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

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

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

UoN

2. Astronomy Staff at UoN

Mr Geoffrey Okeng'o (SKA)

Ms Susan Murabana

Prof. Paul Baki Dr J. Buers Awuor

(a). Teaching Staff

2. Staff Contd...(b) Other Support Staff

Mr. Muthoka Mr. Obure

Mr. Adero

3. Other Universities....

Distribution of Galileoscopes:

- University of Nairobi - 40

- Maseno University - 20

- Kenyatta University - 20

- Egerton University - 20

- Moi University - 20

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

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!

Astronomy students at UoN

Astronomy students at UoN

Lab Session

An astronomy practical Lab session at UoN

Astronomy students at UoN

An astronomy practical lab session at UoN

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)-

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

SCINDA &SID SYSTEMS

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)

6. Activities contd...

- Public lectures in other universities

- Occasional media interviews and request for astronomy articles

- Ethnoastronomy surveys

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?

Acknowledgements

SKA South Africa – for invitation & local hospitality

Thank you!