IAU’s Kevin Govender receives the Edinburgh Medal

On Wednesday 30 March, the Lord Provost of City of Edinburgh Council presented the prestigious Edinburgh Medal to Kevin Govender of the IAU’s Office of Astronomy for Development and to Silvia Torres-Peimbert, President of the IAU, in a special ceremony at the 2016 Edinburgh International Science Festival.

The 2016 Edinburgh Medal was jointly awarded to Kevin Govender and the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in recognition of their wide-reaching contribution to science.

The UK’s Astronomer Royal, Lord (Martin) Rees, opened the event, following which Torres-Peimbert and Govender discussed their work and the future of Astronomy for Development. Professor Monica Grady delivered a vote of thanks.

The joint award acknowledges the creation and establishment of the Office of Astronomy for Development, which integrates the pursuit of scientific knowledge with social development for and with those most in need. Under the pioneering stewardship of Kevin Govender, the Office of Astronomy for Development, hosted at the South African Astronomical Observatory in partnership with the National Research Foundation and the Department of Science and Technology , has successfully harnessed astronomy in the service of global education and capacity building.