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Volume 4 - 8
| Contents | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 8. To Go Where No Man (or woman) Has Gone Before ... By Byren Mitchel Archary Have you ever wondered how it would feel to surf the Milky Way or sunbathe on the rings of Saturn? Have you ever wished you could travel through a Black Hole? Have you thought that perhaps another ‘You’ exists in a parallel universe? Space is the final frontier and the study of astronomy is your passport to that dimension and beyond. Astronomy research has the potential to make South Africa the world's premier research destination. This exciting field of study is encouraged by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), which has identified astronomy as a science in which South Africa has an obvious advantage. South Africa's bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the South African Large Telescope (SALT) highlights the DST's commitment to the advancement of astronomy and its desire to encourage students to take up the challenge of studying the stars. The SKA and SALT astronomy facilities are flagship projects that will put South Africa at the leading edge of astronomy research. South Africa has been heralded as the Cradle of Humankind, now it may also be called the “World's Eyes to the Universe”. The study of astronomy brings with it the promise of international recognition and travel. There are many avenues of research development and the potential for success is high. Those who want to study astronomy at tertiary level need to show a proficiency in mathematics and physical science. Experience in computer programming and some knowledge of computer languages are an added advantage.   University Of South Africa The department of mathematics, applied mathematics and astronomy at the University of South Africa (Unisa) offers a comprehensive astronomy course, which progresses from undergraduate level, to Master's and Doctorate level. The undergraduate course takes the student through an introduction to astronomy that includes Kepler Orbits in the first year, to the evolution and structure of stars and galaxies in the second. The third year of undergraduate study aims to challenge students with topics such as radiative mechanisms and transfers. The added attraction of studying astronomy at Unisa is the practical work conducted at the Unisa Observatory, a facility whose design and equipment rivals those of professional observatories. University Of Kwazulu-Natal The department of physics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg) prides itself in setting the pace for astronomy in KwaZulu-Natal. The combination of a sound theoretical base and practical field trips ensures that students experience astronomy as an energy that extends beyond the lecture theatre. The University offers astronomy and cosmology lectures during the first, third and honours (fourth) years. A further advantage of studying astronomy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is the exposure to work environments during vacations. University Of The Free State The department of physics at the University of the Free State offers an undergraduate course in astrophysics, coupled with courses in physics. The courses in astrophysics are linked to courses offered by Unisa. Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in science may specialise in astrophysics by pursuing a Master's or a Doctoral degree. The physics department boasts newly upgraded equipment and larger research facilities and uses the newly refurbished Boyden telescope, situated 30 km outside Bloemfontein, as part of its practical instructions to students. University Of Cape Town The department of astronomy at the University of Cape Town offers astronomy at undergraduate level during the first and second year of study. These courses must be taken in conjunction with physics, which is one of the major subjects of study. Physics (or mathematics or applied mathematics) is the foundation for postgraduate study in astronomy and astrophysics. |
| Interested? For further information, visit the
following websites or contact: University of Cape Town: Email: astro@physci.uct.ac.za University of the Free State: http://www.uovs.ac.za University of KwaZulu-Natal: http://www.ukzn.ac.za http://duck.cs.und.ac.za University of South Africa: http://www.unisa.ac.za |
Nominations of potential candidates for the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Board of Directors
