Earth Science Matters active in Africa

The Earth Science Matters Foundation participated in the 24th Colloquium of African Geology (CAG24) that was held in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) from 8-14 January 2013. This Colloquium which also celebrated the 40th birthday of the Geological Society of Africa (GSAf), was entitled Earth Sciences Solutions to African Development Challenges. Four hundred and fifty participants form more than 60 nations were registered and gathered in the Millennium Hall during a well organized international Conference. The Earth Science Matters Foundation was presented in three ways: through a presentation entitled The Earth Science Matters Foundation, a model for Geoscientific outreach, on 10 January, through a brainstorm session for National ESM Focal Points, held in the Bole Ambassador Hotel on 11 January, and through a joint exhibition (with IAMG, ILP, and GSAf) in the Millennium Hall during the entire Conference. The brainstorm session was attended by 18 persons and resulted in three new applications for National Focal Points (Sudan, Egypt and South Africa), bringing the number of nations representing ESM to 22, while 8 more nations are pending. Moreover, through participation by three members of the Young Earth Scientists (YES) Initiative, cooperation with the Foundation was strengthened resulting in new initiatives. That also holds for ESM cooperation with IUGS’s COGE Commission and not least with GSAf. A joint project proposal was developed for the GEO-ERA Programme in which the ESM is a partner. Finally, a one-page document was produced outlining the mandate, mission, position, long-term vision and short-term concrete actions.