Marion West - Science Engagement Coordinator - South African Radio Astronomy Observatory

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Marion West is the Science Engagement Coordinator at the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO). In this role, she is dedicated to promoting public understanding and appreciation of radio astronomy in South Africa.

One of her notable contributions is the co-authorship of the educational booklet “Tuning into Our Universe,” aimed at learners in Grades 4 to 6. This resource, developed in collaboration with Puleng Tsie from the University of Pretoria’s Sci-Enza science centre, introduces young minds to the fundamentals of astronomy and highlights South Africa’s significant contributions to the field. The booklet is available for free download, making it accessible to a wide audience.

In addition to her work on educational materials, Marion West has been involved in public outreach events. She has delivered talks such as “Listening to Deep Space: Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory in the Cradle,” where she shares insights into radio astronomy and its significance.

Marion worked in the field of research in radio Astronomy, from when she joined the staff at HartRAO in 1985, up until the time that HartRAO and the SKA Project became the SARAO in 2017. At that point in time she switched her primary focus from research to science engagement, which she had been involved with in a part-time capacity since the early 1990s.

Through her efforts, Marion West plays a pivotal role in inspiring the next generation of astronomers and fostering a greater appreciation for the universe among the South African public.

Marion graduated in 1998 with a M.Sc. in Physics, from the University of the Northwest, specialising in the field of Radio Astronomy and utilising observational data that she had collected over a period of 10 years, using the SARAO Hartebeesthoek Site’s 26-m Radio Telescope. The stars that she observed over the 10-year time span varied with periods between 1 and 7 years and are at the stage in their lives that the Sun will be in about another 5 thousand million year’s time.