Tag Archives: astro-chemistry

African astronomy and how one student broke into the field

Posted on by

Africa is investing in a future of astronomy research, but students need access to inspirational lecturers, says Gina Maffey.

Mutie at the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory (GRAO) at Kuntuse, Ghana

Isaac Mumo Mutie

What do you do when the degree you want to study is not offered by your university?

You study it anyway.

“I did a lot of personal research online, looking for answers” says Isaac Mumo Mutie, an astronomy student who studied at the Technical University of Kenya. While studying for a Bachelor of Technology in Technical and Applied Physics, Professor Paul Baki introduced Mutie to astronomy, and Mutie would consult with him in his spare time.

“He would ask me ‘why are you interested? This is not part of the curriculum.’ But I insisted.” Continue reading →

A student shaping the future of African astronomy

Posted on by

Africa is investing in a future for astronomy research, but it requires a fresh cohort of enthusiastic people to make it happen. Gina Maffey talks to one dedicated scientist.

Asabre Frimpong (second from the left) and Prof-smaller

“I want to see Africa lit up.” Naomi Asabre Frimpong says with a laugh, “I want to show how Africa can be forward thinking. I want to make sure that we are not left behind.”

Asabre Frimpong is a 2nd year PhD student at the University of Manchester, in the UK, and her enthusiasm — for both astronomy and science in general — is infectious.

She says she was attracted to science through chemistry, and studied for a BSc and MPhil in Ghana. A post at the Ghana Space Science and Technology Centre introduced her to astronomy and shortly afterwards, on an astronomy and astrophysics training scheme in India, her worlds collided as she discovered astro-chemistry – the study of chemical reactions in space Continue reading →