2024 World Space Week Theme “Space & Climate Change”
On Friday, 4th October 2024, the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) held an exciting World Space Week event in collaboration with the Zimbabwean Astronomical Society (ZAS). The event, hosted by the NUST Department of Applied Physics, welcomed students from various disciplines, including Applied Physics, Computer Science, Biotechnology, Informatics and Analytics, Geographical Information Science and Remote Sensing, and Environmental Science.
The event, chaired by Munashe Manyevere, opened with a warm welcome, setting the stage for an informative morning. Coordination and facilitation were led by a dedicated team comprising Mr. B. Sibanda, Mr. K. Chilumani, and Praise Nesvinga (ZAS Secretary).
A key highlight was a presentation by Prof. G. G. Nyambuya, ZAS Education and Outreach Chair and Head of the Applied Physics Department at NUST. Prof. Nyambuya explored the Faint Young Sun Paradox and its relevance to this year’s theme for World Space Week centred around climate.
In addition, attendees were introduced to the ZAS and learned more about the significance of World Space Week, which celebrates space exploration achievements and encourages interest in space science. The engaging talks sparked curiosity and lively discussions among the students.
The event concluded with a special hands-on session where participants were given ISO-certified solar viewing spectacles, allowing them to safely observe the sun. They also got a brief introduction to the Galileoscope, a simple yet powerful tool for learning the basics of making observations. See pictures attached 🙂
Our World Space Week event at NUST provided a unique opportunity to foster collaboration across departments and inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts. The Zimbabwean Astronomical Society looks forward to continuing this momentum, building on the success of events like this to further promote space science across the country.
