Press Office

Cape Town, South Africa is ready to welcome more than 2,000 delegates from 80 countries to the first IAU General Assembly to be held on the African continent in the IAU’s 105-year history.

The 32nd IAU General Assembly will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in “The Mother City” from Tuesday, 6 August to Thursday, 15 August 2024.

This will also be the first IAU General Assembly during which full online participation will be enabled through an interactive virtual conference platform, sessions will be streamed in pre-recorded or live format on YouTube, and select sessions / events will be open to the public.

Members of the press are invited to attend the largest meeting of professional astronomers in the world in-person or online.

Meeting Website and Programme

IAU General Assembly 2024 Website
IAU General Assembly 2024 Programme

Media Kit

The IAU General Assembly Media Kit, including press releases, is now available and will be updated before, during and after the meeting.

Event Photography: https://www.flickr.com/photos/astronomy2024/

Press Registration

The IAU General Assembly 2024 National Organising Committee (NOC) offers complimentary in-person or virtual meeting registration to a limited number of accredited journalists and public information officers. 

Members of the press who wish to register should complete the Media Pre-registration Form. Approved media will receive an email with instructions to register and a promotional code to be applied when registering.

Venue

The IAU General Assembly 2024 will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Center 1 (CTICC 1), Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town, 8001.

The nearest parking to the IAU General Assembly 2024 press facilities are CTICC Parking 1 (P1) and P3. Accessible parking bays are available in P3 and P5.

How to get to CTICC 1
CTICC Visitor Parking and Fees

Press Facilities

A dedicated Press Working Room with working space, printer, power outlets (remember your adaptor!), and internet connectivity will be available to registered in-person members of the press at CTICC 1, Level 1, Meeting Suite 1.51.

The Press Briefing Room will be available to registered in-person members of the press to conduct interviews outside of IAU editorial meetings or press briefings. Use the online reservation sheet to reserve this room for use for press interviews at specific dates and times. The Press Briefing Room can be found at CTICC 1, Level 1, Meeting Suite 1.52.

Press Working Room and Press Briefing Room Hours:

Monday, 12 August, 8 AM – 8 PM
Tuesdays, 6 and 13 August, 8 AM – 8 PM
Wednesday, 7 and 14 August, 8 AM – 8 PM
Thursday, 8 and 15 August, 8 AM – 8 PM
Friday, 9 August, 8 AM – 8 PM
Saturday, 10 August,  Closed
Sunday, 11 August, Closed

Press Briefing Schedule

Press briefing audio, slides, and video will be available in-person or via Zoom, where registered members of the press will be able to ask questions of the presenters via the IAU Press Officer or Zoom chat. Press briefings will also be streamed to the IAU General Assembly 2024 YouTube channel, where attendees will be able to view the stream but not ask questions. The exception to this is press briefings sharing embargoed content which will be hosted in-person only.

The following press briefings are hosted by the IAU Press Office. Dates/times remain subject to change. All times listed are South African Standard Time (SAST) which is equivalent to UTC +2.

IAU General Assembly 2024 Opening
Tuesday, 6 August 2024
10 AM SAST (UTC +2)
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98348596246?pwd=lT2P4MYaeZGUxxH4cgCCPzRVQB1PBd.1

Weekly Science News & Activities Round-up
Tuesday, 6 August 2024
3 PM SAST (UTC +2)
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98348596246?pwd=lT2P4MYaeZGUxxH4cgCCPzRVQB1PBd.1

Dark and Quiet Sky
Thursday, 8 August 2024
10 AM SAST (UTC +2)
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98348596246?pwd=lT2P4MYaeZGUxxH4cgCCPzRVQB1PBd.1

SKAO Press Briefing
Thursday, 8 August 2024
3 PM SAST (UTC +2)
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98348596246?pwd=lT2P4MYaeZGUxxH4cgCCPzRVQB1PBd.1

Weekly Science News & Activities Round-up
Monday, 12 August 2024
10 AM SAST (UTC +2)
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98348596246?pwd=lT2P4MYaeZGUxxH4cgCCPzRVQB1PBd.1

IAU General Assembly 2027 in Italy
Wednesday, 14 August 2024
3 PM SAST (UTC +2)
Venue: CTICC 1, Exhibition Hall 1, INAF booth (C8/C9)

IAU General Assembly 2024 Closing
Thursday, 15 August 2024
10 AM SAST (UTC +2)*
In-Person Only

*PLEASE NOTE: Content from this press briefing is embargoed until 6: 30 PM SAST (UTC +2) on Thursday, 15 August 2024.

Press Interviews

Members of the media can request contact details for or interviews with presenters and VIPs by emailing media@astronomy2024.org.

Astronomy and Space Science Technical Tours

Astronomy and space science facilities in Southern Africa will offer Technical Tours before, during and after the IAU General Assembly. Please note that technical tours are not included in the registration fee and are for the account of the attendee.

IAU Code of Conduct

All IAU General Assembly 2024 attendees, including members of the press, are expected to adhere to the IAU Code of Conduct. A completed registration and participation in the meeting confirms your acknowledgment and agreement to the Code.

Press Office Contacts

Guido Schwarz
IAU Press Officer
Email: guido.schwarz@iau.org
Tel.: +41 787 071 942

Laura Hiscott
IAU Deputy Press Officer
Email: laurahiscott19@gmail.com
Tel.: +44 798 361 356 3

Daniel Cunnama
NOC Communications
Email: d.cunnama@saao.nrf.ac.za
Tel.: +27 825 318 171

NOC Media Liaison
Email: media@astronomy2024.org