Andean

  • The Third Workshop Astronomia en los Andes was held November 12-16, 2018, hosted by Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria. There were around 100 attendees from all countries in the Andean ROAD (Colombia, Chile,Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela). The workshop consisted of 25 technical talks, lectures for undergraduate students, 3 round tables on the successes and challenges of the task forces. 

Arab

  • Weekly lectures at the JAS (Jordanian Astronomical Society’s) Cultural Forum in collaboration with AUASS (Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Science) under the umbrella of the AW-ROAD
  • JAS has organized many meetings with school children to talk about space travel, especially that many schools are participating in this year’s FLL (First Lego League) under the general title “Into Orbit”
  • “Rum Sky” is a new astronomy tourism project launched recently in Wadi Rum, South of Jordan, which includes few JAS members.

East Africa

  • World Space Week celebrations were organized by ESSTI, ESSS and East African ROAD with more than 500 participants at the event in Addis Ababa. EA-ROAD director gave a presentation about the activities and role of OAD in general and EA-ROAD in particular and also took part in the exhibition to popularize EA-ROAD office activities to the public
  • First NASE (Network for Astronomy School Education) teachers training was held in Addis Ababa, organized by East African ROAD, Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI), and Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS)
  • A radio astronomer from Lisbon University, Institute of Astrophysics and Manager of ALMA Center for Expertise visited Tanzania to share his expertise by giving several presentations at different Universities and government departments including the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology and Directorate of Science, Technology and Innivation in the Ministry
  • Five outreach activities were conducted at schools in Dar and Dodoma and at the Open University of Tanzania
  • On 08 December 2018, a Science film Festival on Space Exploration was organized by Goethe Institute and cultural center in Addis in collaboration with EA-ROAD, ESSS, ESSTI and EORC

East Asia

  • Global Health and Climate Change workshop was held at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China with the goal of bridging the gap between the natural sciences (astrophysics, geoscience, meteorology) and healthcare professionals
  • Science development mission to remote rural regions in Mongolia, focused on stimulating science education and interest amongst children in nomadic settlements, with astronomical outreach activities

Europe

  • Michelle Willebrands, an intern from the European ROAD, spent 2 months at the OAD in Cape Town working on implementation plans for this new Regional Office
  • Kick-off of Space.Eu project at the University of Leiden in December. The project aims to use the excitement of space to encourage youth to choose careers in science and technology

Portuguese Language

  • Activities have started for 100th Anniversary of Eddington@Sundy
  • Dulcelena Semedo defended her postgraduate thesis in Brazil on November 13, and is now the first teacher from Cape Verde specialized in the teaching of Astronomy. This is a success story in the collaboration between PLOAD Brasil and PLOAD Cape Verde.
  • PLOAD participated in the XXVI Astronomy Week at Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In the session “Chat with Brazilian and African Scientists” with participants from Brazil, Cape Verde and Mozambique
  • World Science Day for Peace and Development on November 10 was celebrated with astronomy hands-on activities for more than 100 students in Cape Verde  

South East Asia

  • Thailand-UK Python+Astronomy Summer School 2018 (ThaiPASS’18) was held from 7-12 October 2018 in Chiang Mai with 40 science students from Thailand
  • The 10th SEAAN 2018 Meeting was held from 19 – 21 October 2018 in Indonesia with 100 researchers and students from ASEAN Countries
  • NARIT-RUPP Human Capacity Training in Astronomy for Development 2018 was held 6 – 7 December 2018 at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), the Kingdom of Cambodia with  80 RUPP Students majoring in Physics and Geography

South West and Central Asia

  • Young Explorers Club established in 20 schools in October 2018
  • Public lectures on “Relation of Astronomy to other Sciences” and “Our Understanding of the Universe” by Areg Mickaelian
  • Let’s feel the Cosmos” project won a grant from the Awesome Foundation in Armenia, Yerevan. The project is carried out by children from a school astronomy club who are preparing tactile materials to teach astronomy to visually impaired and blind children

Southern Africa

  • A regional Go-Lab workshop was conducted from 10-14 December 2018 on the use of online labs and resources. This was facilitated by Rosa Doran and Carlos Manuel Dos Santos. Participants were science teachers from different parts of Zambia and South Africa
  • Mauritius hosted the 2nd African Space Generation Workshop from 17-18 December 2018. This two-day regional workshop brought together students, young professionals and industry representatives to examine, consider and stimulate interdisciplinary perspectives on space and scientific matters in the African region
  • Workshop on Planetary Sciences was held in Botswana from 28-31 October 2018 and also the International Data Week in Botswana from 5-8 November 2018 

West Africa

  • National Space Research and Development Agency-Center for Basic Space Science (NASRDA-CBSS) in collaboration with Chukwuka Cosmas Ezenma has opened a research grant for African Students in Space Science and Astronomy
  • Astronomical Society of Nigeria held its annual Conference for 2018
  • The 7th African Leadership Conference on Space Science for Sustainable Development was held in Nigeria to discuss the implementation of the African Space Policy And Strategy (ASPS)