- Dr. Bonaventure Okere, a renowned astronomer with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), has been awarded the 2024 International Astronomical Union (IAU) prize for astronomy education in Africa. This prestigious award recognizes Okere’s outstanding contributions to creating high-quality educational experiences in astronomy for African university students.
The IAU prizes, established in 2022, are awarded in three categories: Astronomy Outreach, Development, and Education (ODE). The 2024 ODE Education prize is awarded to Okere and his partner, Linda Strubbe, for their leadership in creating educational experiences that have had a significant impact on the continent.
Okere’s work focuses on improving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Nigeria and Africa through the Pan-African School for Emerging Astronomers (PASEA). PASEA was founded by Okere at the IAU 28th General Assembly in Beijing to enhance STEM education in Africa. The school has trained over 300 students from 18 African countries, with the sixth school being held in Tunisia this year.
Okere’s vision is to leverage the world-class astronomy facilities on the continent to develop a critical mass of astronomers who can play key roles in these facilities. His collaborative journey to build this critical mass began in 2012 and led to the founding of PASEA. He expressed his gratitude for receiving the prize, acknowledging that it is a team effort and that he is honored to receive it for PASEA.
The impact of Okere’s initiative is already significant, and it will continue to grow in the future. The awards will be formally presented at the IAU 32nd General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, in August. Okere currently serves as the Director of the Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy at NASRDA, while Strubbe continues to contribute to physics education projects in the U.S. and support African astronomy education.
This achievement highlights the importance of investing in education and the potential for African astronomers to make significant contributions to the field. It also underscores the need for collaborative efforts to develop STEM education in Africa and to leverage the continent’s world-class astronomy facilities.
Okere’s award is a testament to his dedication to improving education in Africa and his commitment to developing a critical mass of astronomers who can play key roles in the continent’s astronomy facilities. His work has the potential to inspire future generations of African astronomers and to contribute to the growth of astronomy in the continent.
