African – European Astronomy Partnerships Conference: Leveraging a flagship opportunity for global science cooperation in Brussels, Belgium
31 May 2011 - 31 May 2011
Austria
The event will present new African astronomy projects such as the MeerKAT radio telescope and the planned Africa VLBI Network as well as the exciting cooperation opportunities they offer to Europe. Conference discussions will also focus on how astronomy partnerships contribute to human capital development for research, enable innovation and technological spin-offs, and support sustainable development, including the fight against poverty in Africa.
South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor, will deliver the keynote address at the Conference’s high-level segment on Tuesday 31 May 2011. The high-level segment will consider how astronomy partnerships can make a significant contribution, as a flagship initiative, to the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy’s Science, Space and Information Partnership, as adopted at the Africa-EU Tripoli Summit in 2010. A draft White Paper proposing initiatives to enhance African-European radio astronomy cooperation will also be presented during this segment.
The Conference’s second segment, to be held on 20 June, will include presentations of major African astronomy initiatives, highlight success stories in African-European scientific collaboration and consider the non-science benefits of astronomy investments (including those related to education programmes, ICT infrastructures and energy innovation). The closing session will explore how the existing instruments for African-European cooperation could best be deployed to support astronomy partnerships, notably seeking participants’ feedback on the draft White Paper on radio astronomy cooperation.Further details including registration on www.astroafricaeu.org
South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Ms Naledi Pandor, will deliver the keynote address at the Conference’s high-level segment on Tuesday 31 May 2011. The high-level segment will consider how astronomy partnerships can make a significant contribution, as a flagship initiative, to the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy’s Science, Space and Information Partnership, as adopted at the Africa-EU Tripoli Summit in 2010. A draft White Paper proposing initiatives to enhance African-European radio astronomy cooperation will also be presented during this segment.
The Conference’s second segment, to be held on 20 June, will include presentations of major African astronomy initiatives, highlight success stories in African-European scientific collaboration and consider the non-science benefits of astronomy investments (including those related to education programmes, ICT infrastructures and energy innovation). The closing session will explore how the existing instruments for African-European cooperation could best be deployed to support astronomy partnerships, notably seeking participants’ feedback on the draft White Paper on radio astronomy cooperation.Further details including registration on www.astroafricaeu.org
Keywords
Astronomy, Africa