AICAC V

About

The Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana in partnership with the African Initiative for Planetary and Space Science (AFIPS) is organizing the 5th Edition of the Arab and Africa Impact Cratering and Astrogeology Conference (AICAC) in Accra, Ghana.

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.

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.

Conference information

Date and location

The conference will be held at the University of Ghana Campus at Legon-Accra, Ghana on the 9-15th November 2025.

Conference structure (see Important Dates for details):

  • Pre-Conference workshop – Focused on the methods to search for impact structures, and on the identification of impactites and meteorites (organized by D. Baratoux and H. Chennaoui Aoudjehane).
  • Main conference – Featuring oral and poster presentations, along with discussions on the future of planetary sciences in Africa.
  • Field trip (4 days): A geological tour at the Bosumtwi Impact Crater in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, approximately 300 km from Accra, guided by D. Baratoux, C. Koeberl, and M.S. Sapah. 12/11/25 (Departure Accra, 7 am GMT) – 15/11/25 (Return Accra, 6 pm GMT).

Themes

  • 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)
  • Astrogeology
  • Ecotourism and Heritage Conservation related to impact crater
Lake Bosumtwi Crater (photo credit: Christian Koeberl)