In March, we hosted another engaging edition of the Full Moon Mashup series, featuring a thought-provoking presentation by Dr. Daniel Mokhohlane. Dr. Mokhohlane, who recently completed his PhD, shared his research on the societal impact of mega astronomy infrastructures—specifically the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) and the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)—on rural communities in South Africa’s Northern Cape.
Dr. Mokhohlane’s study went beyond traditional impact assessments. Instead, it delved into the complexities and paradoxes of development in marginalized rural settings, highlighting both the promises and pitfalls of large-scale science infrastructure projects. Using a mixed-methods approach, he investigated key development indicators such as economic infrastructure, employment, education, and community perceptions in municipalities affected by these projects.
One of the central insights from the presentation was the challenge of measuring societal impact over time, especially when science projects lack a clear developmental mandate. Dr. Mokhohlane emphasised the need for community involvement, transparency, and collaborative frameworks to ensure that such projects contribute meaningfully to local development.
His critique of dominant rural development models—particularly European-centric theories—called for more contextual and inclusive alternatives, such as Gandhian principles and the African Renaissance philosophy. These, he argued, offer more grounded frameworks for thinking about rural upliftment in Africa.
Some key reflections from the session included:
- The importance of managing community expectations and communicating research in accessible ways.
- The dissonance between the positive public narrative around mega projects and the lived experiences of community members.
- The need to embed developmental mandates in scientific projects from the outset, ensuring long-term societal benefits.
This session reinforced the need for critical, context-aware research in development-related science projects—and the value of creating spaces like Full Moon Mashups for these vital conversations.
For more information or to join future sessions, visit: astro4dev.org/full-moon-mashups