Friday, Feb 20, 2026
1200-1400 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 2025, the IAU OAD and DARA funded 16 projects, run by multidisciplinary teams that addressed local and global challenges through astronomy-related innovations.
Projects spanned the globe, with activities taking place in Asia, Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. They included mobile observatory STEM programmes in Malaysia and India; a multi-national collaborative radio astronomy project connecting students in China, Pakistan and Greece; personal and professional skills development projects for vulnerable children in Mexico and South Africa; a cultural astronomy experience for Aboriginal youth in Australia; astrotourism and other revenue-generating projects in Saint Lucia, Mexico and India; skills development workshops in Iran, and more.
As projects draw to a close, they will present their outcomes, achievements, and challenges on Friday, Feb 20, 2026. 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 to sustainable development and inspire further interventions globally.
The OAD is a joint initiative of the South African National Research Foundation, through its Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, and the International Astronomical Union.
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| Friday, Feb 20, 2026
1200-1400 UTC |
Agenda |
| 12:00 – 12:05 |
Welcome |
| 12:05 – 12:45 |
Australia’s Cultural Night Sky: Culture, Creativity and Community at Lake Ballard, Western Australia, Australia |
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Sparking STEM Interest through Mobile Observatory in Malaysia, Malaysia |
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Starlight Pathways: Bringing Astronomy to Every Child, India |
|
Radio Astronomy for Development, Intercultural Innovation, and Outreach: A modern `Silk Road’ via radio astronomy education, China, Pakistan, Greece |
|
CSTERC Women AstroPreneurs’ Collective, India |
|
Reviving and Integrating Solar Energy in the Zagros region, Iran |
|
Scigirls Empowering girls and female teachers through astronomy in rural areas affected by conflict, Ethiopia |
|
Elimisha Msichana Elimisha Jamii na Astronomia (Educate a Girl Educate the entire Community with Astronomy), Kenya and Uganda |
| 12:45 – 13:00 |
Q &A |
| 13:00 – 13:40 |
Rite of Passage: Connection through Astronomy, South Africa |
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Astro-STEM Workshop, Kenya |
|
AstroGuides: Transforming Tours with Astrotourism (funded by Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy Project (DARA) through the UK’s Science and Technologies Facilities Council), Botswana |
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Anga Explorers for Development (funded by Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy Project (DARA) through the UK’s Science and Technologies Facilities Council), Kenya |
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Closer to the sky: co-creating astronomical knowledge in the favela complex of Cantagalo Pavão Pavãozinho (PPG) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
|
LUNAA Journeys Stargazing Training Programme, Saint Lucia |
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Look Up now and reconnect (LuNaR): Astrotourism for Economic, Cultural and Environmental development in Coahuila & Campeche, Mexico |
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El Universo para ti – Astronomía para la resiliencia (The Universe for you – Astronomy for resilience), Mexico |
| 13:40 – 14:00 |
Q & A |
