5th Edition of the Arab and Africa Impact Cratering and Astrogeology Conference

A conference for all those interested in the interaction between Earth and space, and their evidences in Africa

The Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana in partnership with the African Initiative for Planetary and Space Science (AFIPS) is organizing the 5^th Edition of the Arab and Africa Impact Cratering and Astrogeology Conference (AICAC) at the University of Ghana Campus at Legon-Accra, Ghana, from 9^th to 15^th November 2025. This international conference aims at creating awareness and interest in planetary and space science, and bringing stakeholders together.

It will contribute to capacity building through a dedicated training workshop on the identification of impactites and meteorites. It will also highlight the research, educational and geotourism/ecotourism potentials of the Bosumtwi Impact crater, which was recently distinguished as one of the second 100 IUGS Geological Heritage sites.

Program

The targeted audience of this conference includes the international community of professionals, students and science communicators in the fields of Planetary and Space Sciences and the general public.

AICAC V will consist of a one-day pre-conference workshop on the identification of impactites and meteorites, a two-day conference featuring oral and poster presentations, and discussions on the future of planetary sciences in Africa. This will be followed by a four-day field trip to the Bosumtwi Impact crater in the Ashanti region of Ghana about 300 km from the capital city Accra.

9^th November: pre-conference workshop
10^th – 11^th November: plenary and technical sessions
12^th – 15^th November: field trip to the Bosumtwi Impact crater

Topics

• Impact cratering as an astronomical and geological phenomenon;
• Impact cratering in the Solar System;
• Characterization of Impact processes from atomic to crustal-scales (geochemistry of impactites, impact metamorphism, structural features of impact structures);
• Modeling of impact processes;
• Meteorites, Tektites;
• Asteroids, with a focus on Near‐Earth Objects and Hazard (Near‐Earth and Hazard);
• Comets;
• Economic geology and impact structures;
• Effects of impacts on planetary evolution, including atmosphere, climate, environment and biosphere (mass extinctions)

Important dates

• 30^th August: Deadline for abstract submission;
• 30^th September: Final Announcement and program with abstracts;
• 15^th October: Deadline for early registration

More information and updtates at https://aicacv.org