Intergovernmental organisation BRICS Plus will hold the BRICS Astronomy Meeting 2025 in São José dos Campos, Brazil, from October 13 to 17.

The conference, under the theme ‘Multi-messenger and Multi-wavelength Transients’, will be hosted by Brazilian research organisation National Institute for Space Research (INPE).

The astronomy community, including researchers, outreach professionals, educators, development practitioners, and policymakers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, will share the latest results and best practices, as well as strengthen global collaboration in astronomy and space science.

The five-day conference will include a scientific workshop, science outreach activities, training on the Virtual Observatory, an institutional visit to the National Laboratory for Astrophysics, and the BRICS Astronomy Working Group meeting.

The scientific workshop will take place on October 13 and 14, and aims to strengthen collaborative initiatives and joint research among member States, BRICS Astronomy says.

Additionally, the virtual astronomy training session will be held on October 15 and will train students and researchers in tools for analysing astronomical data, and thereby foster capacity building among young scientists by exposing them to international best practices. The training will also empower them to contribute to collaborative projects within the BRICS network and beyond.

Further, Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Luciana Santos will open the conference and emphasise Brazil’s commitment to fostering international scientific cooperation and innovation-driven growth.

On October 15, representatives from various member States will convene for the working group meeting, during which resolutions will be drafted and the vision for deepening cooperation will be reinforced.

As part of the societal benefit programme, meaningful engagement with local communities will be a key focus. The public outreach activities from October 13 to 15 will see astronomy brought to schools, teachers, and the general public through interactive exhibits, public talks, hands-on demonstrations and educational events.

Further, on October 16, a tour of the National Laboratory for Astrophysics (LNA) in Itajubá will take place. The visit will include a showcase of the instrumentation laboratories at the LNA headquarters, as well as activities at the Pico dos Dias Observatory.

On the conference's final day on October 17, the programme will focus on space weather and heliophysics, which will explore the dynamic interactions between the Sun and the Earth’s environment.

The conference will offer hybrid participation and allow registered attendees from around the world to join virtually. This approach ensures that students, researchers, and educators who cannot travel to Brazil can engage in discussions, exchange ideas and share knowledge.

The meeting will also strengthen partnerships with the new member States and, thereby, foster long-term cooperation among BRICS Plus nations and beyond.

The meeting will also highlight key advancements in the BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network and share discoveries.

The conference will advance humanity’s understanding of the universe and ensure that breakthroughs in astronomy benefit people everywhere, BRICS Astronomy says.