Project leader: Prof. Rosa Ros

According to the IAU Strategic Plan, the mission of the IAU in world astronomy development consists of stimulating the application of astronomy in all its forms as a benefit to society and humankind.

The IAU has several projects which involve points Science Public Outreach, Tertiary education and Research. But NASE is a specific project for Secondary and Primary schools teachers. It is crucial to act before the university and research period in the curricula of children and teenagers. If the pupils have a positive contact with astronomy, they may decide to be astronomers, but it is very difficult to choose to study something which is not known to them.

Astronomy should be more present in the school. It is necessary to educate teachers in astronomy topics. In general, there is astronomy in school curricula, but if teachers do not have available possibilities of the observatory, they probably will limit their astronomy lessons only to the contents of books in a very theoretical way. All schools in all the countries in the world have an “astronomy lab”: this is the court of the school. The teachers with not enough instruction can use it.

The courses and materials will be produced in the language of the country where we are working with teachers: English.

NASE will organise two or three courses for secondary or primary school teachers in Centre or South America in cooperation with a Local Organising Committee (NASE GROUP) will have to organise the following editions every year. After the course, the NASE GROUP (group of 6-8 teachers) should be put together, in coordination with the NASE Programme can then continue organising other activities in the country (courses, seminars, festivals, performances, workshops and the basic NASE course too) every year in each country.

NASE do not have contacts in Africa, we ask for OAD support to decide the countries that will be visited. In 2013 we plan to participate in several conferences and meeting in different countries in order to explain NASE programs.

http://www.iau.org/education/commission46/nase/