Special Session SS52
23 June 2025
The Legacy of the IAU-GA 2024 for Africa-Europe Collaborations in Astronomy
News:
- 31 January 2025 - Abstract Submission opens
- 3 March 2025 - Abstract Submission Deadline
- End of May 2025 - EAS 2025 programme goes live
Aims and scope
This session builds on the growing collaboration between Africa and Europe, as demonstrated through past EAS sessions like EAS2018, EAS2020, EAS2022, and EAS2023. These meetings gave visibility to a strong development of astronomy in Africa and have significantly advanced astronomy in Africa by fostering partnerships between African and European institutions and helping build strong, equitable ties across both continents. Astronomy has emerged as a key scientific field in Africa over the past two decades, with transformative developments such as the relaunch of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) in 2019, the historic hosting of the first-ever International Astronomical Union General Assembly (IAU-GA) on African soil in August 2024, and the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between AfAS and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), aimed at fostering collaboration on human capital development programmes. This session will highlight key projects contributing to these advancements, including research, infrastructure and data access, and human capital development. A milestone in this evolving partnership between the African and European communities was the introduction of a reciprocal special session at AfAS-2024, which symbolised a new stage of collaboration between AfAS and EAS. This approach aims to deepen ties, fostering a culture of mutual learning and equality as they work together to grow the global astronomy community. The proposed session will also review progress on the resolutions developed in 2019 during the Africa-EU Summit by AfAS and EAS to strengthen cooperation in astronomy. Additionally, it will explore the proposed AfAS-EAS Training and Travel Programme for students and early career researchers, focusing on how to take it forward. During the proposed session, we will highlight funding opportunities and responses to upcoming calls, as discussed at the AfAS-2024 Africa-Europe session, through discussions on the current and future funding landscapes, including grant programs and international instruments. The historic IAU-GA 2024, held in Cape Town, drew 2,648 participants from 107 countries, including over 842 participants from African nations. This session will reflect on the achievements and lessons from the IAU-GA, while exploring how to solidify long-term collaborations in astronomy and space science between Africa and Europe. The IAU-GA 2024 was meant to be more than an event, it was envisioned through Vision 2024 that the event should sustain the momentum built towards hosting this meeting in Africa. By continuing the reciprocal nature of collaborations between Africa and Europe, the session will focus on key areas such as research, education, public outreach, astronomy for society, astronomy for development and policy. Specific goals of this session include: - Strengthening ties between African and European institutions in research, astronomy education, outreach and public engagement, use of astronomy for society and development, as well as science policy. - Showcasing successful collaboration models that can be replicated across regions. Highlighting opportunities for career development, particularly for early-career researchers and women in astronomy, through activities such as the African Network for Women in Astronomy (AfNWA). - Review the progress regarding the proposed AfAS-EAS Training and Travel programme for students and Early Career Researchers. - Addressing the role of international collaborations in promoting socio-economic development through the science of astronomy. - Building on the innovations and the legacy from the IAU-GA 2024, including hybrid poster sessions, virtual engagement through immersive platforms, and the establishment of legacy programs. - Contribute to setting up regular AfAS Astronomy Schools.
Programme
- Block 1: Research and Infrastructure Development
- Showcases collaborative projects.
- Focuses on infrastructure, data access, and advancements in African astronomy.
- Part of the IAU-GA 2024 legacy.
- Block 2: Education, Outreach, and Human Capital Development
- Highlights initiatives like AfNWA, astronomy schools, and the Africa-Europe Training and Travel Programme.
- Emphasises support for early-career researchers and women in astronomy.
- Features the yearly AfAS astronomy school.
- Block 3: Funding, Policy, and Astronomy for Society and Development
- Showcases current funding opportunities.
- Discusses the role of international collaborations in socio-economic and environmental development through astronomy.
Invited speakers
Scientific organisers
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A power cut will shut down all EAS services on Tuesday, 10 January 2017 starting at 7:30 CET.
