84th Annual Meeting of The Meteoritical Society 2021 (LPI Contrib. No. 2609) 6265.pdf

ATTARIK FOUNDATION: TWO YEARS OF METEORITICS AND PLANETARY SCIENCE DISSEMINATION. H. Chennaoui Aoudjehane 1,2, O. Berrada2,3, M. Aoudjehane2,4, S. Arif1,2, F.Z Jadid1,2, S. Boukhris2, F. Haissen2,5 and S. Makhoukhi1,2 1GAIA Laboratory, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Science Ain Chock, Morocco ([email protected]), 2ATTARIK Foundation for Meteoritics and Planetary Science, 3Yasmine Signa- ture, 4Agrokit Morocco, 5Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Science Benmsik, Morocco.

Since its inception April 18, 2019, ATTARIK Foundation through its members and its office has undertaken nu- merous actions and activities in line with the objectives of the Foundation. ATTARIK Foundation has, in just over a year, established itself as the reference organization in Morocco in the promotion of research in the field of meteor- ites and planetology. Numerous requests for participation and contribution reach the Foundation. The year 2019 was a year of implementation and the year 2020 was the year of the development of ATTARIK Foundation although strongly disrupted by the constraints related to the COVID-19 pandemic. ATTARIK Founda- tion has nevertheless organized a large number of actions, conferences, field missions, communication initiatives which testify to the dynamism of the members of the Foundation. The contribution of the members of the foundation during this year has been exemplary. Thus, the scientific pro- motion aspect has been enriched and strengthened. However, the scientific research aspect has been slowed down. For 2021, the focus will be on the autonomy and financial sustainability of the foundation, the continuation of all scientific and popularization actions, in particular the organization of a temporary exhibition in the format of a travel- ing museum of Meteorites, Planets and Space exploration sciences. ATTARIK expo will be launched on June 30, 2021, and welcoming visitors for two months. It will end on August 30, 2021. Another opening component was initi- ated in 2020 and will continue in 2021, namely involvement in territorial development through the creation of ge- otourism circuits to promote Moroccan geoheritage. ATTARIK Foundation was presented during the business meeting of the Meteoritical Society in Sapporo Japan on 2019. We had the privilege of the endorsement of the Meteoritical Society, the European Association of Geochem- istry and the Barringer Crater Company in 2020. Both organizations provided an important financial support to scien- tific and outreach activities of ATTARIK. These funds were used for participation of PhD students to meeting, analysis and field work expenses as well as production and printing of flyers distributed to youth and children during the outreach events. Strategic Vision of ATTARIK Foundation for 2021-2023 is based on "Dream Big & Start Small". Our common desire is to dream big for the future of our country with the contribution of our association. Dreaming of a national center dedicated to geology, astronomy, planetology and meteorites, endowed with research laboratories, giving the opportunity to doctoral students and researchers to promote Morocco in these fields.

Acknowledgment: Authors thanks all ATTARIK Foundation for Meteoritics and Planetary Science partners for their cooperation and support. The Meteoritical Society, Barringer Crater company, Intelcia, European Association of Ge- ochemistry, Hassan II University of Casablanca, Atlas Dark Sky foundation, Oukaimeden Observatory, Desert Fire- ball Network, Al Akhawayn University, Agrokit, We Speak Citizen.

ATTARIK Foundation is an autonomous and non-profit association. Its headquarters is held in Hassan II University of Casablanca, Ain Chock Faculty, Morocco. The creation of this Foundation is a result of a long experience of Me- teoritics and Planetary Science of the founders and the incredible richness of Morocco and North Africa on Extra- terrestrial rocks. The vision of the ATTARIK Foundation emphasizes the role of scientific and cultural development and education in the basic and applied sciences in general for sustainable economic and social development. ATTARIK Foundation aims at promoting Meteoritics and Planetary Science and Astronomy among researchers from public or private institutions, students, teachers, high school students, but also among public authorities and the gen- eral public, in Morocco first and then all over the world, in particular in the Arab world and African continent coun- tries.