South Africa
Dr. Rosalind Skelton
Acting Managing Director (NRF-SAAO) | The National Research Foundation (NRF)
“Currently, SALT’s transients program, which looks for rapidly changing objects in the sky, is producing a lot of exciting results.
These could be things like supernovae or binary black holes, providing unique insights into extreme astrophysical phenomena.”
Key points:
- The South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) is a national facility focused on enabling astronomical research, conducting its own cutting-edge studies, and developing new technologies in collaboration with international partners.
- The observatory's flagship facility, the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), has been a crucial driver in growing South Africa's astronomy community and capabilities, ultimately helping the country secure the Square Kilometer Array project.
- International collaboration is essential, with NRF-SAAO astronomers involved in global research efforts and SALT utilising funding and expertise from a broad international partnership to explore big questions about the Universe.
- NRF-SAAO work goes beyond just scientific discovery, also inspiring young people to pursue STEM fields and exploring applications of astronomy for societal benefit, from astrotourism to developing critical thinking skills in students.
For over two centuries, the South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF-SAAO) has been at the forefront of astronomical research on the African continent. In this interview, Dr. Rosalind Skelton, the observatory’s Acting Managing Director, discusses how NRF-SAAO’s cutting-edge facilities and international collaborations drive South Africa’s ambitions in space science.
AfricaLive: Can you start by introducing yourself and telling me about your role at the South African Astronomical Observatory?
Dr. Rosalind Skelton: I’m Dr. Rosalind Skelton, and I’ve been the Acting Managing Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory since March. My responsibility is to oversee the observatory and all of its operations – this includes managing the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) as well as a host of smaller telescopes located in Sutherland.
AfricaLive: How would you describe the identity and purpose of the South African Astronomical Observatory?
Dr. Skelton: The observatory’s key role is to provide telescopes and enable astronomical research for astronomers in South Africa and our international collaborators. We conduct our own cutting-edge research and develop new technologies for astronomy.
Staying at the forefront of the field is crucial so we can offer the best service to the researchers who use our facilities. We’re also heavily involved in training the next generation – not just astronomers, but also engineers, technicians and others with technical skills.
Public engagement is another major pillar of our work. We have dedicated teams that focus on inspiring youth, supporting STEM education, and exploring how astronomy can contribute to societal development.
AfricaLive: Can you elaborate on how the observatory’s work, particularly with SALT, aims to have a tangible impact on society?
Dr. Skelton: While much of our “blue sky” astronomical research may not have immediately obvious societal benefits, we believe inspiring people – especially the youth – is one of the most important impacts we can have. The wonder of the universe has a natural way of drawing people into science and technical fields.
We also see more direct spin-offs, like the technological developments in areas like detectors and data processing that end up having applications in everyday life. And our Office of Astronomy for Development explores how astronomy can drive economic growth, for example through astrotourism.
Importantly, the investment in facilities like SALT has been critical for growing South Africa’s science community and capabilities. This has been a key factor in the country securing major projects like the Square Kilometer Array. So the observatory’s work is really helping to position South Africa as a global leader in space science.
AfricaLive: What advantages does the observatory’s location in Sutherland offer, and how has this geographic advantage been protected?
Dr. Skelton: Sutherland is one of the darkest places in the world, which is essential for cutting-edge optical astronomy. If you look at the globe at night and see how the lights are distributed, as soon as you move away from the city lights up into the Karoo region, it’s much darker.
The government has recognized this geographic advantage and passed laws to protect the area’s dark skies, minimizing light pollution. This has been vital for maintaining Sutherland’s status as an excellent site for our observatory.
The town has also benefited tremendously from the presence of SALT and our other telescopes. There are now over 40 guest houses that have sprung up to cater to the influx of astrotourists and researchers visiting the facilities. So the observatory has had a tangible economic impact on the local community.
AfricaLive: Can you highlight some of the key research projects and discoveries that have come out of the South African Astronomical Observatory?
Dr. Skelton: One major discoveries was the detection of a gravitational wave event, which was then followed up by SALT and other optical telescopes around the world. This was the beginning of what we call “multi-messenger astronomy”, where you combine observations across the electromagnetic spectrum and gravitational waves.
Currently, SALT’s transients program, which looks for rapidly changing objects in the sky, is producing a lot of exciting results. These could be things like supernovae or binary black holes, providing unique insights into extreme astrophysical phenomena.
Another project I’m particularly excited about is the new Pan African Active Galactic Nucleus Survey, which brings together astronomers from across the African continent to study the supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies. This is the first time we’ve had such a collaborative African astronomy initiative.
AfricaLive: How does the observatory’s international collaboration, particularly with facilities like the Square Kilometer Array, benefit South African astronomy?
Dr. Skelton: Astronomy has always been an inherently international endeavor, and that collaborative aspect is essential for us. Our astronomers are involved in research projects worldwide, and the investments from international partners have been crucial – not just for funding, but also for keeping us at the cutting edge scientifically.
The growth of South Africa’s astronomy community over the past two decades has been driven in large part by SALT and the Square Kilometer Array. These projects have attracted global expertise and resources, growing the pool of technical skills, from astronomers to data scientists and engineers.
So the international dimensions of our work have been transformative, both for advancing the science and for developing South Africa’s capabilities in key areas. It’s a great example of how strategic global partnerships can amplify a country’s research ambitions.
AfricaLive: What aspects of South African astronomy tend to surprise people the most when you discuss it with international colleagues?
Dr. Skelton: I think sometimes international astronomers may not fully appreciate the strength and growth of our relatively small community in South Africa. We may be a small country, but we’re definitely “punching above our weight” in terms of our scientific output and impact.
The facilities we have, like SALT and MeerKAT, as well as our participation in global projects like the Square Kilometer Array, also tend to surprise people. They realize South Africa has world-class astronomical infrastructure and is making crucial contributions to the field.
AfricaLive: Why should the average South African citizen care about the work of the South African Astronomical Observatory?
Dr. Skelton: Astronomy has an incredible power to inspire people, especially young minds. By highlighting South Africa’s role in cutting-edge discoveries about the universe, we can foster greater interest in science, technology and critical thinking skills – which are so vital for the country’s development.
The observatory’s work also has more direct societal benefits, from training highly skilled technical professionals to exploring applications of astronomy like astrotourism. And the growth of our astronomy community has been a key factor in securing major international projects that raise South Africa’s global profile and scientific capabilities.
So while the average citizen may not engage directly with our research, the observatory’s work touches all South Africans by cultivating a culture of innovation, contributing to the economy, and positioning the country as a leader in frontier science.
AfricaLive: Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future potential of astronomy in South Africa?
Dr. Skelton: I’m very excited about the prospect of continued growth in South Africa’s optical and radio astronomy capabilities. Facilities like SALT and the Square Kilometer Array will keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, with new instruments and technical innovations.
Developing stronger artificial intelligence and data processing capabilities is another key priority. Applying these tools to automate telescope operations, classify observations, and connect different facilities will be transformative. I hope to see us building more specialized optical telescopes in the coming years to complement the large-scale projects.
Most importantly, I’m confident the government will continue supporting astronomy as a strategic national priority. South Africa has demonstrated its commitment over the past decades, and I believe the country is well-positioned to be a global leader in this field for the foreseeable future.
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