Friday, Feb 23, 2024
1300-1500 UTC
Every year, the Office of Astronomy for Development, through the International Astronomical Union, provides grants and supports projects around the world that apply astronomy in the pursuit of sustainable development. In 2023, the OAD funded 19 projects for a total of €124,011. These projects were run by multidisciplinary teams and addressed local and global challenges through astronomy-related innovations.
Projects span the globe, with activities taking place in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. They include: a programme that trained young women teachers to promote science education in rural Botswana; astro-tourism initiatives in Malaysia and India; development of an astro-tourism academic curriculum in Tanzania; and an after-school astronomy programme for families in a disadvantaged part of Northern Ireland.
Also among the funded initiatives are: inclusive astronomy projects targeting persons with disabilities in rural Guatemala, and blind and partially sighted persons in Canada, Mexico, and the US; an inspirational astronomy-based programme for soon-to-be-released prison inmates in Nigeria; physics and astronomy training for young women in parts of Pakistan affected by conflict; and mentorship programmes for school girls in rural Kenya, and marginalised students from Central America and the Caribbean.
As projects draw to a close, they will present their outcomes, achievements, and challenges on Friday, Feb 23, 2024. Each project will give a short presentation with time for Q&A. Through this exercise, the OAD aims to expand awareness of the contributions of astronomy and basic sciences to development and inspire further interventions globally.
The OAD is a joint initiative of the South African National Research Foundation, through its Department of Science and Innovation, and the International Astronomical Union.
Kindly register below to receive the zoom meeting link.
| UTC
Friday, Feb 23 |
Agenda |
| 13:00 – 13:05 | Welcome |
| 13:05 – 14:00 UTC | Presentations (part 1) |
| Langkawians Guide Malaysians to the Stars, Malaysia | |
| Scouts for Astronomy, Kenya | |
| Science and Astronomy in Southern Botswana | |
| Astro-Phy Quench, Pakistan | |
| Astro-Prison Consolidation in Nigeria | |
| Astronomy cadets afterschools, Northern Ireland | |
| Guide Training for the Tribal Students (Phase 2), India, Brazil | |
| Elimisha Msichana Elimisha Jamii na Astronomia (Educate a Girl Educate the entire Community with Astronomy), Kenya, Uganda | |
| Internet of Things Lab for Air Quality Monitoring, Senegal | |
| Astro tourism development in Tanzania | |
| Q&A | |
| 14:00 – 15:00 UTC | Presentations (part 2) |
| OruMbya – a library of silenced voices, Brazil, Portugal, Cape Verde, Mozambique | |
| The LightSound Project: Accessibility for the Blind/Low-Vision Community for the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses, US, Mexico, Canada | |
| Developing Basic Science and Astronomy using Experimental Satellites, GHana | |
| The small corner of the stars : An initiative for development of local communities in “La Tatacoa”, Colombia | |
| Astronomy Development for the Girl-Child Using Optical Telescope in Nigeria | |
| AstroPhy Ghana | |
| Inclusive astronomy in Guatemala | |
| Central American and Caribbean bridge, Central American & Caribbean | |
| Astronomy Club in Secondary Schools in Nigeria | |
| Q&A and Introductions by new 2024 projects |