Team SKA
Simphiwe Madlanga
Coordinator: Science Engagement, SARAO In July 2022, science communicators from around the globe came together both in-person and online for the Public Awareness of Research Infrastructures (PARI) conference, hosted by the SKAO. Among them was Simphiwe Madlanga from South Africa, Coordinator for Science Engagement at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO).
Selected as one of the “Top 200 Young South Africansin2018bytheMail&Guardiannewspaper,Simphiwehasdevotedhis careertoexplainingastronomyanditsbenetstocommunitiesacrosshishomecountry.CurrentlyinLondonona UK government Chevening Scholarship, researching the societal impact of the SKA project in South Africa, Simphiwe spoke to us aboutlifelonglearning,inspiringyoungpeoplethroughscience,andthevaluehendsintakinglongwalks. Congratulations on your Chevening Scholarship, Simphiwe! What made you want to apply for it? In the midst of the COVID-19 hard lockdown in my home country, South Africa, while unable to even be outdoors except to buy groceries at certain nationally designated hours, I
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developed this burning urge to travel the world and elevate my learning and overall value proposition. I was completely unaccustomed to being stuck in one place for that long, because my job entails travelling all across South Africa regularly being in schools, universities and other places of public engagement around science.
Something stirred within me and asked the question; “What can you do that will change everything and surpass all the circumstancesyounowndyourselfin? I applied to three universities in the United Kingdom and simultaneously applied to the Chevening Award. I had no idea when lockdown would end or
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