March 21, 2016

Ethiopia starves, Ethiopia observes

editor:	Gurmeet Singh

The Ethiopian Space Science Society is not a name you've heard before. You don't know what they do, and you keep asking yourself why a country like Ethiopia needs a Space society like that.

Well, the answer's simple:

“They call us crazy because they think we’re [only] exploring outer space and gazing at the stars. But they can’t see the bigger picture,” says Abinet Ezra of the Ethiopian Space Science Society.

The passion and wonder Abinet has for space is lost on the reader, if only for a moment. No, but really - why does Ethiopia need a multi-million dollar observatory?

It doesn't need it, but it now has one, and it's a real treat. To go into Abinet's reasoning a bit deeper - developing a more stable society requires institutions which can prevent brain drain. Among these are strong, well-maintained universities, and buildings like the Entoto Observatory and Research Centre.

It was privately funded initially, but now receives funding from the government - and the observatory provides amazing views of Orion's belt.

The challenge to the observatory is justified: Why would a country with widespread starvation need an observatory; Surely there are more pressing needs? There are - indeed there are. But there's also the need to make that first brave step into a new, longer-term institutional thinking which encourage better-educated people to remain in a country.

It's a bitter pill to swallow - and by celebrating the observatory, I don't mean to diminish the severity of the food crisis or climate change in the region. What I mean to say is, it's possible to celebrate a development like Ethiopia's observatory and have concern for crises. After all, it's what young Ethiopians working at the observatory seem to be most concerned about - providing a more stable base for their country.