The Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), a partnership of the University of Cape Town (UCT); University of Pretoria (UP) and University of the Western Cape (UWC), has taken the decision to close its offices. This is in line with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of a State of National Disaster, and our decision to implement precautionary, proactive measures to … Read More
Academics from the University of Cape Town (UCT) are part of a research group led by the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics that has observed a black hole ejecting material at close to the speed of light out to some of the largest angular distances (separations) ever seen. These observations have allowed a deeper understanding of how black holes … Read More
The Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy was honoured to have Prof. Ewine Fleur van Dishoeck, professor of Molecular Astrophysics at Leiden Observatory and president of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), who dedicated a whole morning out of her incredibly busy schedule to deliver a special colloquium at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of the Western … Read More
We are pleased to announce that SPARCS X 2020 “Capturing science from the pathfinder survey data” will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, 8-11 September 2020. Registration will soon be open via: https://www.idia.ac.za/SPARCS2020/ SPARCS is the forum to maximize the scientific return from the SKA Pathfinder projects’ continuum surveys. The SKA PAthfinder Radio Continuum Survey (SPARCS) Working Group has the following goals: To coordinate developments of techniques, to avoid … Read More
IDIA’s Development and Outreach shines at international Science for Development meeting. An international, interdisciplinary workshop on “Science for Development” was be held on January 30-31, 2020 at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town, South Africa. The aim of the workshop was to create a space for interaction between natural scientists, technology experts, social scientists and development practitioners in … Read More
The Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive and the Astronomy Department at the University of Cape Town (UCT) will host Dr Ugo Becciani from the Catania Astrophysical Observatory, Italian Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) in Catania (Sicily). As part of the visit Dr. Becciani will give a talk at the UCT entitled “Towards Astronomical Big Data Analysis – Visual Analytics, Machine Learning … Read More
IDIA is pleased to welcome Prof. Ewine F. van Dishoeck from Leiden Observatory (Leiden University) who will be our next speaker for the SEADS Series. Prof. van Dischoeck is the current President of the International Astronomical Union. The elements we know, from helium to uranium, are made in stars. Now, research is looking into how these elements combine – still … Read More
This SEADS seminar was held at the South African Astronomical Observatory because access to the UWC campus was not possible. We are grateful to SAAO for hosting the seminar. It was therefore also streamed online with good participation in spite of the logistical challenges we faced. Dr. Ramanujam covered many topics in his presentation, giving an overview of popular science … Read More
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most luminous explosions in the cosmos. These explosive events last several seconds and during that time they they release in 10 seconds in gamma rays as much energy as the sun will emit in its 10-bilion year life. Such extreme amounts of energy can only be released during catastrophic events like the death of a … Read More
Astrophysicist Carolina Ödman was born in Switzerland, earned her PhD at Cambridge University, and has worked all over the world – but it’s in South Africa that she’s found her true home. Her work in pushing science outreach and education in the country (and beyond) has earned her a nomination for AfricaCom Female Innovator of the Year 2019. “The nomination … Read More
