South Africa’s national marketing agency, Brand South Africa, is partnering with the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for the IAU’s XXXII General Assembly, which is currently taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. This is the first time that the General Assembly, which started on August 6 and will run until August 15, has been held in Africa.

“We are thrilled to partner with the [IAU] for the 2024 General Assembly,” affirms Brand South Africa communications GM Thoko Modise. “Hosting this prestigious event in Cape Town not only underscores South Africa’s position as a prominent player in the global astronomy community, but also reflects our commitment to supporting international collaboration and innovation. This assembly is a testament to our country’s growing prominence in the field and our ability to host world-class events.”

Brand South Africa points out that the IAU General Assembly gives South African astronomers the platform to showcase the country’s achievements in astronomy. In particular, South Africa’s key role in the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope programme. Erection of the SKA dishes, which South Africa is hosting, has started. (The other SKA instrument, using a different type of antenna design, is being built in Australia.)

The agency also highlights the attendance, at the General Assembly, of notable people. These include 2011 Nobel Physics Prize-winner Dr Brian Schmidt, who led the team that discovered that the expansion of the universe was accelerating. Another is former US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) astronaut, and the first African-American woman in space, Mae Jemison. A third is the first African-American woman to actually pilot a spacecraft, a SpaceX Crew Dragon, namely Dr Sian Proctor, during the private Inspiration4 mission.

Planned for Friday (August 9) is a live radio link-up between ten Cape Town learners and Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams, currently on the International Space Station. (Williams is the pilot for the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, the return to Earth of which has been significantly delayed due to problems with its thrusters.)