From a report submitted by Marian Sapah, University of Ghana
The 5th edition of the Arab and Africa Impact Cratering and Astrogeology Conference (AICAC V) was successfully held at the University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, from November 9 to 15, 2025. This landmark event, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa was organized by the Department of Earth Science at the University of Ghana in partnership with the African Initiative for Planetary and Space Science (AFIPS). It brought together a diverse international community of scientists, researchers, students, and science communicators to advance the field of planetary and space science in Africa.
AICAC V featured:
- A pre-conference workshop on the identification of impactites and meteorites.
- Two days of scientific sessions with 27 oral and poster presentations across four thematic areas; Bosumtwi Impact Crater, Impact Structures and Ejecta, Meteorites, and Solar System Exploration.
- Keynote lectures by globally renowned scientists, including Prof. Christian Koeberl (University of Vienna), Prof. Hasnaa Chennaoui Aoudjehane (Hassan II University of Casablanca), Dr. David Baratoux (IRD, CNRS, France), Dr. Hamed Pourkhorsandi(IRD, France), Dr. Anthony Lagain (CEREGE, France) and Dr. Nicolas Mangold (CNRS, France).
- A four-day field excursion to the Lake Bosumtwi Impact Crater, a designated IUGS Geological Heritage Site.
The conference facilitated knowledge exchange, capacity building, and international collaboration, highlighting Africa’s growing role in global planetary science.
The participant demographics is as follows:
- Workshop Participants: 32
- Conference Participants: 62
- Field Trip Participants: 25
- Students: 21
- Early Career Researchers: 14
- Nationalities Represented: 14 (Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, China, India, United Kingdom, U.S.A., Tunisia, Egypt, France, Austria, Italy)
Funds provided by the Meteoritical Society were used exclusively to support travel grants for students and early career researchers. These grants enabled 3 early career participants from diverse geographic and institutional backgrounds to attend the conference, participate in the pre-conference workshop, and join the field excursion to the Bosumtwi Impact Crater. This support was critical in ensuring the inclusion and active engagement of the next generation of planetary scientists, many of whom would otherwise have been unable to attend due to financial constraints.
AICAC V marked a significant milestone in fostering planetary and space science across Africa. The support from the Meteoritical Society played a vital role in empowering young researchers, enriching the scientific discourse, and strengthening the international network of impact cratering and astrogeology experts. The conference not only showcased cutting-edge research but also inspired a new generation of African scientists to contribute to the global exploration of our solar system.