Biography

Professor Amare Abebe is a theoretical cosmologist, Professor of Cosmology and Director of the Centre for Space Research at North-West University in South Africa. He also serves as President of the African Astronomical Society.

His research focuses on fundamental problems in gravitation and cosmology, including modified theories of gravity, cosmological perturbations and large-scale structure, interacting dark energy and dark matter, black-hole physics and observational tensions in cosmology. His work combines theoretical analysis with astronomical observations to test the viability of cosmological and gravitational models.

Professor Abebe obtained a BSc with distinction in Physics and Mathematics from Addis Ababa University. He subsequently completed an MSc in Astrophysics and Space Science through the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme at the University of Cape Town, followed by a PhD in Cosmology at the same institution. He joined North-West University as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2014, became Professor in 2022 and was appointed Director of the Centre for Space Research in 2023.

He has built an extensive record of peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings. His international research network brings together collaborators across the globe. He has supervised postgraduate researchers and hosted postdoctoral fellows from diverse national backgrounds, with a particular commitment to developing research capacity in Africa. Several MSc graduates completed their degrees with distinction, including two recipients of S2A3 medals for the best MSc theses in the natural sciences at North-West University. His teaching spans undergraduate physics through advanced postgraduate courses in gravitation, astrophysics and cosmology.

Professor Abebe is a Fellow of the African Scientific Institute, an associate of the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences, and a member of several national and international scientific organisations. His academic service includes journal peer review, thesis examination, course moderation, public science communication and the development of specialist schools and research programmes.

Through his leadership of the Centre for Space Research and the African Astronomical Society, he works to strengthen research collaboration, education, professional development and institutional partnerships. His broader vision is of astronomy as both a frontier science and a powerful instrument for cooperation, innovation and sustainable scientific development across Africa.