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Greetings all<br>
Following from my last email please find below more information and
latest schedule of the
tour from the
Department of Science and Technology (schedule subject to minor
changes).<br>
<br>
The NASA astronaut (Dr Jeffrey Hoffman) will be accompanied by the
president
of the International Astronomical Union, Dr Robert Williams, as well as
Prof Charles McGruder. They will be escorted around
the country by Dr Gordon <font size="3" color="black"
face="Bradley Hand ITC"><span
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">MacLeod<o:p>
from the Department of Science and Technology</o:p></span></font> (DST)
who
has also agreed to be the contact point if anyone would like to speak
to
any one of them or find out more details. Gordon's mobile number is 071
850 9079 (email: <a moz-do-not-send="true"
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:Gordon.Macleod@dst.gov.za">Gordon.Macleod@dst.gov.za</a>).
The other contact person from the DST
is Tommy Makhode, Science Communications, 082 379 8268. (Please note
that I am not the organiser of these visits and any queries
should be directed to either Gordon or Tommy at DST)<br>
<br>
The press release on the DST's website:
<a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.dst.gov.za/nasa-astronaut-visits-sa-to-promote-astronomy-and-support-for-ska-bid/">http://www.dst.gov.za/nasa-astronaut-visits-sa-to-promote-astronomy-and-support-for-ska-bid/</a><br>
The information below is not on that website.<br>
<b><br>
NOTE: the information about the tour to Hermanus is incorrect on the
DST website. The public lecture at Hermanus will take place on 13
November from 10:00 to 11:30. Contact person there is Dr Lee-Anne
McKinnell (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za">lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za</a>).</b><br>
<br>
Regards<br>
Kevin<br>
0824878466<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
ASTRONAUT & ASTRONOMER TOUR TO PROMOTE SPACE SCIENCE, ASTRONOMY AND
THE AFRICAN SKA<br>
<br>
1. INTRODUCTION<br>
<br>
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) encourages the development
of science through various astronomy outreach programmes around the
world. Astronomy is seen as an easy way to excite the youth about
science. In particular the IAU has identified Africa as a destination
for these outreach programmes and promoting the growth of interest in
science through astronomy.<br>
<br>
One outreach programme is the Astronaut tour. These tours are arranged
by the IAU where they find willing astronauts to tour a country where
the country provides all local logistical financing and support. Dr
Robert Williams, President, IAU, has arranged that Dr Jeffrey Hoffman,
former NASA Astronaut and Professor at Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and Prof. Charles McGruder, Professor at Western Kentucky
University accompany him on a five-city tour of South Africa (Pretoria,
Bloemfontein, Durban, Kimberley, and Hermanus). The intention of the
tour is to bring astronomy to other regions of South Africa and to
excite and encourage people about the opportunities in astronomy and
space science.<br>
<br>
2. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF DR JEFFREY HOFFMAN<br>
<br>
Dr Jeffrey A. Hoffman (PhD) was born November 2 1944 in Brooklyn New
York. He received a Bachelor of Arts (Astronomy) from Amherst College
in 1966 and his PhD (Astrophysics) from Harvard University in 1971. He
also has an MSc (Material Sciences) from Rice University in 1988. His
primary research interests were high-energy astrophysics (gamma and
x-ray astronomy) and worked on balloon-borne and satellite astronomy
payloads. In 1975 he became the project scientist in charge of the
orbiting HEAO-1 A4 hard X-ray and gamma ray experiment. He has written
or co-authored more than 20 papers.<br>
<br>
Dr Hoffman was selected by NASA in January 1978 and became an astronaut
in August 1979. During his tenure at NASA he assisted with the
development of a high-pressure spacesuit and preparations for assembly
of the International Space Station. His first space mission was aboard
the Shuttle Discovery on 12 – 19 April 1985. He also went into space on
the Shuttle Columbia (2 – 10 December 1990), and Atlantis (31 July – 8
August 1992). On his fourth space mission aboard Shuttle Endeavour (2 –
13 December 1993) he, along with 4 other astronauts, performed a record
5 space walks to service and repair the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
His last space mission was Shuttle Columbia (22 February – 9 March
1996). Dr Hoffman became the first astronaut to log 1000 hours aboard
the Space Shuttle. He has spent 1,211 hours in space and travelled 21.5
million miles.<br>
<br>
Dr Hoffman left NASA and the space programme in July 1997. At present
Dr Hoffman has been seconded by NASA to the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) where he is involved in research projects pertaining
to the International Space Station and lectures on space operations and
design.<br>
<br>
3. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF DR ROBERT WILLIAMS<br>
<br>
Dr Robert Williams received his education from the University of
California, Berkeley and the University of Wisconsin. He received an
Alexander von Humboldt Award from the German government in 1991 for his
original research, and he was awarded the Beatrice Tinsley Prize of the
American Astronomical Society for his leadership of the Hubble Deep
Field project, mankind's deepest view into space which revealed the
early universe with Hubble Telescope. For this project he was awarded
the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 1999. <br>
<br>
Dr Williams is the Distinguished Research Scholar of the Space
Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, USA, and he served as
Director of the Institute from 1993-98. The Institute operates the
Hubble Space Telescope for NASA. Dr. Williams spent 8 years in Chile
as Director of the national observatory of the U.S. in the southern
hemisphere. <br>
<br>
Dr Williams' research specialties are exploding stars and galaxies. He
is a strong advocate for science education and outreach and their
impact on economic development, and he gives many lectures around the
world on the recent discoveries about the universe from the Hubble
Telescope. Dr Williams is currently President of the International
Astronomical Union.<br>
<br>
3. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF PROF CHARLES MCGRUDER<br>
<br>
Prof Charles McGruder has a bachelor's degree in astronomy from the
California Institute of Technology in 1965 and a doctorate from the
University of Heidelberg in Germany in 1974. Prior to coming to Western
Kentucky University (WKU), Prof McGruder spent time at Vanderbilt
University, Fisk University and the University of Nigeria. He was also
a visiting professor at Western Kentucky University in 1989-90.<br>
Prof McGruder has been at WKU since 1993. He was head of WKU's
Department of Physics and Astronomy from 1993 to 2002 and is a past
president of the National Society of Black Physicists.<br>
In 2005, Prof McGruder was appointed to the National Research Council's
Committee on Astronomy and Astrophysics. The committee, which is
appointed by the president of The National Academy of Sciences,
monitors the status of space- and ground-based astronomy and
astrophysics and provides assessments to the National Science
Foundation, NASA, and other institutions as a joint committee of the
Space Studies Board and the Board on Physics and Astronomy. The overall
objective is to encourage progress in astronomy and astrophysics and to
assist the federal government in planning programs in these fields.<br>
His research interests include extrasolar planets, gamma ray bursts,
and the construction of a worldwide network of fully robotic imaging
telescopes. He also has worked on the proposed Kentucky Academy of
Mathematics and Science at WKU.<br>
<br>
4. THE TOUR OBJECTIVES<br>
<br>
Astronomy and space science has been declared as one of the five grand
challenges in South Africa at the Department of Science &
Technology. Development in these fields in South Africa is concentrated
in two main centres, the Western Cape and Gauteng. Small pockets of
research in these fields can be found in the North West Province,
Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State. If South Africa is to
realise the maximum potential of these fields of interest more growth
must be encouraged in the rest of the country. To this end the
Astronaut and the two astronomers will give lectures to the general
public at institutes of higher learning or national facilities in
Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Durban, Kimberley and Hermanus. A schedule of
the tour is attached. <br>
<br>
The objectives of this tour are:<br>
• Excite and encourage young people about astronomy & space
science and science in general.<br>
• Assist smaller centres of research in astronomy & space
science in attracting new people.<br>
• Create greater awareness in the general public about astronomy
& space science and to showcase the efforts made by the South
African government in these fields, e.g. SALT, HESS and MeerKAT.<br>
<br>
4. DST PARTICIPATION<br>
<br>
The tour will begin with a photographic opportunity with the visiting
guests and Minister Pandor. The guests and Minister Pandor are
scheduled to appear on a local morning show on ETV on 9 November 2010.
The will be accompanied at all times in the country by Dr Gordon
MacLeod, Director: Astronomy Frontiers, and a DST representative of the
South African National Space Agency (to be named later).<br>
<br>
A cocktail party shall be held after the UNISA lecture, provided by
UNISA, where members of the local community will be invited, including:<br>
• DST staff<br>
• Ambassadors and embassy staff in Pretoria<br>
• Local government officials<br>
<o:p><br>
<br>
ASTRONAUT SPEAKING TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA<br>
8 - 15 NOVEMBER 2010<br>
TIME Event Place Venue Contact<br>
8 November – 17:00pm Fly to Cape Town (ladies remain in Jo-burg)
Johannesburg <br>
8 November – 19:10pm transport to hotel Cape Town <br>
8 November – 19:30 – 21:00am Dinner Hosted by Minister Cape
Town <br>
9 November – 07:40 – 09:00am “Morning Live” with Min. Pandor Cape
Town <br>
9 November – 09:00 – 10:00am Photo op/media event with Min.
Pandor Cape Town <br>
9 November – 11:50am Fly to Johannesburg Cape Town <br>
9 November – 13:50pm Arrive in O R Tambo Int’l Airport
Johannesburg <br>
9 November – 16:30 – 17:00pm Travel to UNISA Pretoria
Derck Smits (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Smitsdp@unisa.ac.za">Smitsdp@unisa.ac.za</a>)<br>
<br>
9 November – 17:00 – 18:30pm Public lecture at University of South
Africa Pretoria UNISA Derck Smits (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Smitsdp@unisa.ac.za">Smitsdp@unisa.ac.za</a>) and
Rudi Horak (SciEnza) (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Rudi.Horak@up.ac.za">Rudi.Horak@up.ac.za</a>)<br>
9 November – 19:00 – 21:00pm Formal Gathering Pretoria
UNISA Derck Smits (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Smitsdp@unisa.ac.za">Smitsdp@unisa.ac.za</a>) and Rudi Horak (SciEnza)
(<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:Rudi.Horak@up.ac.za">Rudi.Horak@up.ac.za</a>)<br>
10 November – 08:00am Fly to Bloemfontein O R Tambo Airport
<br>
10 November – 09:05am Arrive in Bloemfontein Bloemfontein <br>
10 November – 09:05 – 11:00pm Book in at Hotel Bloemfontein
Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 11:00 – 12:00pm Visit to UFS Dept. of Physics
Bloemfontein Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 12:00 – 13:00pm Lunch at UFS with invited guests
Bloemfontein Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 14:00 – 15:30pm Public Lecture at UFS
Bloemfontein Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 17:00 – 17:30pm Travel to Boyden Observatory
Bloemfontein UFS/Boyden Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 17:30 – 18:00pm Tour of Boyden Observatory
Bloemfontein UFS/Boyden Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 18:30 – 19:30pm Public lecture at Boyden Observatory
Bloemfontein UFS/Boyden Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 19:30 – 20:30pm Dinner at Boyden Observatory
Bloemfontein UFS/Boyden Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
10 November – 20:30 – 21:00pm Observing via telescopes optional
Bloemfontein UFS/Boyden Matie Hoffman (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za">HoffmaMJ@ufs.ac.za</a>)<br>
Piet Menjies<br>
11 November – 07:30am Fly to Durban via Jo-burg Bloemfontein
<br>
11 November – 11:20am Arrive in Durban Durban <br>
11 November – 12:00 – 13:30pm Tour of DUT Durban Gary J
van Vuuren (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:garyvv@dut.ac.za">garyvv@dut.ac.za</a>) Indlebe team<br>
11 November – 14:00 – 15:30pm Lunch and tour of KZNU Durban
Kavilan Moodley (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kavilan.moodley@gmail.com">kavilan.moodley@gmail.com</a>) (ACRU) and Sadha Pillay
(<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pillaysd@ukzn.ac.za">pillaysd@ukzn.ac.za</a>) Head of School: Physics<br>
11 November – 15:00 – 16:30pm Public lecture at KZNU Durban
UKZN Kavilan Moodley (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:kavilan.moodley@gmail.com">kavilan.moodley@gmail.com</a>) (ACRU) and Sadha
Pillay (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pillaysd@ukzn.ac.za">pillaysd@ukzn.ac.za</a>) Head of School: Physics; <br>
Also contact Allison Ruiters of Gateway Science Centre
(<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:aruiterssc@gatewayworld.co.za">aruiterssc@gatewayworld.co.za</a>)<br>
<br>
12 November – 06:30am Fly to Kimberley via Joburg Durban <br>
12 November – 10:15am Arrive in Kimberley Kimberley <br>
12 November – 15:00 – 16:30pm Public lecture at Nat. Inst. Of Higher
Education Kimberley NIHE Anthony Mpisi (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:cpd@nihe.co.za">cpd@nihe.co.za</a>) from
NIHE and Paul Mokwena (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:paulmokwena@gmail.com">paulmokwena@gmail.com</a>) from DOE<br>
<br>
12 November – 18:30pm Fly to Cape Town Cape Town <br>
12 November – 20:05pm Arrive in Cape Town Cape Town <br>
13 November – 08:00 – 09:30pm Drive to Hermanus Hermanus
HMO Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za">lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za</a>) from HMO<br>
<br>
13 November – 10:00 – 11:30pm Public lecture at HMO Hermanus
HMO Dr Lee-Anne McKinnell (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za">lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za</a>) from HMO<br>
<br>
13 November – 11:30 – 13:00pm Tour of HMO Hermanus HMO Dr
Lee-Anne McKinnell (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za">lmckinnell@hmo.ac.za</a>) from HMO<br>
<br>
13 November – 13:00 – 14:00pm Lunch at HMO Hermanus HMO <br>
13 November – 14:00 – 15:30pm Drive back to Cape Town Cape
Town <br>
13 November – 19:00 – 21:00pm Dinner with Consular General (CPT)
Cape Town US Consulate <br>
14 November – all day Private visits in CT area Cape Town <br>
15 November – 09:00 – 09:45am Cape Academy - Tokai Cape Town
Anja Fourie (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:anja@scifest.org.za">anja@scifest.org.za</a>)<br>
<br>
15 November – 13:50 – 15:50pm Fly to Jo-burg (Mr & Mrs Hoffman
and G MacLeod) Cape Town <br>
16 November – 14:30 – 16:30pm Fly to Jo-burg (Mr & Mrs
Williams) Cape Town <br>
<br>
</o:p>
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