The National Research Foundation (NRF), which falls under the aegis of the Department of Science and Innovation, has announced that local astronomer Dr Vanessa McBride has been appointed as Science Director at the International Science Council (ISC). The ISC is a highly prestigious non-governmental organisation which brings together more than 220 scientific associations and unions. It is situated in Paris, where McBride will now be based.

“The impact of Vanessa’s work on astronomy in Africa has been huge, and the way she achieved this, with her quiet diligence and abundant kindness, speaks volumes of her character,” highlighted African Astronomical Society Secretariat Head Dr Charles Takalana. “It will be a great loss for the continent to see her go, but we are excited that we will have a fellow African now sitting at the highest levels of science globally.”

Born in the small town of Cradock in the Eastern Cape province, McBride studied physics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and subsequently worked at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria. But, to pursue her ambition to be an astronomer, she moved to the UK and gained her PhD at the University of Southampton, also engaging in postdoctoral research there.

She, with her family, returned to South Africa in 2013. She accepted a dual appointment, at UCT and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). In 2017, she also joined the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The OAD is a collaborative effort between the IAU and NRF and is based in South Africa. It is focused on applying the transformative power of astronomy to the benefit of society. (The IAU is a member of the ISC.)

At the OAD, McBride has been a champion of expanding the science of astronomy across Africa. One of her achievements was the successful South African bid to host the 2024 IAU General Assembly. This will be the first time that this assembly will be held in Africa.

“This prestigious [ISC] position recognises her significant contributions to the scientific community,” pointed out the NRF in its statement. “Her trajectory underscores the critical role of national mechanisms in nurturing scientific endeavours, contributing significantly to global discourses on innovation and excellence.”