Thebe Medupe

Thebe Rodney Medupe (1973) is a South African astrophysicist and founding director of Astronomy Africa. He is perhaps best known for his work on the "Cosmic Africa" project that attempts to reconcile science and myth. [Reardon, C. "African Stars" in Ford Foundation Report, Winter 2004 accessed at [http://www.fordfound.org/publications/ff_report/view_ff_report_detail.cfm?report_index=475] March 29, 2007.] [Schieb, R. "Cosmic Africa (Documentary - South Africa)" (review) in Variety (magazine) Nov 18, 2003 accessed at [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117922467.html?categoryid=31&cs=1] March 29, 2007.]

Biography

Medupe received his doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Cape Town for a thesis that studied the oscillations in stellar atmospheres. In particular, he investigated the interaction of radiative transfer and pulsations in the atmospheres of stars by solving non-adiabatic pulsation equations. He works as a researcher at SAAO and as a lecturer at the University of Cape Town. His other interests involve a study of African ethno-astronomy with a view to use this to attract black students into astronomy and science in general.

Cultural Astronomy Research

Medupe is a principal investigator on a South Africa led collaboration with Mali to digitize and analyze science documents found in the Timbuktu Libraries.

Cosmic Africa

Medupe worked with filmmakers Craig and Damon Foster (known for their award winning The Great Dance), together with project originator Anne Rogers and her co-worker Carina Rubin of Aland Pictures, to produce a panorama of Africa's mythic and practical interaction with the cosmos.

To sample the richness of African traditions and achievements, Medupe and the filmmakers travelled around South Africa and to Mali, Egypt and Namibia, learning from the local people and sharing modern perspectives.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.carlsagan.com/revamp/programs/cosmicafrica/synopsis.html Cosmic Africa Synopsis from Cosmos Studios]
* [http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2003/november/cosmic.htm Science in Africa magazine article]
* [http://192.171.198.135/Ed/CA.pdf PPT slide show of Medupe's educational outreach]
* [http://www.earthsky.com/shows/astrophysics_interviews.php?id=49605 Interview with Medupe on Earth & Sky]
* [http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg18524822.000 New Scientist interview with Medupe]
* [http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/portals/medupe/rnh.htm Lecture, The Royal Society (UK)] - video of lecture