29 – 31 October  2018

The BRICS Astronomy Workshop and Working Group meeting was held in Ekaterinburg, Russia, on 5-8 September 2016. The workshop was on the theme: Astronomical Data and Computation, hosted successfully by the Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg. India offered to host the third BAWG meeting, coupled to a workshop on Astronomy Infrastructure and Instrumentation. The theme is influenced by the BRICS Science, Technology, and innovation work plan 2015-18 adopted on 28 October 2015 and modified on 8 October 2016 which among other initiatives suggested “Promotion of the coordination within large-scale research infrastructure to support initiatives leading to efficient use and development of mega-science projects. Relevant Working Group should elaborate appropriate mechanisms, such as BRICS Global Research Advanced Infrastructure Network (BRICS GRAIN).”

The meeting on Astronomy Infrastructure and Instrumentation was held at the Inter University of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Pune, India from 21-23 September 2017. The workshop brought together astronomers from BRICS countries to report on the existing astronomy infrastructure and instruments with a view to further collaboration on future instrumentation as well as present  and future mega projects. In addition, discussions were held on furthering  human resource development in astronomy through involvement of universities.