The NRF extends its condolences to the family and friends of Professor Carolina Odman

The NRF extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Professor Carolina Odman, one of South Africa’s distinguished astronomers. Carolina passed away on 15 November 2022, after years of valiantly battling an aggressive cancer. Carolina was the wife and partner of Kevin Govender, Director of the IAU-NRF Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), and an incredibly gifted and inspiring individual in her own right. At the time of her passing, she was an Associate Professor of Astrophysics at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Inter-University Institute for Data-Intensive Astronomy’s Associate Director for Development and Outreach (IDIA).

Carolina was a passionate advocate for astronomy development in Africa, and her passing is a very sad loss for the South African and African scientific communities. Among other national and international honors and prizes won over her lifetime, Carolina was awarded the 2018 International Astronomical Union Special Executive Committee Award for Astronomy Outreach, Development and Education, as well as the 2021 NSTF-South32 Communication Award Winner for her contribution in reshaping how science is communicated to the general public, and in particular, research into building a scientific vocabulary in African languages.

Prof. Carolina Odman’s life will be commemorated at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) campus on Friday, 25 November at 2:00 pm in the UWC Life Sciences Auditorium (live stream: https://youtu.be/FGQfBmCyGBU). Kevin Govender will lead the ceremony by honouring her life, accomplishments, and legacy. You are welcome to join in person or online and to submit a brief video or written remembrances. Please email these in advance to celebrate.carolina@gmail.com. Some messages might be included in the celebration on Friday, but all will be included in a collection of remembrances and tributes to be compiled for her sons, Xavier and Cyprian.