UCT Astronomy PhD student Julia Healy. Julia is pursuing a joint degree between UCT and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands on the topic of galaxy evolution. Julia was selected as one of the 20 top young scientists to take part in the prestigious 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting.

UCT Astronomy PhD student Julia Healy was selected as one of 20 top young scientists selected for the prestigious 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, which this year is dedicated to physics, and meets in Germany in June.  

Julia’s PhD is focused on the SKA science theme of galaxy evolution; this is a joint degree between UCT and the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

The South African delegation includes 5 other UCT Astronomy alumni, namely Dr Itumeleng Monageng (who obtained his PhD from the Astronomy department in 2018), Jake Gordin, Kimeel Sooknunan, Tariq Blecher and Nicole Thomas. Four of the people selected are alumni of the National Astrophysics and Space Science Program (NASSP). Congratulations Julia, Itumeleng, Jake, Kimeel, Tariq and Nicole.

Four University of Cape Town (UCT) students from the Department of Astronomy, are among 20 top young South African scientists successfully nominated by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) to attend the 69th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to physics in Germany in June.

As the official partner of the Lindau Foundation, and with funding from the Department of Science and Technology, ASSAf nominates young scientists every year to attend the event, where they enjoy in-depth exchanges with Nobel laureates.

The past and present  UCT students are Jake Gordin (Master’s, Astrophysics and Space Science), Julia Healy (PhD Astronomy), Itumeleng Monageng ( who obtained his PhD from the Astronomy Department in 2018) and Kimeel Sooknunan (Master’s, Astrophysics and Space Science), Tariq Blecher and Nicole Thomas. They will be among the 580 young scientists from 88 counties who will join 42 Nobel laureates at the meeting, which takes place from 30 June to 5 July in Lindau.

Kimeel Sooknunan (UCT, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics), Jake Gordin (UCT, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics), Julia Healy (UCT, Astronomy) and Dr Itumeleng Monageng (SAAO) have been selected by the Academy of Science of South Africa as part of 20 top young scientists to attend the prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in June/July this year in Germany. This year's focus is on physics and South Africa is this year's host country. Kimeel, Jake, Julia, Itumeleng, Tariq Blecher and Nicole Thomas (not shown here) are all alumni of the UCT Astronomy department. Congratulations! 

ASSAf said the six-day programme will include lectures and panel discussions, with many of the students also getting the chance to present their own work at one of the master classes or during a poster session.

“[The South African scientists] will serve as ambassadors for the country in the area of physics and at the International Day South Africa is hosting [at the event],” said ASSAf executive officer Professor Himla Soodyall.

Story:  Supplied

Photo:  Supplied