Astronomy Town Meeting 2023

The town meeting was held in a hybrid format on 21 & 22 September 2023, hosted by the SAAO and SARAO, and with a dinner sponsored by the SKAO.

Outcomes

1. There was agreement that a revision of the Multiwavelength Strategy for the 2025 – 2035 period is warranted, even in the event of no new funding to support such a strategy.
   1. The strategy will be owned by the Department of Science and Innovation, and coordinated with the ACTT.
   2. The terms of reference for the Multiwavelength Strategy should be circulated to the SA community for input.
   3. The strategy should be built around the science ambitions of South Africa for the next decade, taking into account the current local and global landscape.
   4. Stronger research links should be formed with the African astronomy research community.
   5. Issues with retention of black and female researchers, especially at senior levels, should be addressed in the strategy.
   6. Coordinated training opportunities should be explored to improve efficiency, and increase community cohesion within South Africa.
   7. Higher public visibility for astronomy in South Africa, for example the GA2024
   8. Astronomy education and outreach coordination across South Africa
   9. The strategic outcomes from the 2022 Astronomy Town Meeting should be revisited as part of the strategy drafting process.
2. The DSI will establish a Multiwavelength Coordination Committee, with decision-making capacity, which will replace the ‘reference group’ that the ACTT reports to. The ACTT represents the voice of the astronomy community in South Africa.
3. The HCD report was accepted to be a true reflection of the issues, with the recommendations endorsed at the town meeting. Community-wide input will be solicited until 6 October 2023. A consolidated report will be circulated to the reference group of ACTT (DSI and NRF representatives) and heads of astronomy departments at South African universities.
4. The ACTT should explore ways to improve the representation of South African research groups at future town meetings (including the possibility of moving the town meetings across the country)
5. The ACTT will explore setting up a Slack channel to improve community engagement, especially with early career researchers and students.
6. In collaboration with DSI, ACTT will engage foreign passport holders (and their host HR departments) working in South Africa, on visa challenges.
7. The ACTT, in conjunction with the African Astronomical Society, will engage astronomy journals on options regarding fee waivers or discounts for South African authors.

Please see these useful references:

• The outcomes of the previous town meeting (2022)
• The Astronomy Community Task Team

And reading for the 2023 Town Meeting

1. Multiwavelength Strategy (2015)
2. Draft ToR for Multiwavelength Strategy 2.0 (2025)
3. Draft report on postgraduate student funding in astronomy in South Africa (v2.1)

Programme

Venue: SAAO auditorium & Zoom

Thursday 21 September 2023

18:30 – Dinner at The Wild Fig Restaurant, Sponsored by SKAO

Friday 22 September 2023