Dr Sisco Auala

Dr. Sisco Auala is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). She earned her Ph.D. in Community-Based Tourism Development from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa. Her scholarly work focuses on Dark Sky Tourism and Astro Tourism, Indigenous Astronomy, and Community Development, reflecting her commitment to integrating cultural heritage with sustainable development. At the heart of her research lies a distinctive intersection between science and cultural heritage, where she advances knowledge systems that bridge astronomical science with indigenous worldviews and community empowerment. Prior to her academic career, Dr. Auala accumulated over two decades of professional experience in the tourism sector across Europe, South Africa, and Namibia. She notably served with the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia, where she managed sustainable tourism initiatives in collaboration with indigenous communities. In 2019, she contributed to the Africa World Travel Market Responsible Tourism Awards in Cape Town as a judge, underscoring her expertise in ethical and sustainable tourism practices. Dr. Auala is an associate member of Astro Accel, a US National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported initiative fostering global interdisciplinary research on astronomy in culture, education, and communication. She is also an active member of the African Astronomical Society. Her leadership extends to serving as Chairperson of Eco-Awards Namibia, a certification program promoting sustainable tourism through collaboration between government and private sector stakeholders. Her editorial contributions include membership on the boards of the Namibia Scientific Society Journal, Namibia’s oldest academic journal, established in 1925 and the International Astronomical Union’s CAP Journal of Astronomy Communication. She is also a contributing author to the UNESCO Courier, where she writes on Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Beyond academia, she is a Patron of the Hatika Adult Education Centre in Katutura, Windhoek, supporting community education in informal settlements. In recognition of her advocacy for dark sky preservation, Dr. Auala received the International Dark Sky Defender Award for Africa in 2025 from Dark Sky International. Most recently, she was appointed Extraordinary Researcher at North-West University, South Africa, further cementing her role as a leading scholar in cultural astronomy and sustainable tourism. ********* PODCAST: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Sustainable Tourism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmWIMwgP5Ls ********* PODCAST: Dark Sky Tourism and Astronomy in Namibia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUBi3UCU68s