Oral Histories of Individuals Involved in Astronomy in South Africa: Advances with SALT

Transcription

1 Oral Histories of Individuals Involved in Astronomy in South Africa: Advances with SALT Cape Royal Observatory, Cape Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, Cape of Good Hope, photo ca 1842 photo ca 1842 By Prof Lerothodi Lapula Leeuw, University of South Africa and Prof Jarita Holbrook, University of the Western Cape; supported by the NRF The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), recent photo Advances with SALT 14 November 2018 Pretoria, South Africa

2 Content Context for the Talk and the Oral Astronomy History Project in South Africa (SA) Selected Early History of Astronomy in SA or Cape of Good Hope Modern History of Astronomy in SA A Deep and Diversity of Individuals over Time and History in SA History, Development and Astronomy in SA

3 South African Astronomical Observatory, SAAO, will be 200 years in 2020 Cape Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, photo ca 1842 SAAO Headquarters, Recent Picture SAAO Observing Site, Recent Picture

4 Context I The Cape Royal Observatory or South Africa Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) will be 200 years in Also, the Cape of Good Hope or South Africa (SA) will celebrate its 100 year anniversary as an IAU member in 2020, following the IAU centenary in The SA National Research Foundation (NRF) has this developed a Roadmap for the History of Astronomy in South Africa, in anticipation of SAAO s 200 year anniversary in 2020.

5 Context II We are conducting an oral history of astronomers to complement the historical celebrations of the institutions and science relating to astronomy in SA supported by the SA NRF IAU GA 2024 coming to South Africa, the first IAU GA in Africa A Deep and Diversity of Individuals over Time and History in SA Opportunity to Explore In-Links of History, Development and Astronomy in SA and beyond

6 Oral History Goals and Plans Semi-structured Interviews / Conversations Digital Video and Audio Recorded Transcribed, with the video and audio archived Approximately 1.5 (to 2+) hours At least 18 interviews a year for 2.5 years Online archive of > 45 interviews

7 Oral History Target Interviewees Individuals Involved in Astronomy in S Africa Across the country, ages, gender and race, seniority (including directors, HoDs), scope of work (observatories, academic, agencies) time periods (former and present)

8 Interview Protocol CV, Cited Works Identifications / Date / Location Spell Names, Embargos Allowed Background Education/Career Tastes Significant Work

9 Interview Protocol Funding Societies, particularly the IAU Life-work Huddles Religion South African Issues: Apartheid, Black Tax, Empowerment, Gender Current Issues : Sexual Harassment, Big Data, MW, MM Advice

10 The Role of the IAU in SA Astronomy by L Leeuw & J Holbrook 2018 Timeline of Episodes in South African Astronomy Astrographic Astronomy, Carte de Ciel & IAU Participation Royal Observatory kkk Cape Internalization Astrometry, Photometry, Spectroscopy Standardization National Astronomy Expansion with Cape, Radcliffe, Republic, Boyden and Radio & Gamma Ray Observatories i South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) formed; Astronomy in Universities SALT, IYA, OAD, SA SKA, VO, BD MW, MM IAUGA Cape of Good Hope, Self-Rule, under the British Union of South Africa, under the British WWI IAU Formed in 1919, SA becomes Member in 2020; 1st IAU SA VP in 2022 at 1st GA South Africa, a foreign state, with racist Group Areas and Bantu Education Acts limiting access of science for Black Africans WW II Mandela Arrested, Trialed, & Imprisoned Republic of South Africa, with Apartheid Policies that are strongly enforced Limited Direct British Funding to South African Observatories Mandela Released from Prison Free and Inclusive Republic of South Africa Post- Apartheid Liberation Major International and National Historical Events IAUS 349, Centenary Symposium, Aug , 2018 The Role of the IAU in South African Astronomy Lerothodi Leeuw - University of South Africa 10