Donate now to this project! http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/projects/telescopes-to-tanzania.html
Background:
Telescopes to Tanzania (TtoT), which the OAD is contributing towards, is a project under the aegis of Astronomers Without Borders (AWB, http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/). Since 2010, Universe Awareness (UNAWE, www.unawe.org) and Telescopes to Tanzania have collaborated on bringing astronomy-based science education to Tanzania. This collaboration has already produced many outcomes, among which providing teacher training, telescopes and other science equipment for schools, as well as hands on classroom experiences (read more on the various achievements at https://www.astro4dev.org/category/activities/telescopes-to-tanzania/ or at http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/projects/telescopes-to-tanzania.html).
In collaboration with UNAWE-Tanzania (http://unawetanzania.org/), TtoT is now looking for funds to establish a Centre for Science. This project is a recommended project of the IAU-OAD and has thus been placed on its wish list. In June 2014, individuals will gather in Usa River (near Arusha, Tanzania) to prepare a Space Science model for advancing the development of inquiry based science education in Tanzania based on the current national curriculum. The gathering will include District Education officers from the Ministry of Education, science teachers from public and private schools, scientists, and Astronomy educators. Two 2014 OAD-funded projects, Nanotarium (a Do-It-Yourself inexpensive planetarium) and E-Science Cafe (bringing together youth astronomy groups via a website and social media), will also be fielded tested for classroom use in Tanzania at this time.
How you can help:
10,000 Euros are needed to set this project in motion.
One individual has already pledged a start up fund of 350 Euros (total funds for one participant), will you be the next? Consider funding one more participant, or one of our areas of need (any contribution will be much appreciated!):
Your contribution helps the project with:
- Resource development materials (ie. Text books, science equipment):
- Cost for gathering 10 people for 5 days:
- Travel expenses for participants:
- Office and study supplies (postage, paper, copy expenses):
- Research development, follow up and evaluation costs:
Donate now through the PayPal account of Astronomers Without Borders at:
http://astronomerswithoutborders.org/projects/telescopes-to-tanzania.html
The full proposal:
To read the complete proposal in pdf format, please click here. Else you can also browse the map of OAD recommended project by clicking on the image below:
Measurable outcomes/Evaluation:
- During each phase evaluation feedback will be used to improve and modify the ongoing work.
- Starting in September 2014 there will be 6 test sites for materials being developed for the curriculum.
- By June of 2015, a Space Science Curriculum for teachers based on the national syllabus will be available through the Centre for Science .
- District Education Officers throughout Tanzania will be informed of this work by March 2015 with each Officer having access to the curriculum by September of 2015.
Future steps:
- By June of 2016 the Centre for Science will have an observatory set up and available to teachers, students and community folk to begin a journey of studying the night sky.
- Leaders for the Centre for Science have already begun conversation regarding linking opportunities to view the dark skies of Tanzania near the equator with the Safari business into the national parks. By June of 2016 there will be an initial trial of a night sky observing/ day animal safari in the national parks.
The people behind the project:
Mponda Malozo devotes much of his time to ensure science is embraced by the children of Tanzania and has committed to promote science through astronomy. He is an amateur astronomer, and works with the Tanzanian Ministry of Agriculture as an environmental and agriculture expert. He is the national coordinator for Universe Awareness-Tanzania. The program is currently represented in six regions with more than 15 astronomy science clubs nation-wide. He translates Space Scoop News into Swahili for Tanzanian children and the general public through www.unawetanzania.org and www.unawe.org. Through translation of various news items, articles, and books he works to ensure his community is well informed about astronomy. He collaborates in the teaching programs of Telescopes to Tanzania and is the national coordinator of Astronomers Without Borders, the Galileo Teacher Training Program, and Star Peace in Tanzania, through which he conducts outreach activities.
Chuck & Susan Ruehle are the founders of Telescopes to Tanzania (TtT, TtT@astrowb.org). TtT has been working in Northern Tanzania since 2010. It focuses on using telescopes and astronomy to provide a hands-on methodology for teaching math, science, and geography. The program conducts GTTP teachers’ training workshops and supplies teaching resources to schools and astronomy clubs. It is a project of Astronomers without Borders. The Ruehles have Teacher Education degrees (Sue Elementary, Chuck Secondary) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Chuck also has a Masters degree in the Cultural Foundations of Education and is a GTTP Ambassador, a NASA Galileo Educator, and a SOFIA Earth Partner. As amateur astronomers they also conduct outreach programs in the US. They are participants in GTTP and GHOU network activities. Currently UNAWE-TZ and TtT are collaborating with a Tanzanian NGO in the development of a Center for Science Education and Observatory.
