Job shadowing at the SA Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town
The next Job Shadow Programme is scheduled for the June/July 2025 school holiday. Specific dates will be announced later.
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town runs two job shadow programmes per year, one during the June/July school holiday and another during the September/October school holiday. Each programme runs over 2 days and accommodates a maximum of 15 learners.
This programme is designed and run by Natalie Jones in order to give each learner an all-round experience into various careers at the SAAO, equipping them to make an informed decision regarding their career path.
Careers covered in the programme may include: astronomy, mechanical engineering, electronics, software engineering, finance/accounting and information technology; we also include a session on HR as well as bursaries.
Prerequisites for programme entry:
- Learners should be in grade 11 (grade 10 accepted only if it is part of your curriculum)
- Pure mathematics and physical science as subjects are compulsory
Learners who are interested in attending our job shadow programme (provided they meet the pre-requisites) can email the following correspondence to the email provided below:
- A brief CV – indicating the name of your school, your grade, a contact person, as well as a list of your subjects
- A motivation as to why you would like to shadow at the SAAO (state your reasons for choosing SAAO)
Please note that the SAAO will take a maximum of two learners per school, and will only reassess if all fifteen spots have not been filled.
We regret that no block bookings are accepted.
We do not cover any cost for travel, accommodation or meals.