GoingToMeet

It is the aim of this interdisciplinary and international conference to bring together international and African earth system researchers from diverse specializations. Hosting such a Conference in Cape Town will strengthen the discourse amongst African scientists and their international colleagues. With a shared vision of a sustainable Africa as a global partner, this will send a powerful message to the African leadership to engage and support scientific debate and strengthen well informed agendas. Moreover climate change in Africa also has global repercussions that need to be better understood.

The African plate is colossal – just over a fifth of Earth’s surface. Recognizing its enormous size helps to explain the magnitude of the task lying ahead for earth system scientists. Scientists, for instance, in modelling global climate change, need adequate data from and around Africa. Yet insufficient information and far too few indigenous science practitioners are two of Africa’s constraints that need to be faced, arguably Africa’s most immediate needs with long-term implications. A students’ workshop immediately preceding the conference aims at providing an introduction to Earth Systems and modelling applications. Strong participation by students from

Africa is intended with financial support to be offered if funding permits. The outcome of the conference will be an evaluation of our progress and a contribution to the agenda for addressing globe change challenges with African-based science and policy actions and interventions.