KOTI TAKES PART IN ASTRONOMY SCHOOL AT TURKANA BASIN INSTITUTE

Between September 24 and October 7, 2023, the Ileret site of the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI) hosted its first astronomy school. The school, a collaborative effort between the Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) project and the Kenya Optical Telescope Initiative (KOTI), provided training in astronomy and data reduction techniques to nineteen students from South Africa and Kenya. Lectures on astronomy and astrophysics were conducted in the mornings, followed by hands-on experience with telescopes and data reduction in the evening. The programme also facilitated community engagement through a football game at Ileret village and a stargazing session at Ileret primary school, allowing students to share their newfound knowledge.

The training, led by Prof Melvin Hoare from the University of Leeds, Dr Willice Obonyo from the Technical University of Kenya, and Drs Cyrielle Opitom and James Robison from the University of Edinburgh, with assistance from Vincent Okoth, PhD candidate, University of Edinburgh, provided valuable transferable skills in data analysis, programming, problem-solving, and teamwork. The team received support from the TBI community, led by Medina Lubisia. The students expressed gratitude for the eye-opening experience and the programme's impact on their passion for astrophysics, emphasizing the supportive community formed during the training as a lasting and cherished aspect of their journey.