Forum on Astronomy in Africa 2022

In preparation for the IAU-GA2024, it is essential to bring together the African astronomical community to discuss how the continent can maximally benefit from the opportunity of hosting this event, as well as follow up on discussions from previous meetings on how best to facilitate participation by countries in Africa. The 2022 Forum on Astronomy in Africa took place on 25 October 2022. The forum was fully virtual and brought together members of our community of astronomers, enthusiasts, outreach and education specialists, and policymakers. The purpose of the Forum was to maintain momentum towards GA2024, building on the work of the last forum (held in October 2021) and to allow updates on preparations, Vision 2024 and other projects. 

Participants were welcome to view the presentations from the last forum and to get in touch if they wished to update their previous contributions with new information or anything they might have missed last year. The links to those recorded presentations are on last year’s programme.

Format: Virtual Forum for African astronomy community via Zoom

Date: 25 October 2022

Venue: Online on Zoom (the Stream is now available to catch-up on Youtube)

Programme:

This is an up-to-date version of the progamme.

TimeAgenda ItemSpeaker
09:00Welcome and OverviewCharles Takalana
09:05 Special guest welcome remarks
– Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)
– National Research Foundation (NRF)
Takalani Nemaungani
Clifford Nxomani
09:15Message from the International Astronomical Union (IAU)Debra Meloy Elmegreen
09:30 Update on Vision 2024Vanessa McBride
09:45Status of Astronomy in AfricaThebe Medupe
10:00Reflections on BusanSally Macfarlane
10:10Expectations for Cape Town (Tourvest – IME)Thembi Kunene-Msimang
10:20 Discussion
10:30Break/informal networking/gather.town
11:00Vision 2024-funded projects
– Anna Aikohi, Space in Africa
– Chukwujekwu Nworah, Astro Prison in Nigeria
– Doreen Agaba, African Astronomer for a Day
– Melvin Hoare, DARA projects
– Miracle Chibuzor, Searching for Asteroids through Citizen Science
– Pide Aristide Ahanhanzo, BĂ©nin Astro
– Proven Emmanuel, Unearthing rich cultural astronomy in Ghana
– Solohery Randriamampandry, Malagasy Astronomers Conference
– Tolu Biressa, Jimma Outreach programme for Science Education
– Wathela Hassan, Zamzam refugee camp outreach programme
– The Future of Meetings, What If?
– Prospery Simpemba, Copperbelt University
– James Chibueze, Hands-on radio interferometry
– Olayinka Fagbemiro, NARSDA
– Benard Nsamba, Small and affordable radio telescopes in schools
11:55Remote/robotic observing in AfricaMichele Gerbaldi
12:00Science flagship/activitiesBradley Frank
Bonita de Swardt
David Buckley
12:30Outreach flagship/activitiesSally Macfarlane
Duduzile Kubheka
13:00Break/informal networking/gather.town
14:00Working session: achieving Vision 2024Vanessa McBride
16:00Closing remarks and thoughts from the participants
16:30End

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