BAWG

Subject : International Organisations

Context : 7th BRICS Astronomy Working Group Meeting recommends networking of existing telescopes.

Concept :

About BRICS Astronomy Working Group:

It provides a platform for BRICS member countries to collaborate in the field of astronomy, recommending that the focal points in each country should present the scientific results of the work being carried out in each country.
This will help seek funding support to realize the flagship project whenever funding opportunities are announced by BRICS funding agencies.
At the meeting, the members indicated future directions of research in this area such as building network of intelligent telescope and data network, study of transient astronomical phenomena in universe, big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning application to process the voluminous data generated now a days due to enhance multi-wavelength telescope observatory.

BRICS:

BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neill coined the term BRIC to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers’ in 2006.
South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.
India has assumed the BRICS Presidency from January 2021.
BRICS does not exist in the form of organization, but it is an annual summit between the supreme leaders of five nations.
The Chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.

Cooperation Mechanism:

Cooperation among members is achieved through:
Track I: Formal diplomatic engagement between the national governments.
Track II: Engagement through government-affiliated institutions, e.g. state-owned enterprises and business councils.
Track III: Civil society and People-to-People engagement.