IAU Office of Astronomy for Development – Astronomy for a better world!

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The purpose of this office is to use astronomy to make the world a better place – and thus realise the vision of the IAU Strategic Plan

Recent News:

Astronomy & Data Science Toolkit is online. OAD are looking for contributions to the toolkit from the community

OAD 2017 Call for Proposals Stage 1 application is CLOSED. Selected Projects invited for Stage 2

OAD Yearbook 2016, annual summary of activities of the community

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the largest body of professional astronomers in the world and has set up the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in partnership with the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). The OAD was officially opened on 16th April 2011 at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then nine regional offices have been established in Armenia, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Nigeria, Portugal, Thailand and Zambia. In 2012 the open annual Call for Proposals was launched for each of the OAD’s focus areas: Universities and Research (TF1); Children and Schools (TF2); and Public Outreach (TF3).

OAD 2017 Call for Proposals

The funded projects for 2017 are currently under way. Browse the map for all the IAU-OAD funded projects to date (for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and the upper right button to share!):