This article was written by Dr. Tawanda Chingozha, OAD Fellow on Development Economics, summarising the main points presented by a panel of experts during a UNDESA webinar on 9 April 2020. Powerpoint presentation and Webinar recording The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) of The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has …
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This blog post was written by Jason Cook, Telescopic Watch. Content in the blog post is copyright of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of the Office of Astronomy for Development. We as human beings are greatly attracted to beauty. And there is nothing more beautiful than the heavenly …
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As the big data deluge continues across the world amidst privacy concerns, various groups are beginning to utilise it as a ‘force for good’. Astronomers are not far behind, applying their big data skills to tackle societal challenges. Challenges in public health, disaster management and environmental protection may be addressed …
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Vietnam is one of the places where OAD funding has had a massive impact, due to the work of a dedicated team of amateur astronomers at the Ho Chi Minh City Amateur Astrononomy Club (HAAC). The HAAC, supported by the OAD, succeeded in bringing together most of the amateur astronomy …
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Columba Hypatia is a OAD funded project used astronomy as a tool for promoting meaningful communication and a culture of peace and non-violence between the various communities living on the divided island of Cyprus. The island has been in a post-conflict environment for over 40 years, with its two main …
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“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela Astronomy for Literacy is a 2016 OAD funded project that focused on using Astronomy to improve literacy amongst middle school children in rural parts of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is a small country …
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Nature Astronomy has published a selection of News and Comment articles focusing on Astronomy in Africa. (use the links below to view them outside of the paywall) Editorial The potential of astronomy for socioeconomic development in Africa by the team at the Office of Astronomy for Development and Tawanda …
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What is Astronomy for Development? A short introduction on how astronomy can influence society and how the tools of astronomy are being applied to solve challenges in food production, wildlife conservation, urban planning etc. Examples from projects funded by the OAD as well as other projects such as the STFC …
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OAD funds and coordinates projects that aim to use astronomy to impact on one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It may not be obvious to everyone how the tools, methods and content of the field of Astronomy are relevant to the SDGs. However, below are some …
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In the past, astronomy’s place in society was well understood. We relied on the moon and positions of stars to determine our calendars, we tracked the movements of planets and drew inspiration from the Milky Way. We raced to be first on the moon as a sign of progress and …
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