STATUS OF ASTRONOMY EDUCATION IN
KENYA
By
Paul Baki1,2 & G. Okeng'o2
1Department
of Technical & Applied Physics
The Kenya Polytechnic University College
P.O Box 52428, 00200 Nairobi, Kenya
2Department
of Physics,
School of Physical Sciences
University of Nairobi
P.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
(a). Teaching Staff
Prof. Paul Baki
Dr J. Buers Awuor
Mr Geoffrey Okeng'o
(SKA)
Ms Susan Murabana
2. Staff Contd...
(b) Other Support Staff
Mr. Obure
Mr. Muthoka
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!