WINDHOEK – The Polytechnic of Namibia (PoN) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the University of Namibia (Unam) and Namibia Institute of Space Technology (NIST) last Wednesday held the 2nd EOSA-RTC symposium in Windhoek themed, “Towards a vision for space science in Namibia.”
Addressing the event, Dr Eino Mvula, the Chief Executive Officer at the National Commission on Research Science and Technology in the Ministry of Education said government recognises the importance of research in science and technology.
He said the commission would play a role in research and development of space science technology through institutions such as Unam and PoN.
Welcoming delegates to the symposium, PoN rector Professor Tjama Tjivikua said: “The symposium marks an important step in our roadmap towards developing the critical human resource skills to drive scientific and technological innovation necessary for knowledge creation and management and thus economic development for our country.”
Tjivikua noted that space exploration quickly escalated from the theoretical to the practical with space flights, earth imaging and space research being conducted from the end of the Second World War and by 1957 satellites, dogs and inter-continental ballistic missiles (IBMs) were launched into space.
He said Namibia needs development in space science technology that will help the country to develop both socially and economically. He said the PoN established earth observation and satellite applications (EOSA) in 2011, in response to a request by the Ministry of Education and the Namibia Institute of Space Technology (NIST).
‘‘In as much as Namibia has not led in these developments scientifically or economically, we have all experienced the benefits of the scientific and technological developments. Thus, we are currently at a critical juncture with a number of space science activities taking place and others being initiated. These activities include the already established HESS project, the CTA project and the SKA project, ” said Tjivikua.
He emphasised the importance of space science in a country such as Namibia in detecting climatic conditions such as flooding and drought. Space has a huge potential in developmental areas such agriculture and land management.
With its transformation into the Namibia University of Science and Technology, PoN will put greater emphasis on developing science technology, he said. PoN will enroll about 500 students in January 2014 in space science and technology from certificates to master’s degree levels.
The workshop was attended by a number of high profile academics and researchers, among them Robert van Zyl the Director of the French South African Institute of Technology (FSAIT) and Japanese Professor Hinori Sahara from the School of Design at Tokyo Metropolitan University who gave an overview on Japanese space education activities.
Paidamwoyo Mangara, the research and application development manager for the South African Space Agency (SANSA) said the exploration of space plays an important role in a country’s development,
‘‘Namibia has the opportunity to engage in space science at a global level,’’ he concluded.
Story by Memory Mutenda