Sharmila Goedhart

Sharmila is an astronomer at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Qualifications needed for her position?
A BSc(Hons) in physics or astronomy. After that, an MSc and PhD in astronomy.

Inspiration
Her science teacher in primary school and the school librarian, who introduced her to science books. She found the non-fiction works by Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan most inspiring. Her father encouraged her curiosity and aided her in her quest for more books to read.

What she does
The type of star she studies is not visible to the naked eye. She studies them indirectly, using radio waves. Studies of how the largest stars in the galaxy are born are starting to give astronomers insight into the basic processes taking place in star formation. Understanding star formation will help
us understand how our solar system was formed.

Why does she work in physics?
"I want to know how the world really works. The usual sorts of childhood questions that we all ask have never left me. Why is the sky blue; why do the stars twinkle; why are leaves green; how did everything ever come to be? I think I know the answers to some of these questions, but the origin of the universe, how stars form - these questions still have not been answered."

The future of physics in South Africa?
This is a very exciting time for us. There are so many opportunities that I can't even imagine where we will be in a few years time. I am certain of one thing though: we cannot make great progress unless we have more scientists on our teams. The days of a single scientist working in isolation are coming to an end. There is just too much data coming in for one person to handle it all.

On stereotypes
People are always astonished to find that Sharmila is an astronomer. "There is no conflict between being a scientist and being a woman. We all should have to freedom to be ourselves and not conform to any stereotype."