New African Science Stars Magazine arrives in Botswana Coincides with Botswana’s satellite project plans

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At the end of 2020, President Mokgweetsi Masisi launched what has been dubbed “an ambitious satellite project.” He promised that over the next three years there will be a concerted effort at ensuring that Botswana gets its own satellite project called “Botswana Sat-1 Project” that will aid and assist in various sectors across the country. After this announcement, a South African magazine, Science Stars, took a giant leap into Africa by launching its African Science Stars edition which is now distributed in all Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries that include Botswana. The first issue came out in May 2021. It is edited by former University of Cape Town media lecturer and publisher, Unathi Kondile, who spent most of last week traversing Botswana introducing the magazine to various stakeholders. “With the looming advent of the Botswana satellite project, we thought it wise to also bring African Science Stars into the country,” an ebullient Kondile said. “This is a magazine that primarily targets high school learners and youth in general. The aim is to simplify science. “We sit down with astronomers, geoscientists, physicists, aeronautical engineers and various other scientists and we get them to break down some of the most complex concepts that they work with on a daily basis. We also delve deep into science career options,” Kondile added. In the case of President Masisi’s space programme, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) will host this programme that will see the country launch its own earth observation 3U nanosatellite into space. The role of a magazine like African Science Stars would then be to come in and say: “Now we want young people to understand clearly what a satellite programme is, and we further want them to be informed on what career opportunities accompany what President Masisi has launched here. “We must demystify this myth that sciences are only reserved for bright sparks only. Clear, jargon-free explanations can make science accessible. It can lead to the young African child dreaming of one day going to space.” Batswana should be excited by the upcoming Satellite programme, which Kondile explained it as follows: “For our young reader, our magazine clarifies what satellites are. Satellites are like our own eyes in the sky.

“The satellite however, is much stronger than the eye. It can take images of about 60 x 60 km squared in one shot. A satellite has an aerial view of your field. “So think about the many opportunities that exist for Botswana, by just having this mirror in space. This will help in agriculture, town planning and is applicable in almost every single government department that works with data.” Speaking on the 18th of December 2020 President Masisi said the project will be demanding as this will be the first time the country will be launching a satellite into space. “However, we can capitalise on the data and apply it in various industries such as our current focus that is agriculture, it will contribute towards the growth and development of the nation,” Masisi said, adding that the space project is aligned to Botswana Vision 2036. African Science Stars is therefore the catalyst that will ensure more young bright minds will take up an interest on such space developments in the country. The magazine is currently distributed at BIUST, University of Botswana, Astronomical Society of Botswana and in various selected high schools, 5000 copies in total. Kondile said the aim is to open up a fully-fledged African Science Stars office in Gaborone and to have the magazine produced by Botswana-based journalists. “I will be back in Bostwana to conduct science journalism workshops in July 2021. We would like to work with local journalists, the Department of Higher Education and various science and technology organisations throughout Botswana to pique the interest of the youth around the sciences.” Kondile, together with the founder of the magazine, Madambi Rambuda went on a road show across the country; from Gaborone to Francistown to Palapye. They met with Tumo Kedumele who is the founder and lead director at Women in STEM currently based at BIUST. Kedumele will be working closely with the magazine and oversee its distribution in the country. Gihan Ilangakoon, who is the Secretary of the Astronomical Society of Botswana, was also excited to welcome the new magazine into the country and promised to get society members to contribute in each quarterly edition. At the University of Botswana the African Science Stars team met with Molly Kgobathe who is the International Astronomical Union’s Office for Astronomy Outreach based in Botswana. Readers can expect to read on astronomical developments from her desk.