willice Obonyo Non-thermal emission from massive protostars Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 12:45 | Dr Naftali Kagiri Kimani (Kenyatta University) The evolution of Radio supernova SN2008iz in M82 Galaxy Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 13:00 | Prof Charles McGruder (Western Kentucky University, USA) Extinction of light in the Galactic Halo – First Observational Evidence of the Interaction of Light and Dark Matter Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 13:15 | Prof Jamal Mimouni (Université Constantine-1, Algeria) The Micro & Macro Worlds Circa Early XXIst Century Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 13:30 | Lunch |
| Session 3: Chair: TBC | |
| 14:30 | Dr Shazrene Mohamed (SAAO) 3D simulations of interacting binaries Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 14:45 | Seblu Humne Negu (Ethiopian Space Science and Technology institute) Mass-luminosity relation of the low-mass Algol-type eclipsing binaries Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:00 | Brent Miszalski Binary central stars of planetary nebulae as probes of common envelope evolution Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:15 | Dr Itumeleng Monageng (UCT/SAAO) A study of the outbursting behaviour of the Be X-ray binary, SXP91.1 Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:30 | Dr Alexei Kniazev (SAAO) Long-period eclipsing binaries: towards the true mass-luminosity relation Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 15:45 | Coffee |
| Session 4: Chair: TBC | |
| 16:00 | Dr David Buckley Observing Optical Transients in Africa Invited Science Talk (25 +5 minutes) |
| 16:30 | Prof Patrick Woudt (UCT) ThunderKAT and MeerLICHT: a multi-wavelength study of astrophysical transients Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 16:45 | Dr Sarah Buchner (SARAO) Pulsar Timing using MeerKAT Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 17:00 | Marisa Geyer (SARAO) Pulsars with MeerKAT and the giant bursts from PSR J0540-6919 in the LMC Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 17:15 | Prof Johnson Urama (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) The Unending Riddles Of Neutron Star Glitches Contributed Science Talk (12 + 3 minutes) |
| 17:30 | 10 Short Poster Talks (2 + 1 minutes each) |
| 18:00 | Close |
Science Posters:
| AYODEJI IBITOYE (UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU NATAL) Large Scale Structure Cross-correlation: Thermal Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect and density field map |
| Evans Owusu (Leeds University) Radio Studies of Massive Protostars |
| Marie Korsaga Distribution of luminous and dark matter in galaxies |
| Seblu Humne Negu (Ethiopian Space Science and Technology institute) Mass-luminosity relation of the low-mass Algol-type eclipsing binaries |
| Omphemetse Mputle (University of Cape Town) The Ionized Gas Kinematics of a Subsample of MHONGOOSE Galaxies |
| INNOCENT OKWUDILI EYA (UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA) Magnitude of Neutron Star Crustal Fluid and Evolution Velar-like Glitches. |
| Betelehem Bilata (Debre Berhan University (DBU)) Multiwavelength morphological study of active galaxies in the BASS survey |
| Nthabiseng Khanye (Wits University) Diffuse radio emission and dark matter constraints of the galaxy cluster Abell 1689 |
| Munira Hoosain (SAAO/UCT) Filamentary structure in the RESOLVE survey with DisPerSE |
| Nazir Makda (South African Astronomical Observatory) Ultra-Diffuse Galaxy Candidates in Stripe 82 Clusters |
| Chidi Emmanuel Akujor (Federal University of Technology, Owerri) On the Nature of Compact Steep-spectrum Sources |
| Dismas Wamalwa (Meru University of Science and Technology) STRUCTURE FORMATION AND EVOLUTION IN A FRIEDMANN UNIVERSE |
| Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt (University of the Witwatersrand) Dark matter and diffuse radio emission in spiral galaxies |
| Golden Gadzirayi Nyambuya (National Univesity of Science and Technology) On the Radiation Problem of Massive Star Formation |
| Valente Cuambe (Eduardo Mondlane University) Flare parameters inferred from a 3d loop model database |
| Dugasa Belay Zeleke (Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute) Effects of the dynamo magnetic fields on observational properties of Accreting Millisecond X-ray Pulsars |
| Palesa Nombula (SARAO/UWC) Cleaning HI Intensity Mapping using Machine Learning |
| Michael Sarkis (University of the Witwatersrand) Did Dark Matter Kill the Dinosaurs? |
| Benkhaldoun Zouhair (Oukaimeden Observatory, Cadi Ayyad University) On the new discovery of extrasolar comet Borisov |
| Patrice M. OKOUMA (UNISA & NOMMO ASTRONOMIA) Two Birds in One Shot: When Radio-Astronomy meets Space Science in/for Africa |
Day 3 (18 March 2020): Education, Development and Outreach focus
| 08:30 | Registration |
| Session 1 (Plenary): Laying out the LandscapeChair: Sarah Abotsi-Masters | |
| 09:00 | Opening of the EDO focus day:Prof. Jamal Mimouni, AfAS President |
| 09:15 | Kevin Govender (IAU-OAD) Astronomy for Development Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) ROAD coordinators introduction (5 minutes) |
| 09:25 | Lina Canas (IAU OAO) Invited talk (8 + 2 minutes) Remote Talk |
| 09:35 | TBC (IAU OAE)Invited talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 09:45 | Vanessa McBride (IAU-OAD/UCT) The IAU General Assembly 2024 Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| Session 2 (Plenary): Pan-African Programs Chair: Kevin Govender | |
| 10:00 | Bonnie Thurber (Lawrence Berkeley Lab) Astronomy research by student teams modelled after real astronomy research Invited talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 10:10 | Olayinka Fagbemiro (ASTRONOMERS WITHOUT BORDERS (AWB) NIGERIA) The roles of Amateur Astronomers in the Propagation of Astronomy in Africa Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 10:20 | Alemiye Yacob (EA-ROAD/Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute(ESSTI)) Overview of EA-ROAD and Space Science Development in Ethiopia Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 10:30 | Simon Katrini Anguma (MUNI UNIVERSITY) Towards Human Resource Training and Development in Astrophysics in the Eastern African Region Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 10:40 | Michelle Gerbaldi (Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris) Telescopic Observations from School to University Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 10:50 | Niruj Ramanujam (SARAO) The Transit of Mercury Africa campaign on 2019 – lessons learned + Towards an Africa-wide public campaign for the Annular Solar Eclipse on 21 June 2020 Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 11:00 | Tea (Poster session) |
| Session 3 (Plenary): Astronomy Outreach – A Continental Diversity Chair: TBC | |
| 11:30 | Beza Zewdie (Ethiopian Space Science Soceity) Astrobus Ethiopia, Engaging Ethiopian Youth in Astronomy Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 11:40 | Olayinka Fagbemiro (ASTRONOMERS WITHOUT BORDERS (AWB) NIGERIA) A Report on AWB Astronomy Program in Nigeria Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 11:50 | Kam Zacharie (Université Joseph KI-ZERBO) Astronomy outreach and education in Burkina Faso Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 12:00 | Tahina Ranaivomanana Developing Astronomy in Madagascar: Young Malagasy graduate students taking charge Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) Remote Talk |
| 12:10 | Tensae Ali (Mekelle University) Brief overview of outreach methods at the Ethiopian Space Science Society Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) Remote Talk |
| 12:20 | Kirubel Menberu (Ethiopian Space Science Society) Projects on expansion and development of amateur astronomy for youth in Ethiopia Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) Remote Talk |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| Session 4 Parallel-Thematic | Inclusion and Engagement Chair: TBC | Affordable Portable Planetaria Chair: Jamal Mimouni |
| 13:50 | Onuche Ogu (NASRDA/AWBNigeria) IDP Children Astronomy Outreach Project- Overview Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Jamal Mimouni Introduction |
| 14:00 | Johnson Urama (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) The African Cultural Astronomy Project: the hidden treasure Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Sqalli Houssaini Nasser (Association Astronomie Amateur Marrakech 3AM) Small planetariums for schools and amateur associations Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 14:10 | Daniel Cunnama (South African Astronomical Observatory) Beyond 200 Years of Astronomy Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Eli Kasai (University of Namibia) The Mobile Planetarium Project in Namibia Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 14:20 | Tshiamiso Makwela (University of Cape Town) Probing student engagement of distances in astronomy Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Hichem Guergouri (Bejaia University) Constantine Cosmic Caravane Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 14:30 | Sally Macfarlane (University of Cape Town) A Fulldome look at African Astronomy Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Zridi Abdeltif (Education National Marocaine) Affordable Planetarium Ideas Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes)Remote talk |
| 14:40 | Alexander Sivitilli (University of Cape Town) Exploring Productive Modes of Engagement in the Planetarium Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Discussion: Affordable Portable Planetaria (facilitated by Jamal Mimouni) 50 minutes |
| 14:50 | Discussion: Annular Solar Eclipse of 21 June; planning continental outreach campaigns Facilitators: Niruj Ramanujam and Alemiye Yacob Niruj Ramanujam and Alemiye YacobIntroduction (5 minutes) (25 minutes) |
15:30 Tea (Poster session)
| Session 5 Parallel-Thematic | Astronomy education in schools Chair: Palesa Nombula | Astronomy in Universities Chair: Carolina Ödman and Niruj Ramanujam |
| 16:00 | Mirjana Povic (ESSTI) Teachers trainings in Africa and STEM for GIRLS initiative Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Bonaventure Okere (Centre for Basic Space Science, Nsukka, Nigeria) Astronomy Development in West Africa: The contributions of WAISSYA Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 16:10 | Prospery Simpernba (Copperbelt University/SAROAD) Astronomy Education in primary schools as a foundation for STEM & Impact of AstroLab, Go-Lab and NASE workshops, Case Analyses Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Eshraga Abdelsalam (Institute of Space Research and Aerospace (ISRA)) Astronomy development in Sudan opportunities and challenges Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 16:20 | Bashir Yusuf (National Space Research and Development Agency) Astroteach (Train The Trainee) Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Solohery Randriamampandry (SAAO / Univ. of Antananarivo) Astronomy activities in Madagascar: Students, collaborations, and outreach Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 16:30 | Noorali Jiwaji (ASTRONOMY AND SPACE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION OF TANZANIA) Extending Astronomy Knowledge Of Teachers In Tanzania Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Joshua Kalognia (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Promoting Radio Astronomy in Ghana through School Visits and Astronomy Clubs Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 16:40 | Daudi Mazengo (The University of Dodoma (UDOM)) A Luta Continua In Inspiring Astronomy In Tanzania Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Nadeem Oozeer (SARAO) How do we up-skill Africa through the JEDI? Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 16:50 | Seyedamir Sadatmoosavi (University of Tehran) Astronomy Olympiad in Africa Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Ruby van Rooyen (SARAO) Using MeerKAT to build engineering and science capacity Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) |
| 17:00 | Bonnie Thurber (Lawrence Berkeley Lab) A short introduction to HOU Contributed talk (8 + 2 minutes) | Facilitating observational astronomy in universities (facilitated by Carolina and Niruj) – 45 min |
| 17:10 | Citizen Science Projects in Africa; bringing astronomy into classrooms (facilitated by Bonnie Thurber and Palesa Nombula) – 40 min |
18:00 Close
Education, Development and Outreach Posters
| Zara Randriamanakoto (South African Astronomical Observatory) The future of Astronomy in Africa: the role of the graduate students and early careers |
| Beza Tesfaye Zewdie (Ethiopian Space Science Soceity ) Ethiopian Space Science Society for development of Astronomy in Ethiopia |
| Sukuma Mkhize (UWC) Tiny Dot, Sun in the Background |
| Allen Versfeld (Space in Africa) Podcasts as an astronomy outreach tool |
| Seren Ulusoy (BIUST) Highlights of the recent developments of Astronomy in Botswana |
| Sukuma Mkhize (UWC) Urban Astronomy |
Day 4 (19 March 2020): AfAS Business focus
| Agenda for the AfAS General Assembly | |
| 09:00 | – Welcome – Apologies and quorumAdoption of AgendaPresident’s report (overall summary of AfAS activities) – Sub-Committees (reports from committees, membership of committees, motivation for current/new committees) – Financial report – Membership (summary report and approval of new members) |
| 10:30 | Coffee |
| 11:00 | – Hosting of AfAS Secretariat (DSI proposal, location, selection of staff) – AfAS Constitution (proposed changes for adoption) – AfAS Business plan and budget (for approval of GA) – Executive committee membership (obtain GA approval for current members and any additional members) – Resolutions of the GA Next AfAS meeting and GA |
| 13:00 | Closure |
| 13:30 | Lunch, networking, Hackathon, side meetings, collaborations |
| 17:00 | Venue Close |
