This project is the fruit of several years of collaboration between the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy (IDIA), a South African University partnership developing cloud computing for scientific research, DARA Big Data funded by the UK’s Newton Fund, The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) on behalf of the South African Department of Science and Innovation, and the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD). As the project has evolved and the model of using hackathons for data science outreach and development skills, coupled with a strong academic science background and an objective to impact development positively has matured, more organisations have joined and will continue to grow the legacy of the initial partnership.

History of the project:

• SARAO Research schools (JEDI Madagascar, Big Data Africa Schools)
• DARA Big Data Hackathons

Publications:

• Industry Skills report
• Women in Data Science report
• IST Africa paper