NRF|SAAO Cape Town Open Night
April 26 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The NRF|SAAO Open Nights in Cape Town take place on the second and fourth Saturday of every month.
All Open Nights will start with a presentation on topics of astronomy or related science fields. Visitors will then be given an introduction to the history of the Observatory, library, museum, and the 120 year-old McClean telescope. If the weather permits, stargazing will take place with McClean and smaller telescopes.
Please note that guests are only allowed entry into our premises from 7:30pm.
Free entry for kids aged 6 & under.
Please email cptbookings@saao.ac.za or call +27 21 447 0025 if you have any queries regarding bookings.
Speaker: Jelte Bottema
Jelte was born and raised on the west coast of the Netherlands. He began his academic career at the University of Groningen, where he completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theoretical physics. During his master’s studies, he developed a strong interest in astrophysics, particularly cosmology. Jelte is also deeply interested in emerging AI technologies, especially their potential to enhance our understanding of the Universe. His master’s thesis focused on using machine learning to reconstruct the beginning of the Universe. Outside academics, Jelte enjoys outdoor sports like tennis, windsurfing, surfing, snowboarding, and hiking. He also loves cooking for friends and family and playing chess.
Abstract:
In physics, we stand on the shoulders of giants, building our current understanding of the world around us upon the discoveries of great scientists before us. In this talk, I will briefly highlight some of the key ideas and figures who have shaped modern astrophysics, emphasizing how curiosity and critical questioning have expanded our knowledge about the Universe. After this introduction, I will share my personal interest in astrophysics, particularly the question of how the Universe began and eventually evolved into the Universe we observe today. My goal is to inspire you with the same curiosity that drives me and many physicists in our exploration of the Universe, offering insights into how these big ideas emerged and hopefully leaving you with new ways to think about the Universe from a physicist’s perspective.