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

2. Staff Contd... (b) Other Support Staff Mr. Muthoka Mr. Obure Mr. Adero

3. Other Universities.... Distribution of Galileoscopes: - University of Nairobi Maseno University Kenyatta University Egerton University Moi University - 20

3. Galileoscopes... Distribution of Galileoscopes: - Masinde Muliro UST Jomo Kenyatta UAT Kenya Polytechnic UC Pwani Univ. College Kabarak University Armature Astronomers 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

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 ( 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 Nairobi (Public talk by P. Baki)- 42 participants TAD/DAG Regional Astronomy Workshop November 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!