Outreach
Outreach is, in deed, part of the life of a professional astrophysicist. It gives us the opportunity to dispense our work to the broad public. In addition to my experience in science communication via social media, I am directly involved in various “hands-on” outreach activities in the city of Nairobi and the immediate neighborhood.
Below is a list of major recent and past outreach.
The UoN AstroNight is a re-occuring series of talks at the University of Nairobi in Nairobi County, Kenya. The one-hour talks are given to the general public together with a tour to the 20-cm SkyWatcher Telescope. It was a great experience for me to give a talk about the first galaxies at such a memorable event (Feb. 2023). The attendance was great (100 plus visitors) and interested.
To be added soon.
An outdoor stargazing session on a nightsky ( rooftop, physics department-University of Nairobi.)
To be added soon.
An indoor public lecture session during the UoN AstroNight ( Millenium hall 1-University of Nairobi.)
February 2023
To be added soon.
An indoor public lecture session during the UoN AstroNight ( Millenium hall 1-University of Nairobi.)
February 2023
Over the years, I have organized and facilitated outreach activities at the department of physics and the neighborhood community, including:
- Inviting pupils, teachers and parents from The Oaks Academy, Nairobi, for a Public Lecture and Public Sky Viewing at the Department of Physics- University of Nairobi.
- Together with students from the department, I visited and gave general physics and astronomy talks at the following school: Mukumu Girls High School, The Visa Oshwal Primary School, Pangani Girls High School and The Nairobi School.
Photography session during a science outreach at Visa Oshwal School.
June 2019
To date, I have invited the following international and renown guests to give Seminars, back in Nairobi (Department of Physics-University of Nairobi):
- HE Hon. Dr. Wilber Ottichillo, Governor of Vihiga County
- Dr. Nooraji Jiwaji, Open University of Tanzania
- Dr. David Buckley, South African Astronomical Observatory, SAAO
- Dr. Vanessa McBride, Office of Astronomy for Development & SAAO
- Dr. Jessamyn Fairfield (PhD)-Researcher in Nano-materials & Neuromorphic Devices, National University of Ireland, Galoway
- Dr. Claudia Fracchiolla (PhD)– Research Associate in Physics Education, National University of Ireland, Galoway
- Dr. Rose Mutiso (PhD)– Energy Researcher & CEO, Mvawazo Institute, Nairobi-Kenya
- Dr. Willis Obonyo– PhD student in Astrophysics, University of Leeds, UK
- Mr. Eric Kamau and Mr. James Chege– MSc student in Astrophysics at RATT, Rhodes University, South Africa
- Prof. Gernot Groemer– Astronaut, Astronomer & President of the Austrian Space Society
- Dr. Riturpano Goswami– Senior lecturer, Gravity Research Group, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
- Dr. Anne Marie Nzioki– Gravity Research Group, University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa
- Dr. Althea Wilkinson– Astronomer, University of Manchester, UK
- Dr. Pheneas Nkundabakura– Lecturer, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
- Prof. Catherine M. Cress– Principal Scientist at the Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) & Professor of Physics, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
- Dr. Sean February– Research Scientist, Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC), Cape Town, South Africa
Moreover, I have used my international contacts and collaboration to secure scholarships for my students to pursue MSc & PhD abroad:
- Ms. Vivian Atieno– MSc student, University of Leeds, UK- Jan. 2019
- Mr. Carringtone Kinyanjui– MSc student, University of Manchester, UK- Oct. 2019
- Eric Kamau– PhD student in RATT, Rhodes University, South Africa- Jan. 2019
- James Chege– PhD student, Curtin University, Australia- Jan. 2019
- Ms. Anne Njeri Ng’endo– PhD student, University of Leeds, UK- July. 2018
- Ms. Lexy Andati– MSc student in RATT, Rhodes University, South Africa- Jan. 2018