IAU’s 386th Int’l Dark Skies Symposium underway in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, November 13, 2023 (FBC) – The IAU386 (International Astronomical Union) Symposium on Dark Sky and Astronomical Heritage, a major international symposium on dark skies and astronomical heritage, kicked off today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Organized under the theme “Dark Sky and Astronomical Heritage in Boosting Astro-tourism around the World,” the symposium will be the 4th International Astronomical Union (IAU) symposium held in Africa and the 2nd in Ethiopia.

International and national stakeholders from different parts of the world, including Africa, Asia and Europe, are participating in the symposium.

The symposium was organized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI), the Ministry of Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Tourism.

The event focuses on presenting research findings and sharing experiences to enhance the preservation and utilization of dark skies, discussing mechanisms for boosting astro-tourism worldwide, and exploring strategies for utilizing and investing in untapped dark sky areas around the world.

It also attempts to explore strategies for utilizing and investing in untapped dark sky areas around the world.

The symposium brought together scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders from around the globe to discuss critical issues like dark sky preservation, astro-tourism development, light pollution mitigation, and protection of astronomical heritage sites.

More than 200 participants from around the world are attending the five days symposium.

In addition to the main symposium, there will be several side events including an African Planetarium Workshop, capacity building training sessions, and public lectures aimed at boosting interest in astronomy, it was learned.

It is learned that the symposium will last until November 17, 2023.

It is the second time that Ethiopia is organizing the International Astronomical Union Symposium and it is to be remembered that it hosted the 356th Symposium of the Union in 2019.

The International Astronomical Union, established in 1919, has 85 member countries including Ethiopia.