Ethiopia

This is an Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility project of Leiden University’s Faculty of Science with the Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute.

Project summary

The European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (E-ROAD) at the Faculty of Science, Leiden University, regards collaboration and exchange with the ROAD office in Ethiopia as an important strategic goal. Both offices are part of a global network, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and one of the aims is to strengthen bonds with sister offices by sharing the research and management expertise available in each region. This will equip astronomers in low-income countries with the necessary technical and soft skills and therefore stimulate capacity building. The project will thus contribute to sustainable development.

Collaboration and exchange between the E-ROAD in Leiden and the East African ROAD in Ethiopia will increase Ethiopian research capacity in astronomy and related technological fields, including project management, and will build capacity in skills that can be applied both within and outside academia. Exchanges between the ROAD offices in Ethiopia and the Netherlands are an important goal for both partners, to share research and management expertise and promote mutual learning.

The 2022 project builds on previous successful collaboration between Leiden and Ethiopia through the ICM programme. For more information about the previous project, take a look at the 2020 project page.

More information

• Office of Astronomy for Development
• East African ROAD
• International Astronomical Union

Mobility report

In June and July 2024, a dedicated team from the Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute visited and explored collaborative frontiers at Leiden University. In this report, one of the visitors and Director of the East Africa ROAD Alemiye Mamo, reflects on the project and shares his experiences.

As part of the Erasmus+ ICM mobility scheme aimed at fostering international collaboration, research, education, and exchange of students and staff, the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics from the Space Science and Geospatial Institute sent five delegates to the prestigious Leiden Observatory at Leiden University in the Netherlands from June 11-15, 2024. Two team members extended their stay until July 28 for further research engagements. This significant initiative was facilitated by the European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (E-ROAD) in conjunction with the Leiden Office of Student and Educational Affairs.

The visit encompassed a spectrum of collaborative opportunities spanning scientific research, capacity building, student and staff exchanges. Key stakeholders from both institutions, including luminaries like Prof. George Miley (E-ROAD), Prof. Huub Röttering (former Director of Leiden Observatory), Prof. Ewine van Dishoeck (former IAU president), and Dr. Pedro Russo (E-ROAD and coordinator of Science Communication, Outreach, and Society), contributed their expertise to discussions aimed at deepening mutual understanding and paving the way for future joint endeavors.

In addition to Leiden University, the SSGI team engaged with Groningen University, where they met with Prof. Leon Koopmans and Prof. Reynier Peletier of the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute. This broader dialogue included visits to the NOVA Instrumentation Laboratory and ASTRON, enhancing perspectives on cutting-edge astronomical instrumentation and radio astronomy.

Beyond the exchange program, the SSGI teams visit aimed to establish a robust partnership with Leiden Observatory, focusing on:

• Capacity Building and Training: Enhancing skills in Big Data Analysis, Computational Astrophysics, and observational techniques.
• Student Supervision and Research Projects: Fostering a new generation of astronomers through collaborative projects.
• Exploration of Observational and Radio Astronomy: Leveraging technological advancements in these fields.

Throughout the visit, the SSGI team presented their organization's vision, ongoing research projects, and technological innovations. These exchanges stimulated discussions on joint research initiatives and public outreach campaigns, amplifying the impact of astronomy on broader society.