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, ends today, Thursday 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. The recordings of all livestreamed sessions are available on the event website.

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.

Among numerous opportunities for the wider public to engage with the event were a “Journey into Space” with the astronaut Dr. Sian Proctor, a live link to the International Space Station (ISS) followed by a Q&A with astronaut Mae Jemison during Women’s Day, and two public talks on our current understanding of our galaxy and the Universe. The conference has also launched a longer celebration of Africa Astro Month, with many more activities scheduled during the rest of August.

South African culture was woven throughout the meeting. The Shared Sky Cosmic Echoes exhibition displayed indigenous artists’ work portraying the skies, while local craftspeople sold handcrafted goods at a pop-up market in the conference centre. During both the opening and closing ceremonies, the audience enjoyed performances of traditional music and dance.

Highlights of all aspects of the General Assembly, from scientific meetings to tips on touring the natural beauty of Cape Town, were reported in the e-Newspaper, published every day of the conference. A pop-up radio station, Radio Astro, run by aspiring science communicators, also broadcast interviews with delegates throughout the two weeks of the meeting.

As is IAU tradition, the General Assembly marked the handover to the four new IAU Officers taking up their roles for the next triennium. The incoming officers are:

President: Willy Benz
General Secretary: Diana Worrall
President Elect: Brian Schmidt
Assistant General Secretary: Laura Ferrarese

Business Meetings were held, during which National Members voted to admit Maldives and Nepal as new National Members.Additionally, two National Members, North Korea and Vietnam, have been re-admitted as observers.

Three Resolutions were presented and voted on in the Business Sessions, all of which were accepted. They are as follows:

1. Resolution I for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from harmful interference by satellite constellations
2. Resolution II to establish a standard Lunar Celestial Reference System (LCRS) and Lunar Coordinate Time (TCL)
3. Resolution III on the establishment of a coordinated lunar time standard by international agreement

307 new Individual Members, 229 new Junior Members, and 15 new Honorary Members were also announced. This brings the total number of active members to 12368.

During the closing ceremony, representatives of the Cape Town GA handed the IAU flag over to Rome, Italy, where the XXXIII IAU General Assembly will take place in 2027. It was also announced that the XXXIV General Assembly in 2030 will be hosted by Chile.

Eight issues of the General Assembly newspaper were published during the meeting, and are available to read in full online. Press releases can be found in the press releases archive. Images from the meeting can be viewed in the online gallery. More information about the XXXII IAU General Assembly is available on the website.

“As we leave Cape Town and reflect on the legacy of this event, let us remember that together we are pushing the frontiers of astronomical knowledge in a collective effort to better understand the Universe we live in, our origins and our future, and to make the world a better place for all,” said Willy Benz, incoming President of the IAU. “Let us remember that for this endeavour, we need everyone and everyone matters!”

“I am deeply grateful to all the colleagues of South Africa for this handover of the next IAU General Assembly,” commented Roberto Ragazzoni, INAF president. “I am also delighted to welcome all of you to Italy, the land of Galileo Galilei, where INAF is the ideal bridge that brings the heritage of modern astronomy to the frontiers of the known Universe, thanks to its deep involvement in the design, construction and exploitation of the most advanced ground-based telescopes and ambitious space missions. In Rome we will come together to promote and share the groundbreaking discoveries from the latest advancements in astronomical research.”

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Links

• IAU XXXII General Assembly
• IAU XXXIII General Assembly 2027
• IAU XXXII General Assembly image gallery
• IAU XXXII General Assembly e-Newspaper

Contacts

Willy Benz
incoming IAU President
Email: willy.benz@unibe.ch

Roberto Ragazzoni
INAF President, Chair Local Organising Committee GA 2027
Email: roberto.ragazzoni@inaf.it

Kevin Govender
Chair Local Organising Committee of the General Assembly in South Africa
Cell: +27 82 487 8466
Email: kg@astro4dev.org

Guido Schwarz
Press Officer IAU
Email: guido.schwarz@iau.org