Radio astronomers and STEM
The Problem
- Limited expertise in radio astronomy across low to middle income nations around the world
- A lack of people development programmes across the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields in those nations
- Limited engagement in STEM subjects among young people.
Our research
- Collaborated with other UK Universities including Leeds as the lead partner, to develop an intensive people development programme that has been implemented across Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America
- Created self-sustaining radio astronomy hubs as well as technical training programmes
- Collaborated with governments and schools to influence and support new radio astronomy projects.
Research Impact
- Upskilled thousands of young people in graduate, masters’ and PhD-level training
- Stimulated entrepreneurial activity as well as job and wealth creation, helping nations to seize economic opportunities from new radio telescope networks
- Engaged thousands of schoolchildren in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- Influenced the allocation of £5.5 million in UK government overseas aid.
Researchers:
- Prof Mark Thompson
- Antonio Chrysostomou
- Prof Martin Hardcastle
- Dr Jan Forbrich
- Matt Jarvis