ISYA 2023

The 44th International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2023. The school is organized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (NASL) and by the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). This school will take place over a three-week period and is aimed towards early graduate students (BSc Hons/MSc/PhD) in Physics, Astronomy or Astrophysics from African countries, although we will also consider final year BSc students with a strong intention of entering a graduate program on Astronomy and Astrophysics. The lecturers are invited experts from around the world.

Around 30 students will be selected to participate in this school. These chosen students will be from regions where less opportunities are available for students to be directly exposed to the full extent of up-to-date astrophysics, both on theory and observations. Acceptance to the school covers flights to and from South Africa (including domestic flights), accommodation and subsistence at the ISYA. All selected students are expected to commit 100% of their time to participate in all the planned activities held over the three week duration of the school (we will start each day at 9am and end about 7pm).

The school has already been postponed twice in 2020 due to the escalated spread of the COVID-19 virus. We can therefore, regrettably, not ensure the validity of any past registrations/applications received as they may not be eligible anymore. We urge all interested applicants to submit new applications when the time comes. We will continue to follow the progression of the COVID-19 virus very carefully and we will implement the necessary measures to ensure the safety of all the participants (a mask mandate will be decided upon shortly before the commencement of the school). We encourage all interested applicants to get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and have their booster shots up to date before arriving for the school. Please note however that it is not a mandatory criteria for a successful application. We will continue to post updates regarding any changes to the website.

• Moses Mogotsi – 44th ISYA Local Director
• Danièl Groenewald – 44th ISYA Local Deputy Director
• Itziar Aretxaga – ISYA Program Director
• David Mota – ISYA Deputy Director

• Zara Randriamanakoto – SAAO
• Solohery Randriamampandry – SAAO
• Sally Macfarlane – SAAO
• Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay – SAAO
• Glenda Snowball – SAAO
• Valencia Cloete – SAAO
• Nazli Mohamed – SAAO