CEDAR email: 2015 African Geophysical Society Conference 1st – 5th June 2015, NAIROBI, Kenya

Mon Apr 13 17:00:59 MDT 2015

2015African Geophysical Society Conference

1st– 5th June 2015, NAIROBI, Kenya

www.afgps.org

Final Announcement & Call for Participation

The African Geophysical Society AGS is acceptingapplication for her Second Annual Conference holding at the Kenya Instituteof Curriculum Development, Nairobi, Kenya. This is the Final Announcement & Call for Participation.

Background

The African Geophysical Society AGS isa dynamic, innovative, and interdisciplinary scientific association committedto the pursuit of understanding of Earth and Space for the benefit of mankind.It was formally established on Thursday 15th November 2012 during the first Chapman Conference on SpaceWeather in Africa, organized by the American Geophysical Union AGU at AddisAbaba, Ethiopia, between 12th and 16th November 2012. Thevenue of the maiden Chapman conference on Space weather was the ConferenceCenter of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. 

The fundamentalobjectives of AGS are to: (i) Promote the study of the Earth, other planets andSpace; and their environments in Africa, (ii) Promote cooperation betweenscientists and among scientific organizations involved in geophysics andrelated disciplines, (iii) Initiate and participate in research programs inEarth sciences, space science and related disciplines, (iv) Advance the variousrelevant disciplines through scientific discussion, publication, anddissemination of information and (v) Encourage programmes and research ingeophysics, space science and other related disciplines that will advanceeconomy development and sustainable growth in the African region. 

AGShas many sections which reflect the fields of relevance to the Society, viz:Solid Earth Science (geology, geodesy, geophysics, geochemistry,biogeosciences; Atmospheric Science (Small scale and local wind systems, airpollution,  mesoscale processes, globalwind systems, cyclones, weather forecasting, atmospheric chemistry, global climate and its change, meteorology)；Ocean Science (Estuarine andcostal oceanography, ocean circulation, marine biogeochemistry,paleoceanography, marine geology, and atmosphere-ocean coupling; Astronomy and Planetary Science (interior,surface, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere of solar system bodies other than earth, cosmology); Solarand Terrestrial (sun, interplanetary medium, heliosphere, the  magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upperatmosphere of planet earth, space weather) Hydrological Science (Hydrometeorology, Surface WaterHydrology, Ground Water Hydrology, Water Resources Planning andManagement,  Hydro-informatics).

AGS is at presentforging strong partnership with other regional and academic societies ofequivalent objectives viz: American Geophysical Union AGU, Asia-Oceania Geosciences SocietyAOGS, EuropeanGeosciences Union EGU, IUGG, Royal Astronomical Society, URSI,WMO, Japan Geosciences Union JpGU, etc. In October 2014, a memorandum ofunderstanding was signed with the American Geophysical Union AGU. 

The first AGS annual conference took place in Abuja, Nigeria between 2ndand 6th June 2014. It was a successful conference with overwhelmed subscription from which only One hundredand twenty one applicants were invited. The participants spread over 11 AfricanCountries, UK, Japan, and India. Ninety Seven papers were accepted andclassified as 43 orals, 46 posters and 8 plenarypapers. This second conference promises to be better. Asat now, 81 applications have been received from different African countries andother continents.

ConferenceProgramme

The Conference Programme will consist of a series of Sessions withtechnical presentations, plenary presentation, panel discussions and workinggroup meetings. The programme may also include a field trip and a social eventsprogramme for all Conference participants. 

Technical Sessions

The following scientificsessions have been scheduled by the appropriate conveners:  

      (i).      Solid Earth Science (geology,geodesy, geophysics, geochemistry, biogeosciences); Convener: Anifowoshe, A. O.B.

    (ii).      Atmospheric Science (Small scaleand local wind systems, air pollution, mesoscale processes, global windsystems, cyclones, weather forecasting, atmospheric chemistry, global climateand its change, meteorology)

   (iii).      Ocean Science (Estuarine andcostal oceanography, ocean circulation, marine biogeochemistry,paleoceanography, marine geology, and atmosphere-ocean coupling);

   (iv).      Astronomy and Planetary Science(interior, surface, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere of solarsystem bodies other than earth, cosmology);

     (v).      Solar and Terrestrial Science(sun, interplanetary medium, heliosphere, the magnetosphere, ionosphere, andupper atmosphere of planet earth, space weather): Convener – A. B. Rabiu; T. Emad

a.            Equatorialionospheric dynamics

b.            Spaceweather 

c.            VarSITI:SCOSTEP new scientific activity

   (vi).      Hydrological Science(Hydrometeorology, Surface Water Hydrology, Ground Water Hydrology, Water ResourcesPlanning and Management, Hydro-informatics)

  (vii).                 Space weather effects on GNSS application at equatorial latitudes (Theequatorial ionosphere is known to have a very dynamic behavior in terms ofvariability. It has the largest effect in terms of errors on GNSS systems. Weneed to more understand it behavior to improve models results in the Africansector of longitude. How a magnetic event taking place at the sun level affectsa GNSS system on Earth. What are the implications for technology systems onwhich our lives rely? The physical processes based on the solar, theinterplanetary medium and the ionospheric parameters should clearly appear inthe works to be presented. We are welcoming also, presentations that reportGNSS applications implemented at country of regional level. How the populationcan benefit from the implementation of such application. How it impacts thedevelopment of that area? Since IHY – 2007 program launch under the umbrella ofUNOOSA in 2005 in Dubai, a considerable progress has been made to spread spacescience equipment on the African continent. The scientists are encouraged topresent their recent works using data collected on the continent. – Conveners:Obrou, O. K.; Bolaji, O. S.

 (viii).      Earth & Space ScienceInformatics ESSI (Description: Earth system and space science applications oncurrent and emerging high performance computing architectures, Community-drivenchallenges and solutions dealing with Informatics, New approaches to digitalenvironmental models, Citizen-empowered science and crowdsourcing in thegeosciences, Multi-disciplinary challenges and solutions across the Earth andSpace Sciences, Innovative Evaluation and Prediction for Large Earth ScienceDatasets, Earth science on Cloud, HPC and Grid; International cross-projectcollaboration and interoperability of data management systems, Metadata, Data Models,and Semantics , Open Access to Research Data and Public Sector Information:perspective, drivers, and barriers , Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) forGeoinformatics and Geosciences , Platforms, Sensors and Applications withUnmanned Aerial Systems in the geosciences, High Resolution Topography in theGeosciences: methods and applications, Visualization for scientific discoveryand communication, Techniques and tools for effective visualization andsonification in the geosciences, State of the Art in Earth Science DataVisualization, Communication of uncertain information in earth sciences: data,models and visualization). Convener: Gbobaniyi, E. O.

(ix).                      Scienceand Applications of SBAS/EGNOS in Africa (Description:Satellite-BasedAugmentation System (SBAS) is a regional system designed to improve GlobalNavigation Satellite System (GNSS) in terms of accuracy, integrity,availability and continuity. EGNOS(European Geostationary NavigationOverlay Service) is the European SBAS system that augments the USGPS satellite navigation system and makes it suitable for safety criticalapplications such as flying aircraft or navigating ships through narrowchannels. Researches have shown that, among other factors, atmosphere is amajor source of error to SBAS system due to its dynamism. Therefore, thescience of the atmosphere is one of key factors to consider in order to havesuccessful operation of the SBAS/EGNOS system most especially in a complexatmospheric region like equatorial region in which more than 70% of Africacontinent falls. Contributions are welcome from participants to this session).Convener: S. M. Radicella and E. O. Abe 

Application Form

Online application to participate in the Workshop will be accepted until1st May 2015. Visit:    www.afgps.org/conference

Conference Fees

Members, Scientists, professionals: 70 US dollars

Students: 50 US dollars

Payable on arrival at the conference in Nairobi orthrough our webpage at www.afgps.org

Hotel rates, Transport from Airport and Other Logistics

Hotel rates in Nairobi ranges between 60 and 200 USdollars per night.

The LOChas arranged a block reservation of about 280 US dollars for the four nights ofmeeting including meals at the rate of 70 US dollars Full Board per night. You can also make the payment through our webpage. You are expected to inform the local organizingcommittee to make reservations for you. Those intending to pick a taxi from theairport are advised that the average fare from the airport to town is about Ksh 3000 or just about US$ 40. For enquiryregarding the Hotel reservation and directions from airport to the AGSconference venue, please contact the local organizing committee i.e Mr. Ochieng Adero : aderoconstant at gmail.com; Cell-phone:+254-726117704. Theweather in June is normally chilly with temperatures ranging from 120  - 200 C and participants aretherefore advised to bring along some warm clothings. There are a number ofcountries whose citizens do not need visa to enter Kenya , one is advised tocheck this out before travelling to Kenya. 

Deadlines:

Applicationfor participation: 1st May 2015

Program Committee

Prof. Olivier Obrou, University of Cocody,Cote d’Ivoire – Chair Program Committee

Prof. Babatunde, Rabiu, Centre for Atmospheric Sciences, National SpaceResearch and Development Agency, Nigeria

Prof. Paul Baki, Technical University ofKenya

Prof. Florence D’Ujanga, MakerereUniversity, Uganda

Dr. Elijah O. Falayi, Tai Solarin Universityof Education, Nigeria

Ms Aderonke Israel-Obafaye – AGS Int’lSecretariat

Local Organizing Committee

Prof. Paul Baki,Technical University of Kenya – Chair LOC

Dr. J.H. Ndeda, JomoKenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology

Mr. Awuor OchiengAdero, Technical University of Kenya

Contacts:

Local organizing Committee: Prof. Paul Baki,  Email: paulbaki at gmail.com

African Geophysical Society Secretariat:  Ronke Obafaye Email:  secretariat at afgps.org

African Geophysical Society President:  Babatunde Rabiu Email:  tunderabiu at afgps.org

Co-sponsors

Centre for Atmospheric Research, National Space Research andDevelopment Agency, Anyigba, Nigeria

http://www.carnasrda.com/

Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics  SCOSTEP

http://www.yorku.ca/scostep/

Variability of the Sun and Its Terrestrial Impact VarSITI

www.varsiti.org

 Babatunde

..................
Professor Babatunde Rabiu 
Centre For Atmospheric Research,
National Space Research and Development Agency NASRDA Kogi State University Campus, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria

Alternate email: tunderabiu2 at gmail.com
Telephone: +234 8030705787
Headquarters Address: National Space Research and Development Agency NASRDA
Km 17 Umaru Musa Y'Ardua Road (old Airport Road), 
Abuja, Nigeria.
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"Righteousness exalts a nation.........."- Holy Scriptures"You can never soar like eagles if you are surrounded by turkeys"- Anonymous

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