Adventures in African Astronomy

Adventures in African Astronomy

Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory, Ghana (2nd element of the African VLBI Network).

After receiving my PhD in 1990, I took up a post-doc at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory. I looked for a place where problems are solved differently and found it. However, I never thought I’d spend most of the next 30 years in and around this observatory. Astronomy was my primary interest but I left it for firing people in 1998. I was reminded of the joy of astronomy while escaping incarceration in an Angolan prison in 2006. From 2009 to 2012 I worked at the Department of Science & Technology, South Africa, developing African astronomy development programs and SKA lobbying strategies. It was here we began a decade of African telescope projects, and our investigation for millimeter astronomy on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. The Global Emerging Radio Astronomy Foundation (GERAF) was a logical extension. Tonight, I will attempt to entertain you some of my stories related to this journey.

Gordon MacLeod

Dr. Gordon C. MacLeod – is a published PhD astronomer who holds an MBA focused in entrepreneurship and has over 30 years of experience in research, business management & strategy consulting and concept development globally. For most of these 30 years, Gordon worked in South Africa, but also in Mexico and other African countries. For 15 years he improved his observing skills at observatories, for 10 years he fired people, and finally spent the remaining years paying penance for the latter via government policy development and private astronomy & alternative energy consulting. Gordon contributes a wealth of business and specifically observatory operations experience to the Global Energy Radio Astronomy Foundation.