ASSA Symposium 2022:
Celebrating a Centenary
Cape Town • 15 October 2022
Welcome to Cape Town
The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA) is celebrating its centenary with a birthday bash in form of a symposium on 14 October 2022 in Cape Town. This will bring together amateur astronomers and professionals from across South Africa. With a series of presentations and ample time for discussion, it will provide the opportunity not only to reflect on ASSA’s achievements in the past 100 years, but also how ASSA will stay significant and progress in these days of big data astronomy.
Programme
The symposium will have presentations from a broad range of topics. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunity for asking questions and for discussions.
Venue
The symposium takes place at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Observatory, Cape Town. Its beautiful and tranquil surroundings provide an ideal space for engaging conversations. All participants will have the opportunity to explore both the site’s rich history and the SAAO’s brand new visitors centre with its heliostat.
Symposium fee, accommodation, travelling
The symposium is free to attend. This does not include the optional symposium dinner, which costs ZAR 175 per person. Participants need to make their own arrangements for accommodation. Cape Town caters for a variety of budgets. The nearest hotel is the Protea Hotel Cape Town Mowbray, which is a two-minute drive away from the SAAO. If you are travelling to Cape Town by plane, you should consider using a service like Uber or Bolt for the journey from and to the airport. Please contact us if you have any questions about this.
Covid-19
There currently are no Covid-related requirements. The expected maximum number of participants is 60.
Online participation will be possible via Zoom.
30 Under 30
Further to this symposium’s goal of bringing together both amateur and professional astronomers, ASSA will be launching a Special Project entitled 30 Under 30 to identify young astronomers in Southern Africa and support their research and careers.
ASSA will publish a list of 30 young astronomers from Southern Africa, with details of their accomplishments and specific research interests. These will include Master’s and PhD students or young professional astronomers under the age of 30, who will receive support through:
- Publishing in the Monthly Notes of ASSA
- Inviting them to speak at the ASSA 100 Symposium
- Connecting them with employment and research opportunities in SA and globally
Both individuals and institutions are encouraged to nominate promising young individuals by completing the nomination form. Self-nominations are welcome.