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UCT Research Report '11
492
DepartmentofAstronomy
(Including the Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravitation
Centre)
Acting Head of Department: Associate
Professor Patrick Woudt
Head of Department: Professor Renée C.
Kraan-Korteweg on sabbatical for 2011
Departmental Profile
The Department of Astronomy has welcomed three new
staff members in 2011.
Professor Claude Carignan has joined the Department as
the South African SKA-SARChI Chair in Multi-wavelength
Astronomy and Professor Rob Fender as part-time visiting
SKA Professor. Dr Vanessa McBride has taken up the
UCT/SAAO joint Lecturer position previously held by Dr
Thebe Medupe. Our postdoctoral cohort has grown from
two at the beginning of 2011 to eight at year end.
The Department specialises in the study of the distance
scale, large-scale structure and evolution of galaxies
in the Universe, next to high-speed photometry and
spectroscopy of variable stars.
Particular emphasis is being given on uncovering galaxies
obscured by the Milky Way and the mapping of cosmic flow
fields such as in the Great Attractor region. With the start of
scientific observations with SALT, the Southern African Large
Telescope, new research areas have been initiated in galaxy
evolution (as a function of environment and redshift), the dark
matter content in nearby dwarf and low surface brightness
galaxies and the search for intermediate mass black holes.
In the light of the coming of MeerKAT – the large radio
telescope that is being built in the Karoo – the department
has developed expertise in radio astronomy. In particular,
neutral hydrogen studies are used to examine the dynamics
– and thereby the dark matter content - of nearby galaxies.
Members of the Astronomy department are currently
leading four MeerKAT large survey projects of the transient
radio sky (ThunderKAT) as well as deep HI (Laduma and
Mhongoose) and continuum (Mightee) surveys.
Studies of cataclysmic variable stars (exploding stars
such as novae) and pulsating white dwarf stars remain a
highly active research area of the department, in which
the high speed photometric capabilities of SALT also offer
new unique mechanisms to learn more about the physics
of these highly interesting objects.
The Department forms part of the Research Centre for
Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravitation at UCT (http://
www.acgc.uct.ac.za), established in 2009.
The Department is an active participant of the National
Astrophysics and Space Science Programme – hosted
at UCT – which offers Honours and Master’s degrees.
It has strong links with the South African Astronomical
Observatory (SAAO) and the South African SKA project
through joint staffing positions and postgraduate student
supervision. The Department also enjoys active research
collaborations with other groups abroad.
Departmental Statistics
Permanent and long-term contract staff
Professors
3.5
Associate Professor
1
Senior Scholar/Emeritus Professor
1
Senior Lecturer
1
Lecturer
1.5
Visiting SKA Professor
0.1
Administrative Staff
3
Total
11.1
Honorary & Emeritus Staff
Honorary Professor
1
Research Associate
1
Total
2
Affiliated Researchers
Honorary Professor
1
Honorary Academic
1
Total
2
Postdoctoral Fellows
8
Total
8
Students
Doctoral
12
Master’s (Research)
3
Master’s (NASSP Dissertation)
14
Master’s (NASSP Coursework)
19
Honours (NASSP)
19
Undergraduate
179
Total
246