[American Astronomical Society](https://aas.org)

March 1, 2024 (application & abstract submission)

Travel support to attend the 2024 IAU General Assembly in Africa; typical awards cover major travel costs for selected participants.

Travel fund supporting African astronomers, including students, to attend the 2024 IAU General Assembly in Africa.

Applicants must submit an abstract and register for the conference by the deadline to be considered.

--- ## Description The LSST Discovery Alliance, in partnership with the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) and the National Organizing Committee of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly, offers a travel fund to support professional astronomers—including MSc and PhD students—who live and work in Africa. This grant aims to enable participation in the historic 2024 IAU General Assembly, the first to be held on the African continent. The initiative is designed to foster professional development, promote inclusion, and strengthen the African astronomy community by providing critical financial support for those with limited local resources. --- ## Due Dates - Application and abstract submission deadline: March 1, 2024 *All applicants must register for the conference and submit an abstract by this date to be eligible for funding.* --- ## Funding Amount - Travel grants are intended to cover significant travel costs (such as airfare, accommodation, and registration) for selected Africa-based astronomers and students. - The number and size of awards depend on available funds and applicant demand. - Funding is prioritized as "seed money" to ensure participation, not to add comfort for those who already have secured attendance. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must reside in Africa and be affiliated with an African institution. - Open to professional astronomers, MSc and PhD students. - Submission of at least one abstract to the IAU General Assembly 2024 is required. - Registration for the conference (selecting the “pay later” option) must be completed before the grant deadline. - Membership in AfAS or IAU is *not* required. - Preference is given to applicants with limited means of support and those from UN-designated least developed countries. - Selection considers the quality of the abstract, financial need, and aims for gender and geographic diversity. --- ## Application Process 1. **Prepare and submit an abstract** for the IAU General Assembly 2024. 2. **Register for the conference** via the [official registration page](https://astronomy2024.org/registration/) and select “pay later” to secure the early bird rate. 3. **Complete the grant application** as part of the abstract submission process. Only one application is needed, even if eligible for multiple funding sources. 4. For detailed instructions, refer to the [step-by-step guide](https://astronomy2024.org/abstract-grant-instructions/). 5. Await selection results, which will be based on scientific merit, financial need, and inclusion criteria. --- ## Additional Information - 100% of donations to the fund are directed to AfAS for travel support; excess funds may be used for other African astronomy programs. - Applicants will be considered for both IAU and Africa-specific grants with a single application. - If unsuccessful, applicants who pre-registered with “pay later” still benefit from early bird conference rates. --- ## External Links - [Program Announcement & Details](https://aas.org/posts/news/2023/11/iau-ga-travel-fund-african-astronomers) - [Official Grant Information & Application Guide](https://astronomy2024.org/iau-travel-fund-for-african-astronomers/) - [General Assembly 2024 Abstract & Grant Instructions](https://astronomy2024.org/abstract-grant-instructions/) - [IAU General Assembly 2024 Main Site](https://astronomy2024.org/) - [LSST Discovery Alliance Travel Fund FAQ](https://lsstdiscoveryalliance.org/join-lsst-discovery-alliance/iau-african-travel-fund/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact Details | |-------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | General inquiries | [info@astronomy2024.org](mailto:info@astronomy2024.org) | | Registration & abstracts| [registrations@astronomy2024.org](mailto:registrations@astronomy2024.org) | | LSST-DA (donations) | [Contact form](https://lsstdiscoveryalliance.org/contact-lsstda/) | | American Astronomical Society | [Contact page](https://aas.org/contact) |

IAU GA Travel Fund for African Astronomers

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