Across Africa, a new wave of radio telescope deployments is igniting interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields and empowering future scientists. The TART (Transient Array Radio Telescope) project is a collaboration between the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), Rhodes University, the University of Stellenbosch, and the University of Otago (New Zealand).

Created by Dr Tim Molteno from the University of Otago, the TART instrument was designed for the development and testing of state-of-the-art calibration and imaging algorithms for radio astronomy. Since the initial TART installation at Rhodes University, South Africa – followed by a ‘train the trainers’ workshop for scientists and engineers from the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry Network (AVN) countries – four out of the eight AVN countries have installed their TARTs at local universities, with Copperbelt University in Kitwe, Zambia, hosting the latest install. Engineers and technicians are trained at each TART installation, along with students using the facility for research projects. This provides immediate experience in radio astronomy and related engineering techniques, including ICT, radio frequency engineering, receiver design and development, precision timing, data collection and reduction, and astronomy/geodesy research.

“Large instruments like MeerKAT are expensive and oversubscribed,” says Rhodes University’s Distinguished Professor Oleg Smirnov, who has been involved in the project since it first came to Rhodes University. Based in South Africa’s Northern Cape, MeerKAT is one of the world’s most sensitive radio telescopes and a key precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). It plays a major role in cutting-edge research, from studying black holes to mapping cosmic structure. “But for students across the continent, direct access to MeerKAT is limited. Many simply don’t get the opportunity to train with it.”

TART changes this by offering a compact, affordable, and functional radio telescope that replicates the operational features of major facilities. It gives students direct experience in collecting and analysing the same type of data produced by large-scale telescopes. They learn how to calibrate antennas, process signals, and interpret results – key skills for careers in science and engineering. 

Beyond academic training, TART helps universities foster a stronger sense of ownership. Having a scientific instrument on campus – of which they played a large part in the construction – gives institutions a visible anchor for STEM education and outreach. Schools can bring in learners to interact with real instruments, sparking interest in these fields from an early age. “Demonstrating a TART to school pupils can be very inspiring,” Professor Smirnov says.

In addition to fostering local ownership, the project is also building a pan-African TART community. As more universities adopt the same platform, they can share knowledge, pool resources, and collaborate on both scientific and engineering challenges. Some institutions, including Rhodes University, are already using TART as a foundation for further research and development. Kenya is preparing to host a regional TART training workshop, which will deepen technical skills and expand networks.

Beyond the AVN

Deployments are currently focused on the eight African partner AVN countries of the SKA project: Mauritius, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Ghana, Mozambique, Madagascar, and Namibia, with committed funding to support installations in these countries from SARAO. The Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) programme is also supporting the installations, and may help with further expansions in the future.

According to Professor Smirnov, there’s no reason why other countries can’t install TARTs; it’s just a question of finding funding, which, for each site, is relatively modest. Discussions are ongoing with several other countries, including Malawi and Tunisia, and there has even been a TART deployed at the Independent University, Bangladesh, following an initiative by a former Rhodes University postdoctoral fellow, who is now a faculty member there. “Closer to home, a new telescope will soon be installed at a community outreach centre in Gauteng, spearheaded by one of our PhD students,” Professor Smirnov says.

The project aims to complete installations in all eight partner countries by the end of 2025. Delays due to site readiness could extend some installations into 2026.

Maintenance is minimal, thanks to TART’s modular, low-maintenance design – at most, cables or connectors may need to be cleaned or replaced. The system’s online connectivity allows for remote diagnosis and support. During installation, host institutions receive training to manage basic issues. Over time, real-world experience builds deep familiarity with the instrument. These systems also create opportunities for more formal workshops and skill-building events.

“So far, deployments have gone smoothly, though each site comes with its own quirks – whether it’s sourcing power, internet, or the right screws from a local hardware shop. These challenges have been met with on-the-ground improvisation and shared lessons, which continue to make future deployments more efficient,” Professor Smirnov says. In the spirit of sharing lessons, the latest installation workshop in Zambia was joined by Dr Proven Emmanuel of the Ghana AVN Radio Observatory, who is next in line for a TART.

The TART deployment is more than a technical exercise – it’s a powerful tool for capacity-building, regional cooperation, and STEM advocacy. It offers African universities a shared, accessible entry point into radio astronomy and opens doors to future careers in science and engineering.

 

INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION 

BIUST: https://www.biust.ac.bw 

DARA: https://www.dara-project.org

SARAO: https://sarao.ac.za 

Rhodes Centre for Radio Astronomy Techniques & Technologies: https://ratt.center 

TART Project: https://tart.elec.ac.nz 

Electronics Research Foundation:  https://www.elec.ac.nz