The legacy of the XXXII General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is multifaceted, with many participants highlighting their newfound awareness of the extensive astronomical research and work being conducted in Africa, which itself will leave a very positive impact, Professor Bonginkosi Emmanuel Blade Nzimande, South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, told panafrican.email.

“We also use the IAU to link up with schools in the vicinity of Cape Town, in particular, some came to the convention center […] [and] also other astronomers actually physically visited schools and gave talks. This, in fact, really excited a lot of youngsters and opened their eyes about astronomy. We think this will […] generate the necessary curiosity that is needed in order to advance science. […] We are also hoping to promote astro-tourism so that people can come from all over the world to […] visit our astronomical facilities. […] We also want to promote science tourism generally,” he added.

The professor remarked that the event provided an excellent platform for showcasing African astronomy to the global community, adding that this will significantly enhance Africa’s reputation as a leading destination for high-tech astronomy sciences and facilities.

Additionally, he highlighted that, for the first time, 30% of the participants at the IAU were delegates from Africa, marking the highest attendance by African countries in the IAU’s over century-long history. This clearly demonstrates the growing enthusiasm among African nations, according to Nzimande.