status of astronomy education in kenya by paul baki 1,2 & g. okeng'o 2 1 department of...
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STATUS OF ASTRONOMY EDUCATION IN KENYA
By
Paul Baki1,2 & G. Okeng'o2
1Department of Technical & Applied PhysicsThe Kenya Polytechnic University College
P.O Box 52428, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya
2Department of Physics, School of Physical Sciences
University of NairobiP.O Box 30197-00100 Nairobi, Kenya
SKA Annual Postgraduate Bursary Conference, Stellenbosch University, December 2010
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1. Introduction
• There are 7 Public universities in Kenya offering Physics:
- University of Nairobi
- Kenyatta University
- Moi University
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology
- Egerton university
- Maseno University
- Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology
SKA Annual Postgraduate Bursary Conference, Stellenbosch University, December 2010
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1. Introduction
• The University of Nairobi has about 50,000 students. Three of its 7 Campuses & 3 constituent colleges offer Physics:
1. Campuses:
- Chiromo Campus – BSc (Physics), BSc (Astronomy & Astrophysics)
- Kenya Science Campus – Bed (Science)
2. Constituent colleges:
- Kenya Polytechnic University College – Tech & Applied Physics
SKA Annual Postgraduate Bursary Conference, Stellenbosch University, December 2010
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UoN
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2. Astronomy Staff at UoN
Mr Geoffrey Okeng'o (SKA)
Ms Susan Murabana
Prof. Paul Baki Dr J. Buers Awuor
(a). Teaching Staff
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2. Staff Contd...(b) Other Support Staff
Mr. Muthoka Mr. Obure
Mr. Adero
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3. Other Universities....
Distribution of Galileoscopes:
- University of Nairobi - 40
- Maseno University - 20
- Kenyatta University - 20
- Egerton University - 20
- Moi University - 20
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3. Galileoscopes ...Distribution of Galileoscopes:
- Masinde Muliro UST - 20
- Jomo Kenyatta UAT - 20
- Kenya Polytechnic UC - 20
- Pwani Univ. College - 10
- Kabarak University - 10
- Armature Astronomers - 51
...Introducing Astronomy in their Physics programmes!
Total - 251
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4. Astronomy Programme at the UoN
(a) The Bsc. Astrophysics & Astronomy programme:
- 19 Second year students (3 ladies; 3 self sponsored)
- 18 First year students ( 1 lady; 2 self sponsored)
- Annual Target of ~ 30 per class• We are not badly off in terms of enrolment!
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Astronomy students at UoN
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Astronomy students at UoN
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Lab Session
An astronomy practical Lab session at UoN
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Astronomy students at UoN
An astronomy practical lab session at UoN
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5. Facilities
(b) Upcoming National facilities:
• Kenya International Radio Observatory:- To be funded by the National Council for Science and Technology- Nodes in Nairobi, Maseno, Moi , & JKUAT Universities. Operate in the frequency range (10-240 MHz)- LOFAR system. A Multi-frequency Interferometric Imaging telescope
• Compound Astronomical Low -Cost Low -Frequency Instrument for Spectroscopy and Transportable Observatory (CALLISTO)-
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5. Facilities Contd.
CALLISTO - Radio spectrometer – collaboration with Institute of Astronomy, Zurich Switzerland (To be installed).
• SCINDA GPS & VHF Systems - for ionospheric studies – collaboration with AFRL & BC
• MAGnetic Data Acquisition System (MAGDAS)- collaboration with SERC , Japan
• SID Monitors – Stanford Univ.Collaboration
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SCINDA &SID SYSTEMS
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6. Activities
Workshops & Outreach Two workshops so far:-
• Launch of IYA 2009, May 2009 -Nairobi (Public talk by P. Baki)- 42 participants
• TAD/DAG Regional Astronomy Workshop November 2009 -45 -participants from entire EA (public talk by Prof. Edward Guinan- TAD, Prof. C. McGruder, Prof. Van Groningen) : Ethiopians, 2 Rwandese, 2 Uganda, 2 Tanzania.
Resource persons: Kevin, Petri (SA), C. McGruder, Hakeem Oluseyi (USA), Edward Guinan (USA- chair of TAD)
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6. Activities contd...
- Public lectures in other universities
- Occasional media interviews and request for astronomy articles
- Ethnoastronomy surveys
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7. Challenges
• No Astronomical Observatory yet
• Shortage of staff:- Still coping but will soon get overwhelmed.
• Other universities - A few other universities are willing to offer astronomy after receiving Galileoscopes but staff shortage is a limiting factor!
• Job opportunities- who knows where?
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Acknowledgements
SKA South Africa – for invitation & local hospitality
Thank you!