# Zara Randriamanakoto

Zara Randriamanakoto is a Malagasy astronomer involved in promoting science in Madagascar .

## Quotes

* My research topics mainly revolve on multi-wavelength investigation of young massive star clusters in interacting and collisional ring galaxies. I am also interested in the life cycle of radio AGN.
* I am the team leader of Kanty Astronomy Research Group (KARG). We are an extragalactic astronomy group affiliated with SAAO and the University of Antananarivo.
* I am passionate about science engagement, the promotion of Girls and Women in STEM, and especially the advancement of astronomy in all its aspects in my home country (Madagascar) and Africa.
* These African women who are shaking up science.
* It is the IAU that has the power to say what a planet is and that decided to place Pluto in another category, that of dwarf planets. I told myself that for Madagascar to be on the world map of astronomy, we had to join such an institution
* I learned everything from her. She is a strong woman, who fought all her life to give us an education and against illness too. She is my first role model and gave me this energy, this fighting spirit, this strength of character."
* I am a research astronomer at SAAO. My research interests revolve around multiwavelength observations of interacting and collisional ring galaxies to help investigate the formation and evolution mechanisms of young massive clusters. I also work on radio loud AGN to study the AGN duty cycle using deep radio continuum surveys.
* I amoften asked why I study astronomy and how useful it is in our daily lives. The reality is that astronomy is a long-term investment, and although its benefits might not always be evident it has significant impact in many ways.
* The reality is that astronomy is a long-term investment, and although its benefits might not always be evident it has signficant impact in many ways.
* To study astronomy astronomers need to look deep into the sky. This requires specialized equipment, techniques and skills. Eventually, modified versions of these tools and their way into our daily lives, such as in the manufacture of wireless network protocols (Wi-Fi), closed-circuit television and mobile phone cameras.
* Doing astronomy is like investing. It is a science that promotes innovation, an essential ingredient for the sustainable development of a country.
* I did my undergraduate degree in physics, then a BSc Honours in energy physics at the University of Antananarivo. I then did postgraduate studies in astronomy and astrophysics (BSc Honours, Masters and then PhD thesis) at the University of Cape Town. I obtained my PhD in astronomy in 2015. Between 2015 and 2018, I was a SKA postdoc at the same university.
** What was your journey to becoming an astronomer?
* I studied astronomy because it was an opportunity that I could not miss and a challenge that I wanted to take up. Madagascar needed young experts in this field given its involvement in the South African SKA project as an African partner country during South Africa's bid to host SKA, the future largest observatory in the world. Today, astronomy has also become my great passion.
** What led you to study astronomy?
* The main challenges I encountered were the language barriers (switching from French to English), exposure to a diverse culture in South Africa and especially adapting to the new educational system at the University of Cape Townbwhich required a lot of self-learning, self-discipline and perseverance.
** Did you experience any difficulties during your journey?
* Have the audacity to protect your dreams, if you can dream it, you can do it. If you aspire to be an astrophysicist, start building your path towards your goal. Find a mentor along the way.
** What advice would you give to young girls in your country who want to study astrophysics?
* Not specifically for African women, but for most women in this field and any other STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) related field: gender stereotypes and the inability to break the glass ceiling.
** Do you think there are specific aspects/challenges that concern African women in astrophysics?
* On the research side, I study young massive star clusters hosted by interacting galaxies and burning ring galaxies to study the effect of the environment on the formation and evolution mechanisms of these proto-clusters. I also search for dying and restarted radio galaxies using LOFAR and MeerKAT to better understand the life cycle of radio galaxies.
** [What are your current actions/projects regarding astronomy?]
* Nothing predestined me to become an astronomer. I moved to Antananarivo for my university studies at the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Antananarivo. I obtained a master's degree in energy physics from the physics department in 2007.
** How did you become an astrophysicist?
* I am currently expanding my research topic to the study of star clusters.
** What will this distinction you have just received bring you in concrete terms?
* Like humans, a star cluster is born, lives, and dies. The duration of this process could be up to a few billion years or more.
** Your current work is titled: “Investigating star cluster properties in ring galaxy environments” to better understand star formation mechanisms in the nearby universe. What is it about?
* Astronomy is a discipline that requires technical skills and cutting-edge technology . And these can be used to tackle environmental challenges such as climate change or to plan the long-term response to the current famine in southern Madagasca.
** What is the point of such a study?
* The SKA project has helped put Africa on the map of the astronomy world and this is just the beginning.
** What is the contribution of the SKA project to the popularization of astronomy and astrophysics in African universities?
* Although my research work is currently based in South Africa, I have also been supervising M2 students in astrophysics at the University of Antananarivo since 2017.
** you considering returning home after obtaining your research supervision qualification to teach and pass on your skills to younger people?
* It wasn't easy at first. But I persevered and now I'm used to the language of Shakespeare. I read a lot and practiced English constantly since classes, conversations with friends and colleagues and especially communication outside the university are in English. It took time. But as the famous proverb says: "Practice makes perfect.
** You came from a French-speaking country. However, you are conducting your research in an English-speaking country. How did you solve the problem of the language barrier?
* Before coming to South Africa, I had very little knowledge about astronomy. At the time, there were no such subjects at university. My knowledge of astronomy was therefore limited to what I had learned in secondary school during geography lessons and through documentaries I had watched.
* Making a career in science in Africa is no longer a utopia. Believe in your dreams! But remember that there is no such thing as chance. Success does not fall from the sky.
** Are Have you encountered any particular problems in your studies and research? What advice would you give to young African women who would like to be inspired by your success in science and research?