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09 November 2023 | Story Prof Matie Hoffman

A decade ago, the former Lamont-Hussey Observatory in Bloemfontein became Southern Africa’s first digital planetarium. Thanks to a collaboration between the University of the Free State (UFS), the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, the Department of Science and Innovation, and the Free State Province – as well as donations from trusts, foundations, and businesses – the project has grown and thrived.

Many different shapes, one place

The Naval Hill Planetarium was established in the old Lamont-Hussey Observatory. After the closure of the astronomical observatory, the buildings were refurbished and used by PACOFS as the Observatory Theatre. When the site became available again, it was envisioned to turn it into a planetarium. After many years of hard work, the newly refurbished buildings were opened in 2013 as the Naval Hill Planetarium – the first digital planetarium in Africa south of the Sahara. 

The decade has seen many changes on the site of the former Lamont-Hussey Observatory, founded by the University of Michigan in 1927 to study double stars through the largest refracting telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. Improvements include the conversion of the old telescope building into a modern digital planetarium, the refurbishment of the structure of the old Lamont telescope and its installation as a display outside the old telescope dome, an observing platform, and a new hall for environmental education. The planetarium and the hall are now known as the Centre for Earth and Space, and developments are continuing.

Partners who have supported the project include the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the University of Michigan, Old Mutual, Sun International, the Hermann Ohlthaver Trust, ArcelorMittal, the Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust, and the CB van Wyk Gesinstrust. In 2022, the Raubex Group and First Technology supported the University of the Free State to upgrade the planetarium’s projection system. Volunteers, including the Friends of the Boyden Observatory and the Naval Hill Planetarium, as well as the Friends of Franklin, have played an invaluable role in supporting and developing this community asset. The planetarium is managed by the Department of Physics at the University of the Free State.

A time to celebrate

During November and December 2023, the planetarium’s first decade will be celebrated with events and special shows, including the South African premier of the AMNH full-dome film, Worlds Beyond Earth. The board of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) – the largest single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere – will attend the premiere. Many international partners are involved in SALT, and AMNH is one of the shareholders in the SALT Foundation. As part of the partnership between the AMNH and SALT, AMNH provides sponsorship for education and outreach efforts in South Africa. The Naval Hill Planetarium benefits from this initiative and receives content for the planetarium in the form of AMNH full-dome films.

In addition to regular school shows, there will be two public shows every Saturday in November and December – one show in English and one in Afrikaans. In December, there will be additional shows for children. Bookings for shows should be done through Computicket, click here to book. The planetarium can accommodate group bookings and functions (enquiries at +2 51 401 9751 or ficky@ufs.ac.za).

News Archive

Up to 60% of students do not have enough to eat
2013-11-15

 

15 November 2013

A report of the University of the Free State has revealed the shocking statistics that almost two-thirds of the students at the university don’t have enough money to buy food, and suffer from hunger during terms.

The study, conducted internally by the university’s Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, was a response to a growing international concern that students worldwide were not getting enough to eat. While studies were conducted in the USA and Australia, no similar research has been done in South Africa.

“There have been many studies on the impact of poor nutrition on school kids,” says Dr Louise van den Berg, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, “but almost no research on university students. South Africa is, overall, a food-insecure country, and the university wanted to establish how widespread this problem is among our students.”

The reasons given by students invariably referred to a lack of money, as many students were also supporting families. Some students admitted they lacked the knowledge to feed themselves properly, some admitted to borrowing money to buy food, and some even admitted to stealing food to survive.

“This research has confirmed something we have suspected for a long time,” Dr van den Berg states.

A number of students disclosed that they were reluctant to resort to the university feeding scheme, as they were ashamed to admit they did not have money to buy food.

This study is the first of its kind in South Africa, and underlines the fact that tertiary students are particularly vulnerable when it comes to food security. Often a student has to juggle their studies with their role as breadwinner.

A tiny ray of hope to students who find themselves as food insecure, is the No Student Hungry Programme that offers a food bursary to qualifying students.

This programme, initially established by Prof Jonathan Jansen, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector, and now managed by Grace Jansen and Karen Buys, offers a small allowance of about R30 per day to hungry students with an average academic achievement of 60% and above. This criterion discourages entitlement thinking and builds a strong sense of responsibility on the part of those who benefit from the food bursary.

Melanie, a second-year Geography and Environmental Management student, as well as a single mother, is a beneficiary of the NSH Programme. “This bursary helps me to get a balanced meal every day. It is one less worry for me. I dream of completing my studies so that I can be independent and provide my son with the life he deserves.”

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