IAU General Assembly Concludes in Cape Town, Showcasing Africa’s Role in Astronomy
The XXXII General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) ends today in Cape Town, South Africa, closing out the first flagship meeting of the IAU to take place on the African continent. The rich scientific programme brought together 2050 in-person participants and around 609 attending online. As the first fully open-access General Assembly, the conference represented a milestone in public engagement, and also kicked off the longer celebration of Africa Astro Month, with numerous public engagement activities to continue throughout August.
The XXXII IAU General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, ended on 15 August 2024, after two vibrant weeks of scientific exchange and public activities. This has been a memorable General Assembly, as the first to be held on the African continent, and drew together 2050 in-person participants and 609 virtual participants from 105 countries. Thanks to the dedication of the Local Organising Committee, the conference was a resounding success, showcasing the latest research in all branches of astronomy, as well as Africa’s indispensable role in driving the discipline forward. This meeting was also the first to be fully open access, offering the public unprecedented access to the forefront of astronomical research. People around the world embraced this opportunity, with around 15000 views by 4800 unique viewers tuning in to presentations online.
Conference attendees enjoyed a wide range of talks across 6 Symposia, 12 multi-session Focus Meetings and many more meetings organised by the IAU Offices, Divisions, and Working Groups. During one of three invited discourses, the audience heard from Bernie Fanaroff, who led the bid for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), about the story behind this major, state-of-the-art astronomical infrastructure project in South Africa, as well as an educational programme set up to inspire and support local school students in pursuing scientific careers. Other invited discourses also offered fascinating insights into the latest science coming out of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and the advances in cosmological hydrodynamical simulations.
Another major theme at the meeting was the protection of dark and quiet skies, particularly in the context of the rapidly growing number of satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit. The IAU Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS) held several dedicated sessions on this issue, discussing the science impacts on astronomical observations, the impacts on astrotourism, and the importance of collaborating with industry to urgently address the issue. The CPS also announced it had received a major grant from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop tools to accurately predict satellites’ times of passage, and thus mitigate their impacts.
The General Assembly fulfilled its mission to have a positive social impact, with school visits to the venue and virtual opportunities for students to engage directly with astronomers. Furthermore, the conference implemented the first fully hybrid poster sessions, utilising 100 screens, Raspberry Pis, and webcams. This equipment, together with educational resources, will now be donated to 100 local schools, ensuring that the conference has a positive, long-lasting legacy.
