Pan-African School for Emerging Astronomers (PASEA) is an intensive, fully funded educational programme aimed at strengthening astronomy and space science across Africa, organised in collaboration with the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). Driven by initiatives such as the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the biennial programme equips participants with advanced foundational knowledge, hands-on research experience, and professional connections within the African astronomy community.
Each dual-stream summer school brings together approximately 60 participants, comprising 80% teachers and undergraduate students, and 20% postgraduate students, from across the continent. The majority of participants will be selected from the host country to strengthen local capacity development.
Core Missions
Led by an international collaboration of astronomers, PASEA’s core missions are to:
- Develop a critical mass of astronomers within Africa
- Strengthen the community and networks amongst African scientists
- Exchange innovative ideas for teaching and learning between Africa, North America, and Europe
Programme Structure
The science programme will feature lectures from leading researchers in their fields, combined with practical hands-on sessions organised around daily scientific themes aligned with the research conducted at the NWU Centre for Space Research. Postgraduate participants will use their laptops daily for programming, data analysis, and telescope simulations, with specific software requirements and preparation guidance to be communicated by instructors closer to the event date.
Eligibility Requirements
PASEA is open to teachers, undergraduate students, and postgraduate students across Africa who are interested in astronomy and space science. To ensure a successful experience, all applicants must meet the following core requirements:
- Teachers must be currently teaching STEM-related subjects (e.g., Science, Physics, or Mathematics) at the secondary/High School level
- All students must be currently enrolled in (or recently graduated from) a university programme in STEM-related fields (e.g., Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Computer Science, or Engineering)
- Full attendance and commitment for the duration of the school year are required
- Postgraduate participants must bring their own laptop for daily use in programming, data analysis, and telescope simulations
Application Details
Application Deadline: Friday, 17 April 2026 at 17:00 SAST
Event Dates: 14-18 September 2026
Location: Centre for Space Research (CSR), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Interested candidates can access the application form via: https://tinyurl.com/3c4wjtp2
Contact Information
For further information, please contact:
Monica Barnard: monica.barnard@nwu.ac.za
Christo Venter: christo.venter@nwu.ac.za
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