| Research Title | Brief Description | Link for more Information |
|---|---|---|
| A Binary Classification of SFGs and AGNs Employing Different Clustering Techniques: BAWG2023 Hackathon (2023) | The BRICS Astronomy Working Group Hackathon took place on October 18-19, 2023, in Cape Town, South Africa. It challenged postgraduate students from BRICS countries to develop a machine-learning pipeline for clustering Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) and Star-Forming Galaxies (SFGs). Participants prepared with Jupyter notebooks provided beforehand, focusing on unsupervised learning techniques. The event aimed to equip students with data science skills to analyze real astronomical data within the two-day timeframe, fostering hands-on experience in data-intensive astronomy. |  |
| A Comprehensive Framework for Hackathon-Driven Educational Research (2023) | Hackathons, with their dynamic and fast-paced nature, offer an innovative way for higher education institutions to quickly adapt to new theories and technologies. By using hackathons as evaluative tools, we can rapidly assess and test emerging educational interventions. Combining a user-centric approach with educational design research, this method bridges the gap between theory and practice. This approach fosters collaboration among educators and researchers, leading to broader awareness and more scalable, generalizable results in education. |  |
| Big Data Analytics Capacity Development with Radio Astronomy (2021) | Big Data Analytics capacity development is crucial for Africa’s participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Telescope. Research schools and hackathons across Africa offer data science training to build relevant skills. These events, hosted on cloud platforms, are versatile and effective, adapting to various settings, including virtual formats, and align with Africa’s development needs. Participants report positive feedback on their learning experiences. |   |
| BIG DATA AND INDUSTRY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT (2019) | This report highlights IDIA’s involvement in supporting big data research schools and hackathons under the DARA Big Data programme, which equips students from AVN countries and South Africa with data science skills. Since 2018, these events have utilized the IDIA research cloud. Participants, mainly master’s students from various fields, engage in lectures and projects. The 2019 DARA Big Data Africa Research School hosted 25 graduates in Cape Town, and a hackathon followed at NUST in Namibia, both supported by IDIA’s infrastructure. |  |
