home admin February 6, 2020

HELLO, I AM

Dr. Carolina Odman is Associate Professor at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa and Associate Director, Development and Outreach, at the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy.

Thinker Academic Problem
Solver Data
scientist Advisor Facilitator
Carolina
My values
Kindness

I believe that we can approach anything, as long as we do it with kindness.

Humility

If we listen, there is always something to learn.

Integrity

I believe in a solid sense of fairness, openness and honesty.

Connection

Everything we do has an impact on others, intended or not.

About me

Below is a formal bio. But there is much more to a person than a 300-word professional summary. I hope these few pages will help me share those intagibles – what I stand for, what I am passionate about – that don’t appear in a formal bio. So let us get the formal done, because it is informative after all. Here goes:

Dr. Carolina Odman is Associate Professor at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Trained in physics at EPFL in Switzerland, she holds a PhD in cosmology from Cambridge University, UK.

After a Marie Curie postdoctoral research fellowship in Italy, she changed fields to become the first international project manager of Universe Awareness, an early childhood development programme that uses the inspirational aspects of astronomy to stimulate children’s development in underprivileged environments. She led Universe Awareness for 5 years, taking it from an idea to a global network of volunteers running projects in over 40 countries.

She joined the South African Astronomical Observatory as an SKA Africa (now SARAO) Research Fellow working at the interface between astronomy and technology, which she continues, as founding member of the “.astronomy” (dot-astronomy) conference and hackathon series. She was Director of Academic Development for the Next Einstein Initiative before joining thumbzup, a financial technology start-up as Chief Scientist. At thumbzup she set up a data science and analytics pipeline.

In 2018, she joined the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy as Associate Director, Development and Outreach. There she leads a number of initiatives, including big data skills development, and continues to do multidisciplinary research on how big data and astronomy can contribute to development of communities and society at large.
Carolina_Odman-2
Degrees
PhD, Astrophysics, Cambridge University, UK (2003)
MSc, Physics Engineering, EPFL, Switzerland (2000)
Languages

Languages are more than words. They come with figures of speech and nuance, all of which are important to be able to understand one another, to not get lost in translation and communicate beyond words. I have been lucky to travel and immerse myself in many cultures and languages. Therefore, I learn more than words. I learn expressions, body language and colloquialisms and I adapt.

I speak English and French as first languages. I speak Swedish, and I can understand a business conversation in Dutch, Afrikaans, Italian and Spanish. But mostly, even if I may not be a fluent speaker, I get you in each of these languages.
Awards and Recognition
Print
2011

AAAS SPORE Prize for Open Education Resources

Screenshot-2020-11-19-at-16.55.24-300x216
2014
Mail&Guarduan 200 Young South Africans
Screenshot-2020-11-19-at-17.02.24-300x228
2018
Special
IAU Prize
Screenshot-2020-11-19-at-17.04.05-300x216
2019

Nominated for Female Innovator of the Year

Screenshot-2020-11-19-at-17.00.25-300x152
2020

NSTF-South 32 Awards Finalist (Communications)

Screenshot-2020-11-19-at-16.33.11-300x248
2020
#InspiringFifty
South Africa Winner
In the Media
The Morning Review with Lester Kiewit
James Webb images and our collective existential crisis
The James Webb Space Telescope

Quick intervention on SAfm Sunrise with Stephen Grootes

SAfm Sunrise
The James Webb Space Telescope and new perspectives
The James Webb Space Telescope and new perspectives

Conversation with Lester Kiwiet, CapeTalk.

When the sky is falling down

Debris from a Chinese rocket re-entered the atmosphere above Southern Africa after sunset on 24 August 2021. Before we know what it was, it captured our imsgination! Some links:

Astronomy in the vernacular

Article in the Daily Maverick about our translation project (05 February 2020).

My Soul Sisters

I have been blessed with fantastic friendships, and I would like to acknowledge them here. Without these extraordinary women, I wouldn’t be the person I am today, so this page is here to say:
“Thank you and I love you!”

Ellen Fischat
Impact Entrepreneur and Founder of the Story Room
Ellen Fischat
Impact Entrepreneur and Founder of the Story Room

Ellen is just gold. What more can I say? She is kind attentive, generous, altruistic and deeply devoted to those she loves. She is also an entrepreneur who gives her all to support African start-ups. I am so glad our paths crossed and connected. Ellen, I couldn’t dream of a better friend!
Fanelwa Ajayi-Ngece
Chemistry Professor and Founder of AmaQawe ngeMfundo
Fanelwa Ajayi-Ngece
Chemistry Professor and Founder of
AmaQawe ngeMfundo

I could spend hours dreaming and talking about the future with Fanelwa (and we do). She knows what the world needs and she makes it happen with all her heart. Fanelwa, thank you for sharing your dreams! We will go on that walk in the campus reserve – one day!
Mmaki Jantjies
Information Systems Professor and Social Entrepreneur
Fanelwa Ajayi-Ngece
Information Systems Professor and Social Entrepreneur

We first connected on Twitter and years later became colleagues, and immediate friends. And when we think we can work towards a common future, it happens! Mmaki is a visionary and a beautiful mum to some amazing young people. Mmaki, thank you for your support through thick and thin!
IMG_7463-1367x2048
Ellen Fischat

Impact Entrepreneur and Founder of the Story Room

Ellen is just gold. What more can I say? She is kind attentive, generous, altruistic and deeply devoted to those she loves. She is also an entrepreneur who gives her all to support African start-ups. I am so glad our paths crossed and connected. Ellen, I couldn’t dream of a better friend!

IMG_7746-1536x2048
Fanelwa Ajayi-Ngece

Chemistry Professor and Founder of
AmaQawe ngeMfundo

I could spend hours dreaming and talking about the future with Fanelwa (and we do). She knows what the world needs and she makes it happen with all her heart. Fanelwa, thank you for sharing your dreams! We will go on that walk in the campus reserve – one day!

Screenshot
Mmaki Jantjies

Information Systems Professor and Social Entrepreneur

We first connected on Twitter and years later became colleagues, and immediate friends. And when we think we can work towards a common future, it happens! Mmaki is a visionary and a beautiful mum to some amazing young people. Mmaki, thank you for your support through thick and thin!

the Astrofamilies

We are all working in astronomy, we all have kids of roughly the same age, and we share a whole lot!

Amanda Weltman
Theoretical Physics Professor
Beside being an all-together super woman, Amanda is a family friend and probably my favourite home cook! We have been sitting in hospital rooms, at home, out and about, walking our dogs together, always chatting about life, our kids, nothing and everything. Thank you Amanda for feeding us, for the walks and for all the good times.
Sarah Blyth
Astronomy Professor and Colleague
Always with a smile and a hug, Sarah is always so chill. I don’t know how she does it. Super mum, keeping a whole astronomy department together and finding time to fetch me from chemo, feed the kids or lend me her office if I need down time. Thank you for everything!
Shazrene Mohamed
Astronomy Professor and Colleague
Shazrene is one of the most humble astronomers I know. She is super dedicated to her students and keeps so many balls up in the air. At the same time, she always takes time to visit me when I’m unwell and to share some warmth. Thank you Shaz for your generous heart!
Aimée Challandes
Marketing Specialist, athlete and musician
Aimée and I go way back to our first day in high school! I can’t begin to list the adventures we’ve had, studying, traveling together, partying and more. In high school we promised each other to meet in 20 years’ time. Now, nearly 30 years later and across the planet, we’re still here! Thank you Aimée, for everything!
Bronwyn Lace
Artist
When Bronwyn, Marcus, Kevin and I get together, and now our children too, it’s a festival of ideas in art and science. Bronwyn is an accomplished artist and a beautiful soul. We first met under the stars in Sutherland, and while kilometres have always been many between our homes, Bronwyn is one of those friends who makes distance immaterial.
Gersende Prior
Nuclear Physicist and Engineer
There were not many girls in our undergraduate studies! At times it was tough, but today we can look back and smile. We made it. We even got married and had kids, who would have thought about it, back when we were working on micro-canonical ensembles! I am so grateful to still be connected to you Gersende, PH3 girls forever 🙂
Premana Premadi
Astronomer and Philosopher
I first met Premana at the beginning of the Universe Awareness programme. She is so dedicated to young people, to a better world, and she works so hard to make it happen! We’re not in the same half of the planet but we stay in touch. Thank you Premana for all your kindness through the 15+ years and for being around through everything!
Premana Premadi
Astronomer and Philosopher
I first met Premana at the beginning of the Universe Awareness programme. She is so dedicated to young people, to a better world, and she works so hard to make it happen! We’re not in the same half of the planet but we stay in touch. Thank you Premana for all your kindness through the 15+ years and for being around through everything!
Julie Cleverdon
Director of the Cape Town Science Centre
When you live on another continent from your family and the hospital asks you for a person to contact, you were there! Through crazy times and through even more crazy times, between millions of projects and relentless fundraising, you make time for a cup of tea, Tea! What would we all be without you? I mean it!
Tlamelo Lolokwane
Management graduate and superstar
We found each other online. We got together to make something happen. It worked. Tlamelo, you shine like a star, I am so proud of you, you’ll go far! Thank you being so dedicated and always positive. You go girl!
Hillary Sanctuary
Physicist, Artist and Musician
Always inspired, always inspiring. Always seeking what’s true, or at least what’s right – for what do we know? I know that the more we chat, the more we realise we have in common. It’s incredible that we missed each other so close at EPFL, only to find one another so many years later. Thank you for the friendship and the honesty and everything else.
Previous
Next
Blog