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23 January 2009

The South African Chair of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, Mr Kevin Govender
Astronomy professionals and enthusiasts
The science outreach community
Students, learners, ladies and gentlemen

Africa and astronomy date back a long way together. The first known evidence of human activity in the field of astronomy is in Africa, and dates over 10 000 years ago. The place was Nabta Playa, a dry lake situated in the Southern Egyptian desert. Here, on the western edge of the Nabta basin, archaeologists discovered an arrangement of stone megaliths, or large free standing stones.
Many of them carefully shaped, weighed up to one and a half tons and appeared to radiate out from a single point. One of the stone circles has a line-of-sight 'window' at an azimuth of 62.

The rising mid-summer sun should have been visible in that direction around 6 000 years Before Christ (BC). These stone megaliths is the oldest astronomically aligned structure yet discovered, preceding Britain's similar and more famous Stonehenge by at least a thousand years. Nabta Playa also predates the Great Pyramids at Giza; Africa's other claim for recognition as the planet's astronomical pioneer. The alignment of the pyramids is in strict accord with clear astronomical principles and the precision with which this was achieved, remains one of the marvels of history.

Our country's involvement with classical western astronomy also has a long and distinguished history. In 1685, 76 years after Galileo made his first observations through a telescope, a Jesuit priest on route to Thailand, Father Tachard, set up a temporary observatory on the site of what is now the Supreme Court of Cape Town. And in 1751, France's Royal Academy of Sciences sent the Abbe de Lacaille here.

The Abbe was highly qualified in science and mathematics. He set up an observatory in what is now Strand Street, and from there he charted the positions of almost 10 000 stars, catalogued 42 nebulas, named a number of constellations and is widely regarded as the person who laid the foundations for modern Southern Hemisphere astronomy.

The beginnings of the South African Astronomical Observatory were far from propitious. On 20 October 1820, the British Admiralty agreed to construct an observatory at the Cape. To supervise this, they chose a young Cambridge mathematician, astronomer and clergyman, the Reverend Fearon Fallows. Unfortunately, the captain of the vessel which conveyed Fallows to the Cape delivered the scientist, together with his large contingent and cargo of astronomical instruments, not in Cape Town, but in Simonstown.

The British authorities in Cape Town were unwilling to assist in the transportation or storage of the astronomical instruments, until they were compelled by President van Breda. Thereafter, Fallows was grudgingly provided with a prefabricated hut and a piece of land in Kloof Street on which to begin his work. It was from here that Fallows began his observation of the Southern Stars.

But Fallows' brief was not to sit in a hut, but to build a permanent observatory. This was by no means an easy task. Finding a site was complicated by the sand and dust storms that tormented many regions of the peninsula; by the "tablecloth" or cloud system that often swept over the mountain; and by the fact that the British Admiralty mislaid the plans for the proposed structure several times over three years. Finally, however, approvals were given, and in 1825, a contractor was appointed. The site selected was a swampy area between the Liesbeek and the Black River, on a rocky mound known as 'Snake Hill'. Fallows soon discovered the reason for this name; for he reported that it was not uncommon to kill 90 snakes during a single day of building.

Yet, despite numerous obstacles, construction was completed and the main instruments were fitted in 1829. But that effort was too much for poor Fearon Fallows. After just three years in residence, he died of recurrent scarlet fever and overwork. He is buried in front of the building. Fallows' assistant and wife, Mary Ann Fallows, discovered a comet in the constellation of Octans. So, by more than a century, she claims first place on the roll of South Africa's female astronomical observers.

Today we are gathered here to mark the 180th anniversary of the completion of the first stage of the South African Astronomical Observatory and to celebrate the International Year of Astronomy 2009. As most of you know, our country is suffering a crippling shortage of maths, science and technology graduates. Generally, there is a world-wide skills shortage in these disciplines.
But in our case, the problem is due to a number of underlying factors, such as our historical legacy; poor education in the majority of our schools; language of instruction challenges; and simple ignorance about the role that maths, science and technology graduates can actually play in society.

It is this last problem that the astronomy community can help to address. Our history in astronomical achievements reads like a novel. Our accomplishments in this field rank with the most glittering in the world. And our future in astronomy looks very rosy indeed. With this story we can inspire many and fulfil the dreams of the talented. To achieve this, we must all help to spread the story of South Africa's developments in astronomy. The declaration of 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy did not happen by chance. South Africa joined hands with other members of the international astronomy community to lobby the United Nations (UN) until the general assembly declared 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy.

As already indicated, this year is the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first astronomical observations. There is much to celebrate, and the celebrations are led by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), together with the International Astronomical Union.
The grand theme "the universe, yours to discover", will introduce a global celebration of astronomy and its contribution to society and culture that has a strong emphasis on education, public engagement and the involvement of young people. Events will take place at national, regional, and global levels throughout the year.

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is supported by eleven cornerstone projects. These are global programmes of activities centred on a specific theme, and are seen as the means of achieving IYA2009's main goals. They include, among others, the promotion of women in astronomy; the preservation of dark-sky sites around the world and educating and explaining the workings of the universe to millions. These cornerstones underpin the success of the IYA2009.

And in recognition of the role IYA2009 has to play in developing nations, especially those that have no observatories or astronomy departments in their universities, the 11th cornerstone is entitled "Developing Astronomy Globally", and is being run from the offices of this South African Astronomical Observatory.

Thousands of people around the world have begun to prepare for this event. In South Africa, there will be a number of activities taking place, which will be co-ordinated by our observatories, planetariums, science centres, together with astronomy enthusiasts across the country.

In the months leading up to the start of this year, workshops and training events were held to empower as many science outreach staff as possible with the ability to use astronomy to stimulate interest in maths and science.
South Africa has also taken a leading role on the African continent to ensure IYA2009 benefits as many people across Africa as possible. My department has been raising the national flag within the field of Astronomy, through the establishment of facilities such as the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) located at Sutherland. The SALT was built with a specific intention to benefit people throughout Africa.

My department does not only establish facilities; it also manages programmes to develop the human capital to run these facilities such as the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP). To us IYA2009 is not just an occasion for promoting Astronomy; it is also an opportunity for stimulating the imaginations of our young and old across the continent. Education is important. Hence we will use IYA2009 to stimulate curiosity and inquisitiveness in the minds of the people of South Africa and Africa, and to inspire them to embrace a culture of learning.

For this reason, the theme adopted by numerous African countries involved in IYA2009 is "astronomy for education." Africa is the birthplace of astronomy. She harnessed her knowledge derived from astronomy into a science to keep proper schedules for planting and harvesting and predict major climatic changes. In modern times, South Africa is Africa's technological leader and we have a responsibility to use this position to the continent's benefit. In addition, we occupy a uniquely favourable geographical position to become a premier astronomy destination.

Recognising this, in the last two years, we successfully facilitated the process of promulgating the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Bill into law. The Act provides for the preservation and protection of areas within South Africa that are uniquely suited for optical and radio astronomy.

Furthermore, the act provides for intergovernmental co-operation and public consultation on matters concerning nationally significant astronomy advantage areas. This will not only help us improve the status of astronomy in the country, but will also increase our national participation in astronomy research, and improve our management of all astronomy related matters.

The department's 10 year plan on innovation will ensure that fundamental objectives such as human resource development, research and facility optimisation, and competitive participation in the international astronomy arena are achieved and sustained. Together with Australia, South Africa has been short-listed to host the Square Kilometre Array Telescope, or SKA. This will be by far the biggest radio telescope in the world, and in many ways the largest terrestrial astronomical endeavour ever attempted.

This development clearly demonstrates the growing recognition of South Africa's unique geographical position, and her capacity to contribute to the global astronomy knowledge base through leading-edge facilities and highly capable specialised professionals.

We stand a good chance of winning this bid. We are also confident that we can develop and utilise the SKA to its maximum efficiency, and turn it into the most effective instrument that the world's astronomers and physicists have ever had in their "tool kit".

We have much to celebrate today. Astronomy in South Africa is thriving. Astronomy can become the catalyst by means of which more Africans can be drawn into the sciences and the maths disciplines.

In order to heighten our people's interest in astronomy, the department has sponsored a free booklet detailing all the wonderful activities scheduled for the International Year of Astronomy, and a pair of safety glasses, in all independent group newspapers today to enable as many South Africans as possible to witness the partial eclipse of the sun. I am confident that through such and many other efforts, more of our young people will be attracted to careers in the sciences. On this optimistic note, it gives me a singular pleasure to declare the International Year of Astronomy 2009 officially open.

Thank you all.

Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
23 January 2009
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za/)