SOUTH AFRICA — In a strategic move to elevate BRICS astronomy cooperation, South Africa is deploying a 17-member delegation to the 12th Annual BRICS Astronomy Working Group (BAWG) Meeting in India. Scheduled from October 26 to 30, 2026, the high-level summit is designed to strengthen scientific collaboration and advance joint research priorities among the bloc’s member nations.
The South African contingent will be led by Takalani Nemaungani, Chief Director of Astronomy at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation. The diverse delegation represents a cross-section of the country’s top scientific and academic institutions, including the South African Astronomical Observatory, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, the University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape, the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy, and the University of Johannesburg.
Focusing on Multi-Messenger Transients and Data Science
The upcoming summit will place a heavy emphasis on multi-messenger and multi-wavelength transients, a cutting-edge field in astrophysics. Beyond pure research, the agenda is heavily focused on identifying shared challenges, exploring new technological developments, and fostering skills development across the BRICS astronomy community.
A major highlight of the programme is the BAWG Data Science Hackathon. This intensive event is being organized in collaboration with the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
In addition to the hackathon, the delegation will engage in a variety of capacity-building and public outreach activities. These include specialized science communication training, the official launch of the BRICS Astronomy Robotics and Coding Training initiative, and a public exhibition designed to showcase the advanced astronomy facilities available across the member countries.
Strengthening National and International Networks
For South Africa, the engagements at the BAWG meeting are critical for modernizing the national astronomy landscape. By connecting local expertise with broader international research networks, the initiative aims to support domestic innovation, human capital development, and public engagement in the sciences.
Speaking on the strategic importance of the summit, the National Research Foundation (NRF) noted the vital role of institutional partnerships.
“Their participation highlights South Africa’s contribution to the Working Group and the role of national research institutions and universities in advancing collaborative astronomy,” the NRF stated, emphasizing that the delegation’s presentations will detail the country’s latest scientific developments, strategic priorities, and policy perspectives.
The NRF further added, “By bringing together scientific research, policy dialogue, capacity building and public engagement, the BAWG reinforces astronomy’s contribution to scientific advancement and sustainable development across BRICS countries.”
A Legacy of Collaborative Astronomy
The BRICS Astronomy Working Group was originally established in 2015 with a mandate to promote deep cooperation in astronomy research, technology development, and capacity building among member states.
Over the past decade, the working group’s flagship initiative, the BRICS Intelligent Telescope and Data Network (BITDN), has been instrumental in supporting long-term collaboration. By providing shared research infrastructure and robust data capabilities, BITDN continues to ensure that the bloc remains at the forefront of global astronomical innovation and scientific cooperation.
