Conferences, Schools and Workshops
CAPPs participation in the NECSA visit
On 26 September 2025, our second- and third-year students had the exciting opportunity to visit NECSA (South African Nuclear Energy Corporation) on a physics excursion, where they toured the facility and gained valuable insight into the real-world applications of physics in industry.
As part of CAPP鈥檚 outreach and educational efforts, we extend our gratitude to Mr. Mfuphi Ntshatsha, Mr. Lutendo Nyadzi, and Mr. Luyanda Mazwi for their involvement and support throughout the visit. We also thank Prof. Giovanni for coordinating the excursion, Prof. Soeb Razzaque for funding the trip, and the Department of Physics for its continued support in creating impactful learning experiences for our students.
CAPPs participation in “Take a child to work day” 2025
On 1 October 2025, the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics proudly participated in the annual 鈥淭ake Your Child to Work Day鈥� hosted by the UJ Department of Chemical Sciences.
The day was filled with engaging activities, from campus tours and mentorship sessions to interactive discussions and job-shadowing opportunities. During the mentor/mentee session (11:20 鈥� 12:50), CAPP members such as Mr. Luyanda Mazwi, Mrs. Thando Kekana, Ms. Tamador Aldowma, and Mr. Ankur Ghosh, delivered insightful, educational, and inspiring talks to students from Voerentoe High School, sparking their curiosity about the universe and the exciting world of astro-particle physics.
Overall, it was a fun, inspiring, and educational day dedicated to nurturing the next generation of scientists and innovators!
Mfuphi Ntshatsha attended the international conference 鈥淓xtragalactic Jets at All Scales: A Cretan View鈥� in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
In August 2025, the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) was proud to be represented at the international conference 鈥淓xtragalactic Jets at All Scales: A Cretan View鈥�, held from 25鈥�29 August in Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
The conference brought together leading theorists and observers from around the world to discuss key topics in the field of extragalactic jets, including particle acceleration, jet formation and composition, multiwavelength variability and polarization, multimessenger observations, high-energy emission mechanisms, jet structure, and environmental feedback.
Mr. Mfuphi Ntshatsha from CAPP contributed to the scientific discussions with a presentation titled:
馃敼 鈥淐ompton-Induced Cascade Gamma-Rays in the Radio Galaxy NGC 1275.鈥�
We are proud of this contribution to advancing our understanding of extragalactic jets and their role in the broader context of high-energy astrophysics.
High-Energy Astrophysics in Southern Africa 2025
- 5 invited talks
- 49 contributed talks
- 12 posters
- Prof. Soeb Razzaque 鈥� Searching for Astrophysical Sources of the Highest-Energy Neutrino Event
- Mr. Ankur Ghosh 鈥� GRB 250129A: Linking Late-Time Afterglow Polarisation to Jet Structure and Viewing Geometry
- Dr. Khushboo Dixit 鈥� Astrophysical Neutrinos as Probes of Dark Matter Around AGN
- Mr. Lutendo Nyadzi 鈥� Investigating Neutron Star ULXs as Evolutionary Precursors to Short Gamma-Ray Bursts
- Mr. Mfuphi Ntshatsha 鈥� Compton-Induced 纬-Ray Cascade Emissions in Radio Galaxy NGC 1275
- Mrs. Thando Kekana 鈥� Radio Continuum Emission Predominantly Traces Star Formation in Radio-Quiet Active Galactic Nuclei
- Ms. Tamador Aldowma 鈥� Constraints on Cosmological Parameters Using Gamma-Ray Bursts with Measured and Machine Learning鈥揇erived Redshifts
The 39th International Cosmic Ray Conference in Geneva, Switzerland,
The 39th International Cosmic Ray Conference was successfully held in Geneva, Switzerland, where Dr. Ankur Ghosh delivered a compelling talk on:
Dissecting the Radiative Puzzle of VHE GRBs: Insights from Multi-Wavelength Modelling
Since 1947, ICRC has been held biennially by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics and, it has been uniting researchers and experts in various topics such as, Cosmic Ray Physics, High Energy & Gamma-Ray Astrophysics, Neutrino Astrophysics, Dark Matter, Solar & Heliospheric Physics and Multi-Messenger & Gravitational Wave Astronomy
The 2025 Cosmic Ray Conference created a space for engaging discussions, breakthrough research, and global collaboration.
WITS 欧美福利100000 to Host SAIP 2025: Celebrating 70 Years of Advancing Physics in South Africa
WITS 欧美福利100000 is proud to host SAIP 2025, the annual conference of the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP). Established in July 1955, SAIP is a voluntary, non-profit learned society and professional body dedicated to becoming a world-class, inclusive, and dynamic force in the advancement of physics in South Africa.
With a strong emphasis on physics education, research, and practical applications, SAIP seeks to make a meaningful contribution to the country鈥檚 socio-economic development. They aim is to advance the study and research of physics and related fields by encouraging practical applications, fostering knowledge exchange through publications and conferences, maintaining high professional standards among physicists, and collaborating with other institutes and societies for mutual benefit.
Below is the list of contributions from CAPP at SAIP
鈼廝rof. Soebur Razzaque Contributed Talk: Astrophysical Origin of the Highest-Energy Neutrino Event
鈼廌r. Ankur Ghosh
Contributed Talk: Late-Time Spectropolarimetry of GRB250129A: Evidence of an Off-Axis Gaussian Jet
鈼廌r. Kushboo Dixit
Contributed Talk: Probing Dark Matter Signatures in IceCube Astrophysical Neutrino Data
鈼廙s. Tamador Aldowma
Contributed Talk: Constraints on Cosmological Parameters Using a Large Sample of Gamma-Ray Bursts with Redshifts Derived by Machine Learning
鈼廙rs. Thando Mothogoane (Kekana)
Poster: The Evolution of the Infrared鈥揜adio Correlation with Redshift and Stellar Mass for Galaxies in the MIGHTEE-COSMOS Field
鈼廙r. Lutendo Nyadzani
Contributed Talk: Exploring ULXs as Short GRB Precursors
鈼廙r. Mfuphi Ntshatsha
Contributed Talk: Compton-Induced Cascade 纬-rays in the Radio Galaxy NGC 1275
鈼廙r. Luyanda Mazwi
Contributed Talk: Quantum Complexity in Neutrino Flavour Oscillation
SAIP 2025 is a landmark event, showcasing cutting-edge research and fostering collaboration among physicists from South Africa, the continent, and the global scientific community.
PPC 2025 visits the Sanford Underground Research Facility
During the XVIII International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology (PPC 2025), the team had the opportunity to tour the renowned Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). Situated at the former Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota, SURF is America’s premier underground laboratory dedicated to cutting-edge research in particle physics and beyond.
One mile beneath the Earth’s surface, where cosmic rays are blocked, scientists conduct some of the world鈥檚 most sensitive experiments in the search for dark matter and the study of obscure 聽neutrinos. The team explored the historic Yates Shaft, a 5,000-foot vertical passage that serves as a critical lifeline, transporting equipment, supplies, and researchers to the underground labs.
Beyond physics, SURF also supports research in microbial life, geothermal energy, engineering, and technology. This inspiring experience showcased not only the groundbreaking science taking place at SURF but also its commitment to education, outreach, and advancing knowledge across generations.
Prof. Razzaque Presents at PPC 2025: Unveiling Neutrino Mysteries from KM3NeT
Professor Soebur Razzaque from the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics had delivered an invited plenary talk at the XVIII International Conference on Interconnections between Particle Physics and Cosmology (PPC 2025), The conference was held from 23鈥�28 June at Cadillac Jack鈥檚 Resort, Deadwood, South Dakota, USA.
His talk, 鈥淩ecent Results from the KM3NeT Neutrino Telescope,鈥� offered valuable insights into how neutrinos shape our understanding of the universe, from the tiniest particles to the largest cosmic structures.
The conference was Hosted by The Institute of Underground Science at SURF, PPC 2025, which brings together top scientists from theory and experiment to explore the connections between particle physics, cosmology, and the evolution of the early universe. Topics they touch on are dark matter, dark energy, neutrinos, inflation, and the formation of large-scale structures.
This dynamic event serves as a powerful platform for groundbreaking ideas at the intersection of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and cosmology.
CAPP Researchers Visit 欧美福利100000 of Nova Gorica for International Collaboration in Astrophysics 馃嚫馃嚠
Dr. Khushboo Dixit and Ms. Tamador Aldowma from the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics, 欧美福利100000 of Johannesburg, recently visited the Centre for Astrophysics and Cosmology at the 欧美福利100000 of Nova Gorica in Ro啪na Dolina, Slovenia 馃嚫馃嚠.
Hosted by Prof. Gabrijela Zaharijas and her team, the visit enabled rich scientific discussions and hands-on collaborative work between researchers and students.
Dr. Dixit delivered a research seminar titled “Signatures of Pseudo-Dirac Neutrinos in Astrophysical Neutrino Data from IceCube,” sparking insightful conversations around cutting-edge developments in neutrino physics.
and Ms Tamador Aldowma presented a talk on Probing Gamma-Ray Bursts as Cosmological Standard Candles Through Machine Learning and SpectralAnalysis
Professor Soebur Razzaque Visits the 欧美福利100000 of Cape Town
Prof. Soebur Razzaque, recently visited the 欧美福利100000 of Cape Town from 5鈥�7 May 2025. During his visit, Prof. Razzaque engaged with faculty and students in the Department of Mathematics & Applied Mathematics, where he presented a highly anticipated seminar titled 鈥淕amma-Ray Bursts: The Most Powerful Explosions in the Universe.鈥�
Prof. Razzaque鈥檚 visit fostered valuable academic exchange and collaboration opportunities between CAPP and the 欧美福利100000 of Cape Town, strengthening ties in the field of astro-particle physics in South Africa.
Reflecting on the African Astronomical Society Conference & General Assembly 2025!
From 23鈥�28 March 2025, the AfAS-2025 conference brought together a vibrant community of astronomers, researchers, students, and policymakers at the 欧美福利100000 of South Africa (UNISA) in a hybrid format. This landmark event highlighted Africa鈥檚 growing contributions to astronomy, featuring discussions on cutting-edge research, outreach initiatives, and education strategies. Key sessions explored the legacy of IAU-GA2024, updates on flagship projects, and the future of astronomy infrastructure across the continent.
The conference, organised in collaboration with APA, ASSAP, AERAP, and IAU-OAD, also hosted the General Assembly, where members engaged in discussions on the Society鈥檚 Constitution, sustainability, and new membership benefits.
Among the insightful presentations from CAPP members were:
馃敼 Professor Soebur Razzaque鈥檚 talk on “How rare is the brightest of all time gamma-ray burst GRB 221009A?”
馃敼Dr. Khushboo Dixit鈥檚 discussion on “IceCube and the Astrophysical Probe of Pseudo-Dirac Neutrinos”
馃敼Ms Tamador 聽Aldowma鈥檚 poster on “Implications of Joint Spectral Analysis of Gamma-Ray Bursts detected by Fermi Large Area Telescope and GRB Monitor on Phenomenological Correlations”
馃敼 Mrs Thando Mothogoane鈥檚 poster on “Beyond the Obscured: Radio Luminosity Calibrations of SFR in Distant Galaxies”
The connections made at AFAS, and knowledge shared will continue to drive African astronomy forward.
The 3rd Astro-COLIBRI Multi-Messenger Workshop
The 3rd Astro-COLIBRI Multi-Messenger Workshop was Held from September 16-20, 2024, at the Institut Pascal at Universit茅 Paris-Saclay with the support from IRFU CEA Paris-Saclay,
The event focused on advancing a research agenda for interconnecting software tools in real-time multi-messenger astronomy. It was an incredible opportunity for collaboration, bringing together leading scientists and young researchers from around the globe.
Dr. Ankur Ghosh from CAPP contributed a talk on the impact of magnetars on kilonova afterglow emission in short GRBs, with insights from late-time radio observations.
HEASA 2024
The High Energy Astrophysics in Southern Africa 2024 (HEASA 2024) conference, hosted by the School of Physics at the 欧美福利100000 of the Witwatersrand (Wits), took place from October 2nd to October 4th, 2024, at the Wits Rural Facility.
Building on the success of HEASA 2023, which was held in Mtunzini, Kwa-Zulu Natal, this eleventh edition of the conference continued its mission of bringing together scientists from Southern Africa, across the continent, and around the world who are dedicated to the study of high-energy astrophysical phenomena.
At HEASA 2024, discussions spanned a wide array of topics, including theoretical perspectives, multi-wavelength observations, and multi-messenger approaches to studying various astrophysical sources. These included active galactic nuclei (AGNs), galaxy systems, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), X-ray/gamma-ray binaries, supernovae, supernova remnants, neutron stars, pulsars, pulsar wind nebulae, and cataclysmic variables (CVs).
Ms Tamador Aldowma contributed a talk on the Implications of Joint Spectral Analysis from Fermi (GBM, LAT, and LLE) on Phenomenological GRBs Correlations and Dr聽Khushboo Dixit聽contributed a talk on Astrophysical Insights into Pseudo-Dirac Neutrinos with IceCube Observations.
11th International Fermi Symposium 2024
Professor Sobeur Razzaque, Doctor Monica Barnard and Ms Tamador Aldowma had attended 聽The 11th International Fermi Symposium 2024 which was held in Washington D.C from the 9th to the 13th of September. 聽It had brought together the brightest minds in astrophysics to discuss groundbreaking findings from the Fermi mission, its advanced instruments, collaborative studies and upcoming research opportunities.
IAU GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2024
On the 5th of August the CAPP Team attended The IAU General Assembly 2024 in Cape Town South Africa.
The conference featured over 200 scientific sessions with renowned speakers and offered both in-person and virtual participation. Highlights included hybrid poster sessions, open-access talks, public outreach, cultural events, and technical tours.
This innovative conference aimed to reshape global perceptions through Astronomy whilst also allowing Africa to showcase its rich culture and indigenous art. The conference inspired future scientists worldwide and fostered global collaboration. This event offered a unique platform to challenge stereotypes, promote knowledge sharing, and advance astronomical research on an international scale.
Dr. Khushboo Dixit, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, presented her poster titled 鈥樷�� and contributed talk on ‘ ‘ at ICHEP 2024, held in Prague, Czech Republic, from 18-24 July 2024.
ICHEP is a series of international conferences organized by the C11 commission of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). It has been held every two years for over 50 years and is the reference conference for particle physics where the most relevant results are presented.
At ICHEP, physicists from around the world gather to share the latest advancements in particle physics, astrophysics/cosmology, and accelerator science and to discuss plans for major future facilities.
Read more about the conference:
From July 8-12, 2024 members from the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP), Prof. Soebur Razzaque, (Director), Dr. Monica Barnard (Post Doctoral Research Fellow), Dr. Ankur Ghosh (Post Doctoral Research Fellow) and Tamador Aldowma (PhD Student), attended the Gamma Ray Burst Forum in Athens Greece.
The conference explored the various aspects of gamma-ray bursts, covering emission physics, high-energy radiation, polarization, central engines, jet generation, multi-wavelength observations, and using GRBs as cosmological probes.
Read more about the conference .
PhD students Mfuphi Ntshatsha and Lutendo Nyadzani attended the annual South African Institute of Physics conference, between the 1st and 5th of July 2024. The conference was held at Rhodes 欧美福利100000 in the Eastern Cape as it celebrated its 120th anniversary. This year鈥檚 theme was “To the next 100, South Africa’s future in physics,” inspired great talks, presentations, and posters. Read more about the conference:
Awards
Mr. Lutendo Nyadzani was awarded the ‘Best PhD Presentation in Astrophysics’ for the second year in a row.
Prof. Soebur Razzaque presented his contributed talk titled ‘Multiwavelength emission from Gamma-Ray Burst’ at the held in Marrakech, Morocco from April 15 to 20, 2024. This conference aims to further the goals of AfAS by focusing on astronomy research, outreach, communication, and education activities in Africa. It also aims to promote collaboration between countries. For more information on the conference proceedings, visit the dedicated Indico website here:
NITheCS Colloquium 2024
At the NITheCS Colloquium held on 13 May 2024 at Stellenbosch 欧美福利100000 in Cape Town, Prof. Soebur Razzaque presented a talk titled 鈥楪amma-ray Bursts: The Most Powerful Explosions in the Universe鈥�. You can watch his talk here on YouTube .
Prof. Soebur Razzaque presented his contributed talk titled ‘‘ at the held in Sacramento, California from April 3 to 6, 2024. The theme of the ‘Quarks to Cosmos’ meeting is “New Challenges and Questions for the Micro and Macro Universe”. This scientific conference brings together physicists and students from around the world. It encourages connection and collaboration across various fields of physics, including astrophysics, particle physics, nuclear physics, and gravitation. For more information on the meeting proceedings, visit the dedicated Indico website here:
The 鈥樷��, hosted by the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) took place from February 5-7, 2024, at the 欧美福利100000 of Johannesburg鈥檚 Physics Department and was also available virtually on Zoom. This follows the聽, which took place at the聽聽at the聽聽in Cape Town from April 24-26, 2023.
The lectures aimed to introduce quantum information fundamentals and their applications, targeting advanced undergraduates or beginning graduate students. Lectures were self-contained and assumed a basic understanding of quantum mechanics. Tutorial problems supplemented the lectures, promoting collaborative problem-solving among students.
The lecturers included Prof. Tibra Ali from Brac 欧美福利100000 Bangladesh, Dr. Shajid Haque from the 欧美福利100000 of Cape Town (UCT), and our own Dr. Garreth Kemp from the Physics Department, as well as Dr. Khushboo Dixit, a postdoc at the Centre.
For more information about the workshop, visit the dedicated webpage here:聽
Ms. Dimakatso Maheso attended the ‘鈥�, which took place from 19 November to 9 December 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ms. Maheso presented a project titled “Studying FGCE 0328 through its spectral lines”. Observations were conducted using the SALT telescope during the school.
For more information about this school, visit their website:
Prof. Soebur Razzaque attended the TeV Particle Astrophysics (TeVPA) conference in Napoli, Italy from September 11th to September 15th, 2023. This international conference showcases the latest advancements in the field of Astroparticle Physics.
For more information about the conference, please visit their website:
Contributions by Staff and Students
Contributed Talks:
- Prof. Soebur Razzaque:聽;
Contributions by Staff and Students
Contributed Talks:
- Prof. Soebur Razzaque: Virtual
- Prof. Hartmut Winkler: Photometry of blazars using the Las Cumbres Observatory robotic telescope network
- Mr. Lutendo Nyadzani: X-ray – UV anti-correlation in ultra-luminous sources
- Ms. Chanelle Gouws: Engaging physics departments and science faculties in outreach activities
- Ms. Anna Samara Larmuth: The significance of social media in physics: Insights from a social media specialist secondee at CTAO
- Ms. Monica Barnard: Modelling very-high-energy gamma-rays detected from GRBs with external Compton emission using Naima (Virtual)
- Ms. Tamador Aldowma: Joint spectral analysis of Fermi and Swift data from gamma-ray bursts
- Mr. Luyanda Mazwi: Estimation of the orbital inclination angle for compact binary mergers through Bayesian inference
- Ms. Dimakatso Maheso: Temporal and spectral analysis of short GRBs detected by the Fermi gamma-ray burst monitor with known redshift
Excursion
Mtunzini River Cruise
The Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) team had an amazing time attending the Mtunzini river cruise during the HEASA 2023 conference.
The team enjoyed the beautiful scenery and had some great conversations about the local wildlife. We hope to have many more experiences at future conferences!
Prof. Razzaque delivered a keynote talk at the New Evolution of MultiMessenger Astrophysics (NEMMA) symposium held at Penn State 欧美福利100000, USA from August 21 to 23, 2023.
For more information about the symposium, visit .
Mr. Luyanda Mazwi (Master’s Student)聽attended the 聽in Nice, France from July 3-8, 2023.
Staff and students from the Department of Physics and the Centre for Astro-Particle Physics (CAPP) attended the ‘‘ at the 欧美福利100000 of Zululand, Richards Bay Campus from July 3-7, 2023.
Contributions by Staff and Students
Contributed Talks:
- Prof. Soebur Razzaque:聽
- Ms. Dimakatso Maheso:聽
- Mr. Lutendo Nyadzani:聽
- Ms. Getrude Thando Mothogoane:聽
Posters:
- Mr. Thabo Msiza:
Awards:
- Mr. Lutendo Nyadzani: Best PhD Presentation in the Astrophysics Division (See his contributed talk here:聽)
Prof. Soebur Razzaque (Director) attended the ‘‘ in Daejeon, South Korea from 12-16 June 2023.
Prof. Razzaque presented a contributed talk titled聽鈥樷��.
Dr. Khushboo Dixit (Postdoctoral Research Fellow)聽attended the ‘‘ conference at the Banff International Research Station in Banff, Canada from June 4th to June 9th, 2023.
Dr. Dixit presented a contributed talk titled ‘‘. You can watch Dr. Dixit’s talk below:
