User:Mutshidzi Mclloyd Nelwamondo/sandbox

= African Astronomical Society =

The African Astronomical Society (AfAS) is a Pan-African Professional Society of Astronomers, registered in the Republic of South Africa as a not-for-profit company. AfAS is based at the South African Astronomical Observatory. The vision of AfAS is to build a globally competitive and collaborative astronomy community in Africa, and its mission is to be the voice of astronomy in Africa and to contribute to addressing the challenges faced by Africa through the promotion and advancement of astronomy. The membership of The Society shall consist of Full, Associate, Student, Honorary, Institutional, and National Membership

= History =

At the 2010 launch of the African Physical Society in Dakar astronomers from across the continent and the African diaspora resolved to form the African Astronomical Society. Following this meeting, a whitepaper on the formation and the structure of the African Astronomical Society was drafted and disseminated. An Interim Working Group was formed to carry out the formation of the African Astronomical Society at the IAU Symposium in Ouagadougou. The initial Constitution of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) was agreed to and signed by the members of the Interim Working Group at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on 16 December 2010. The interim Working Group consisted of members from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and the U.S.A. AfAS was officially launched at the 2nd Middle East and Africa Regional IAU Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa in April 2011. However, AfAS had not been an active organization since its inception and in 2017, at the 4th Middle East and Africa Meeting in Ethiopia, it was decided to bring together stakeholders and relaunch AfAS. In March 2019, at the Astronomy in Africa meeting was held for this purpose, at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town, South Africa. At that meeting, this revised Constitution was approved and accepted by delegates. It was drafted with the key objective of developing Astronomy and Human Capacity throughout the continent of Africa through a vibrant and active AfAS.

= Presidents =

Charles McGruder: Interim President (2010 -2019)

Jamal Mimouni (2019 – 2022)

= Executive Committees =

2019 – 2022

= AfAS Sub-Committees =

AfAS has established Action and Project Planning Sub-Committees, which are key drivers of the Societies short-, medium-, and long-term goals. These committees organise and administer significant activities that particularly aim at advancing astronomy on the African continent, including academic affairs, outreach, associations and support at grass-root levels, and fundraising. These committees collaborate and consist of individuals involved in the field of astronomy in Africa and include professional astronomers, young researchers, outreach officers, and amateur astronomers, this is truly representative of a progressive and inclusive society. Activities by these committees will increase visibility as well as the reach and impact of the Society across Africa.