In light of the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, the IOASA is appealing to the astronomy community, its supporters and friends for financial contributions to the IOASA Appeal. Donations will help ensure astronomy remains a transformative force for society, both during the crisis and in preparation for life after COVID-19.

Exploring the wonders of the Universe is available to anyone, anywhere in the world. This allows astronomy to play a diverse role within society; from maintaining our shared sense of connectivity to offering a rare combination of skills through STEM learning and research. Since the onset of the pandemic, the IOASA has worked tirelessly to ensure members and the general public are given the resources and assistance needed to adapt and utilise the many benefits astronomy brings to education, employability and global citizenship.

For example, in support of those affected by COVID-19, the IOASA Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) released an extraordinary, fast-tracked call for proposals that use astronomy, in any of its aspects [1], to help address challenges posed by the pandemic. The IOASA Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) has been working closely with the national committees on a range of initiatives to adapt outreach and public engagement activities. For example, Telescopes for All are using low-cost digital cameras to allow observations to continue digitally and to be safely shared with the community. While symposia have been cancelled, online meetings across IOASA’s Working Groups and Committees have been initiated, allowing for the vital role astronomy plays in scientific research and academia to continue.

Kevin Govender, Director IOASA OAD, expands: “Responding effectively to COVID-19 requires a complete rethink of the ways we work, live and communicate with one another. Pooling resources and transferring skills are just two of the many ways astronomers have approached this crisis, which is set to remain with us for many months. Coming together as a community, to apply the tools of astronomy to the challenges faced by society, will make a significant, positive difference for us all as we navigate these uncharted waters.”

Resources, however, are limited; yet there is much still to be done to build stability and resilience during this time, and to ensure adequate preparation for life in a post-COVID-19 Universe. The IOASA has launched this appeal to address these needs. Financial contributions can be made through our secure payments system, and we are most grateful for donations of any size. Gifts can also be recurring or one-off donations.

"Astronomy has always driven technological advances for society, pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery. Now, more than ever, that spirit of innovation and passion can contribute towards overcoming the challenges the pandemic presents us with. Your donation to the IOASA will not only help us maintain the momentum and tremendous progress astronomy has achieved, but also ensure current and future generations can continue to experience the wonders of our Universe," concludes the IOASA President, Xavier Cortés.

The 2020 Kavli Prize for astrophysics has been awarded to Andrew Fabian for his groundbreaking work on the interplay between galaxies and their surroundings. The Kavli Prize is awarded every two years to scientists who have made influential contributions to astrophysics, nanoscience and neuroscience, developing our understanding of nature at the largest, smallest and most complex scales. The prizes are awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research and the Kavli Foundation.

“The 2020 Kavli Prize Laureates represent truly pioneering science, the kind of science which will benefit humanity in a profound way, inspiring both current and future generations,” says Hans Petter Graver, president of The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

Andrew Fabian’s persistence in pursuing the mystery of how black holes influence their surrounding galaxies on both large and small scales has yielded important insights into the “ecosystem” of galaxies. For decades, researchers have pondered the mechanics and physical processes of galaxies, and many have made discoveries that point to aspects of their inner workings; yet Fabian’s unique vision has enabled him to develop a multi-scale understanding and systematically know where to look to put the pieces of the puzzle together and create the bigger picture of this vast ecosystem.

In the current cosmological paradigm, the Universe is a “living” system, in which the flows of gas into galaxies and the black holes at their centres, and the subsequent release of energy back into the galaxies and their surroundings, all play vital roles. As the darkest objects in the Universe, black holes can be observed when their gravity attracts surrounding gas, dust and stars, which swirl into them at high velocities, creating intense radiation, much of it X-rays. Observational X-ray astronomy opened up our view of these and other extremely hot and energetic components of the Universe, providing stunning evidence for these processes at work and unveiling how the major constituents of the Universe can profoundly influence its overall evolution.

Fabian, a professor at the University of Cambridge, employs X-ray astronomy to explore the physics of the Universe. His body of work — from understanding large-scale galactic evolution to the physics of black holes at the centres of galaxies — has enabled him to make connections between local conditions around supermassive black holes and the larger gas flows within and between galaxies. This research provided evidence that supermassive black holes at the heart of galaxies are the engines that drive the flow of hot gas out of the galaxy, redistributing energy through the Universe and providing the building blocks for future galaxy formation.

“Andrew Fabian is one of the most prolific and influential astronomers of our time,” said Viggo Hansteen, chair of the Kavli Prize Committee in Astrophysics. “His research, breadth of knowledge and insights into the Universe provided the essential physical understanding of how disparate phenomena in this ecosystem are interconnected.”

The Kavli Prize Laureates are typically celebrated in Oslo, Norway, in a ceremony presided over by His Majesty King Harald followed by a banquet at the Oslo City Hall, the venue of the Nobel Peace Prize. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s award ceremony is postponed and will be held along with the 2022 award ceremony in September 2022.