Nature Comment: Impact and Legacy of the XXXII IAU General Assembly
Nature Comment: Impact and Legacy of the XXXII IAU General Assembly
The XXXII IAU General Assembly, held for the first time on the African continent from 6–15 August 2024, marked a historic milestone in the global astronomy community. Driven by a bold vision, the event highlighted Africa’s growing scientific capacity, and embodied the African spirit of Ubuntu, emphasizing accessibility, impact, and sustainability.
‘It’s time for Africa!’ This has been the rallying call since 2018 when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced that its XXXII General Assembly (GA) would be held, for the first time in the more than 100 year history of the IAU, on the African continent. For the African astronomical community and the host organization, the National Research Foundation (NRF), this presented an exceptional opportunity to showcase the incredible scientific capacity within the continent and to connect like never before with the rest of the world’s astronomers. For the IAU it was an opportunity to bring global attention to Africa and to push forward its goal of being a truly international organization, having its GA finally taking place on all six populated continents of the world. In the aftermath of this significant event, we reflect on its impact on astronomy in Africa, as well as the impact of Africa on astronomy.
