“Astronomy for a Better World: From Stars to Sustainable Solutions" by Joyful Mdhluli
When: Thursday August 28, 2025
At 16:00 CEST (10:00 EDT)
See slides: [Slides_Joyful]
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Dr Joyful Mdhluli - IAU-NRF (South Africa)
Biography:
Dr. Joyful Elma Mdhluli is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), hosted at the National Research Foundation’s South African Astronomical Observatory (NRF|SAAO) in Cape Town. She coordinates the flagship projects of the OAD that harness astronomy to drive economic development, promote mental health and wellbeing, and build skills for sustainable livelihoods.
She earned her PhD in Physics from the University of the Witwatersrand, contributing to the ALICE experiment at CERN’s Large Hadron Collider.
Additionally, Dr. Mdhluli is deeply engaged in science communication, education, and policy. She serves as Executive Secretary of Women in Physics in South Africa (WiPiSA), is a member of the Executive Committee of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), and sits on the editorial boards of the African Physics Newsletter (APN) and the Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP) Journal of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, promoting accessible and inclusive science communication.
Abstract:
Physics is more than a science, it is a powerful driver of innovation, education, and sustainable development. Astronomy, one of the many fields within physics, demonstrates how fundamental research can directly contribute to addressing global challenges. One of the goals of the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Strategic Plan 2020–2030 states: “The IAU promotes the use of astronomy as a tool for development in every country.”
To realise this, the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) harnesses astronomy’s scientific, technological, and cultural connections to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since its establishment, the OAD has supported more than 230 projects across 112 countries and built a global network through 11 regional and language offices. Its work ranges from fostering economic growth through astrotourism, to exploring astronomy’s role in mental health and well-being, and applying astronomy’s data skills and infrastructure to broader development challenges. Through these initiatives, astronomy has shown how a discipline deeply rooted in curiosity and discovery can impactfully contribute to society.
These efforts within Astronomy provide an example of how physics can shape society beyond the laboratory. The same curiosity, problem-solving, and technological advances that drive discovery in other areas such as optics, quantum technologies, or materials science, hold immense potential to create similar pathways for impact. Reflecting on its ~15 years of experience, the OAD invites a broader consideration of how the diverse fields of physics might collectively contribute to global development, inspire new collaborations, and expand the role of our science in addressing society’s most pressing needs.
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