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When: Oct 2, 2023 08:00 AM Johannesburg

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TRIBUTE TO A TRAILBLAZER IN SPACE SCIENCE: DR. LEE-ANNE MCKINNEL

(30 DECEMBER 1970 – 19 AUGUST 2023)

Professor Lee-Anne McKinnel

The transition to the great beyond of Prof Lee-Anne McKinnel on 19th August 2023 has left us with great impact that is beyond measure. Indeed, a golden fish has left our ocean. Day after day, I could not pen down my thoughts which I consider necessary for record purpose and as a mark of honour to a woman of courage who has indeed projected the place of women folks in our region. While here she became our collective pride

Lee-Anne remained consistent in her pursuit of excellence in ionospheric studies and space weather research. She led the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory which later translated to SANSA – Space Science (South African Space Agency, Space Science) for more than 10 years. The facility later became the Regional Warning Centre for Space Weather in Africa. Her passion for space weather studies led to the commissioning of the South African Space Weather Centre in November 2022, an event which attracted global attention. Undoubtedly, Lee-Anne was the number one woman in space weather studies in Africa and ranked among the best in the world. She was our jewel of inestimable value in Africa. A leader who was not afraid of raising leaders. A heroine of our science. She supervised and mentored many students/scientists who are now plying scientific trades in leading institutions across many continents.

Lee-Anne was a great team player/builder and collaborator. Under Lee-Anne, Hermanus was a home to everyone. She has a great team around her all the time and her mentees are flying on her wings everywhere. Mention any active international scientific society in solar-terrestrial physics and her name will ring bell. Her services were felt at URSI, SCOSTEP, IRI, IAGA, ISWI and other relevant communities. She was one of the 4 leading scientists that I worked with as interim executive committee while we were starting off the African Geospace Society in 2009. We later succeeded in establishing the African Geophysical Society in November 2012. Her huge contributions to Space Science and human capacity development was recognized at the second annual conference of the African Geophysical Society in 2015 Nairobi, Kenya, when she was conferred with the fellowship of the Society.

With her passage, we have lost a vibrant global scientist with a record of an outstanding scholarship and extra-ordinary professional attainment. She was a role model who has positively impacted many scientists, some of whom are leading in their various domains today. She was an epitome of diligence, integrity, and courage. She was ever calm and maintained warm personality befitting of an administrator par excellence. She excelled in her glowing career and chaired many international scientific committees and workshop sessions that had to do with our science. Her service to humanity will be forever cherished. Surely, Lee-Anne lives on. Adieu our Professor Lee-Anne!

Professor Babatunde Rabiu

United Nations African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education – English

(UN-ARCSSTE-E),

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria

Email: tunderabiu2@gmail.com