India’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Prabhat Kumar, handed over a banner of India’s Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) to the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) at the Royal Observatory in Cape Town. This gesture signifies the deepening scientific partnership between the two countries.
During the ceremony, the Indian envoy praised the SAAO for its outstanding research work and emphasized India’s commitment to scientific research and innovation. He highlighted the historical ties between India and South Africa, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration in the field of science.
SAAO Managing Director, Rosalind Skelton, lauded the strong partnership between the two nations and highlighted the technological advancements achieved by the SALT facility. She mentioned the ongoing collaboration with Indian partners to develop new camera detector technology for the telescope.
Looking ahead, Skelton mentioned future engagements under the BRICS framework, with South African scientists set to participate in key astronomy meetings hosted by India later this year. The collaboration is part of India’s tenure as the 2026 BRICS chair, facilitating various astronomy-related initiatives in which the SAAO actively engages.
