The ilifu consortium would like to invite current and prospective users of the ilifu cloud computing facility to a user engagement workshop where we will present the current status of the ilifu cloud computing facility and opportunities to run new Astronomy and Bioinformatics projects on the facility. This workshop aims to provide support and background information for the current call for … Read More
We were excited once again to host our second instalment of the SEADS seminar series. We were proud to host students, academics and researchers from various universities including the University of the Western Cape, University of Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town. This second talk was given by MJ Schwartz from the Cape Town Science Centre. MJ has been … Read More
We were very happy to welcome Kiara, a Grade 11 learner from Edgemead High School during the last school holidays. She spent two days at IDIA getting to see what work we do from taking part in a curriculum design workshop to the IDIA data processing pipeline. We also got the opportunity to visit the South African National Bioinformatics Institute, … Read More
For the second instalment of the SEADS (Science Engagement And Development Seminar) series, we are welcoming the Cape Town Science Centre. Strategic Science Communication MJ Schwartz, Education Manager, Cape Town Science Centre Science communication is a powerful tool for engaging society, able to bring about measurable differences. In order to maximise the reach and impact of science communication, strategic infrastructure … Read More
The Western Cape is host to many science engagement initiatives. From University community outreach to non-profits, private citizens and organisations engage with the public and use science and technology to stimulate development. While everyone is busy running those programmes, there is yet to be a forum for practitioners of science and technology engagement and development to come together and share … Read More
The Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy through its partner institutions conducted outreach activities over the past three weeks. IDIA has engaged students at the University of Cape Town and the University of the Western Cape on the potential careers in for Astronomers in Big Data, Data Science and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. IDIA hosted an information table at … Read More
Could you be an Astronomer? That is a question we would like to ask all young aspiring scientists. To help them answer, IDIA has prepared a resource that gives some ideas of what it means to be an astronomer. With input from astronomy graduate students from across the country, a picture emerges of a fun discipline that can be learnt … Read More
Listeners of popular Cape Town radio station HeartFM, were treated to an exciting breakfast interview between Associate Professor Carolina Ödman-Govender and Aden Thomas on the #HeartBreakfast radio show. This interview broadly forms part of Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy’s outreach activities, which aims engage the public scientific topics and discoveries. The interview highlighted the phenomena of black holes in particular, … Read More
Associate Professor Roger Deane, based at the University of Pretoria, a partner university at the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy was involved in the development of simulations from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) that lead to the visual imaging of what a black hole should look like. Assoc. Prof. Deane worked alongside post-doctoral fellow, Dr Iniyan Natarajan based at … Read More
“Being a scientist isn’t just about knowing things – it’s about seeking knowledge and solving problems and finding answers, and it requires creativity, passion and tenacity.” It’s that kind of thinking that drives astrophysicist Palesa Nombula to devote her time to studying the stars. And it’s that kind of thinking that made her the perfect science interpreter to take part … Read More
