Dr Bonita de Swardt holds a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cape Town. She is the programme manager for strategic partnerships at the National Research Foundation’s South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), where she plays a key role in designing and implementing initiatives to develop scientific talent across Africa. Her work involves mentoring students — particularly young women in STEM — overseeing programmes, collaborating with scientists on training events, and drafting proposals for innovative initiatives.  Dr Bonita’s favourite part of the job is seeing students grow, succeed, and return as mentors, contributing to the next generation of scientific leaders. Her passion for human capital development grew from her academic and research journey. After completing her postdoctoral fellowship at the South African Astronomical Observatory and coordinating the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme, she realised she could make a broader impact by building capacity rather than pursuing purely academic research. Her programmes promote inclusivity, focusing on women and students from historically disadvantaged institutions. Dr Bonita is particularly proud of initiatives such as the Big Data Africa Programme, which has trained over 550 students in AI and data science, with 60% female participation, as well as the Open Data for Social Impact Challenge and SARAO’s Graduate Programme. The most valuable lesson she has learned is reflected in a mentor’s advice: “Focus on planting seeds, not just picking fruit.” This philosophy guides her commitment to fostering a thriving, inclusive scientific workforce across Africa.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Astronomy, University of Cape Town
• Master of Science (MS) in Astrophysics, Rutgers University, United States
• Master of Science (MSc) in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, University of Cape Town
• Bachelor of Science Honours (BSc Hons) in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics, University of Cape Town
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physics and Applied Mathematics

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Founder of the Big Data Africa programme – established the Big Data Africa School and related initiatives, training more than 550 students and researchers in AI, machine learning and data-intensive science across Africa, directly preparing the next generation of STEM leaders.
• Pioneering innovative programmes for Societal Impact – championed the design and implementation of novel initiatives such as the Open Data for Social Impact Challenge, empowering students, particularly from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs), to use data-driven solutions for real-world African challenges, bridging science, technology and community development.
• Driving Equity and Inclusion in STEM – authored the Women in Data Science Report (2021), which influenced policies that doubled female participation in data science training by 2025 . Achieved a 60% female participation rate in SARAO’s Big Data Schools since 2023. Introduced interventions to increase the participation of South Africa’s Historically Disadvantaged Institutions in data science programmes, resulting in a 20% rise in HDI participation between 2017 and 2025.
• Transforming Human Capital in Astronomy and Big Data – designed and led programmes that trained over 1 200 students across 16 African countries, with more than 80% of graduates now employed in STEM roles. Pioneered SARAO’s Graduate Programme, placing more than 50 young professionals in technical STEM positions.
• Strategic Policy Leadership in South African Astronomy – co-authored the first National Multi-Wavelength Astronomy Strategy (2015) for South Africa; drafted the concept for a South African National Astronomy Agency; and conducted the country’s first demographic survey of astronomers, setting the foundation for long-term transformation.
• Global Science Diplomacy and Partnerships – forged high-impact collaborations with global partners such as UKRI, Horizon Europe, Ireland’s InnoGlobal and CSIRO (Australia), ensuring Africa’s representation in science, technology and innovation at an international level.