The Space Research Centre, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
P. N. Okeke
Space Research Centre
University of Nigeria at Nsukka
misunn@aol.com
The Space Research Centre, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (SRC-UNN), was founded
in 1972 by Prof. S.E. Okoye - a Cambridge-trained radio astronomer and former
student of Professor Hewish. Prof. Okoye established this group as a research
unit in the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Nigeria.
Since then, and until recently, it has remained the only space research centre in
Nigeria and, in fact, one of the few places in Africa where astronomy teaching
and research is carried out at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Prof. Okoye continued to pilot the group until he took ill in 1989, which
necessitated that he should be based in the U.K. However, the group still
consults him from time to time for valuable advice andassistance.Other
members of the group include: Prof. P.N. Okeke - the new leader of the group,
Dr.(Mrs) L.I.Onuora - a cosmologist who recently transferred to the U.K, but
who is still very helpful to the group, both as an adviser and a consultant,
Dr. A.A. Ubachukwu and J.O. Ogwo - cosmology/radio astronomy,
Dr. (Mrs) F.N. Okeke and A.B. Rabiu - solar-terrestrial interactions,
geomagnetism and radio propagation, J.O. Urama and M.O. Asogwa - pulsar
observations and solar flare energetics, Dr. A.G. Warmate, S. Sigalo and
M.W. Anyakoha - plasma and particle Astrophysics (collaborators in other
Nigerian Universities). In addition, the Centre currently has two PhD and
four MSc students. In the past 10 years, the group has graduated a total of
seven PhD and ten MSc students in various areas of astrophysicsandspace
science. Three former students of the group are currently continuing their
research in USA, and five others have taken appointment as lecturers in other
universities in Nigeria. These lecturers are now making efforts to establish
teaching and research in astronomy for the first time in these institutions.
The group has wide interests in various areas of astronomy and space science:
high-energy and particle astrophysics, cosmology, radio observations of
pulsars and active galactic nuclei, optical observations of binary stars,
astrophysical spectral studies and analysis, solar flare energetics,
solar-terrestrial interactions and geomagnetism, and radio propagation.
The group made an initial attempt in 1984 to install and operate a 10-metre
radio dish, unfortunately due to lack of infrastructural facilities, power
supply, communication network and financial support the project could not be
sustained. Subsequent efforts made in recent years by the group to have its
own observational facilities, all met with similar problems of lack of
financial support from the Government and absence of infrastructural
facilities. Since then the group resorted to international collaborative
ventures with more advanced countries in order to contribute effectively to
international astronomical research.
The Space Research Centre at Nsukka maintains strong links with:
Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Krugersdorp, South
Africa, the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town and
the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in USA. Within the past 10
years the group has been able to publish a total of over fifty articles in
reputable journals of astronomy and astrophysics. This has been possible as
a result of assistance received from various organisations and institutes,
particularly the International Astronomical Union (IAU), HartRAO, and SAAO,
who have rendered valuable assistance with travel grants and subsistence
allowances to our members as well as donations of journals and preprints. The
group acknowledges the valuable support and assistance it has received from the
Institute of Astronomy Cambridge, U.K, the National Astronomical Observatory
Japan, Otacamund Radio Astronomical Observatory, India, the German DAAD, and
the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, U.S.A, for assistance offered
to our members. The group is unable to afford journal subscriptions, but is
kept abreast of developments by a number of institutes who provide regular
reprints. In this regard, SRC-UNN is particularly grateful to the Director of
Jodrell Bank Observatory, Prof. Rod Davies, for recently donating a large
number of astrophysical journals.
Figure 1:
Members of the Space Research Centre at Nsukka.
Back: A.E. Chukwude, J.O. Urama, M.O. Asogwa, R.N. Eze.
Front: Dr. A.A. Ubachukwu, Prof. P.N. Okeke (Dir.), Ms J.N.
Ogwo
The greatest problem retarding the progress of the group is that of complete
lack of funds to solve any of its problems. The group currently depends on
charity. It has no specific financial support either from the University of
Nigeria Nsukka or theGovernment. Our group plans to continue its efforts to
promote within the Nigerian Government recognition of the important role of
astronomy education and research in the development of basic science and
technology in Nigeria. There is no reason why a large country like Nigeria
should not have a National Astronomical Institute that is funded by the
Government.
Sommaire
Le Centre de Recherche Spatiale de l'Université du Nigéria à
Nsukka (SRC-UNN) fut fondé en 1972. Jusqu'à récemment, il est resté
le seul centre de recherche spatiale au Nigéria, et, en fait, l'un des
quelques lieux en Afrique où l'enseignement et la recherche en Astronomie
sont faits aux différents niveaux du cycle universitaire. Des étudiants
formés par le Centre contribuent à développer enseignement et
recherche en Astronomie dans d'autres universités nigériennes.
Les
intérêts du groupe couvrent un large domaine en Astronomie et en Science
Spatiale: astrophysique des hautes énergies et des particules, cosmologie,
observations radio de pulsars et de noyaux actifs de galaxies, observations
optiques d'étoiles binaires, étude de spectres stellaires et leur
analyse, énergétique des éruptions solaires, intéraction
soleil-terre et géomagnétisme, propagation radio.
Les efforts
engagés par le groupe pour avoir ses propres moyens d'observation se sont
soldés jusqu'à présent par des échecs par le manque de soutien
financier de la part du Gouvernement et par l'absence d'infrastructures. De
nombreuses collaborations internationales qui se reflètent dans les
publications en commun, sont en cours.
Différentes organisations et
instituts subventionnent le SRC-UNN par des bourses pour les missions à
l'étranger, ainsi que par des donations de journaux,
de tirés-à-part. Cependant, le manque total de moyens financiers
spécifiques accordés par l'Université du Nigéria à
Nsukka ou bien par le Gouvernement retarde le progrés du groupe.
Néanmoins, ce dernier continue à oeuvrer pour
que le Gouvernement du Nigéria reconnaisse le rôle important de
l'enseignement de l'astronomie, des sciences spatiales et de la recherche
dans le développement de la science et de la technologie au Nigéria.
WGSSA
2000-02-29