Dominic Vertue joined the OAD in June 2022. He has a background in Social Work and humanitarian assistance with a master’s in medical social work. Dominic has a passion for people and holds a firm belief that, with support, individuals can overcome their physical, environmental, and mental barriers and positively contribute to their communities. Dominic has several years of experience in public health and involvement with community-based programs to empower vulnerable groups. Within the OAD Dominic forms part of the Astronomy for Mental Health Flagship and he will be exploring the role astronomy can play in mental well-being.

Joyful has a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and an alumna of the Black Women in Science (BWIS) where she is currently serving on the steering committee. She also serves as the executive committee’s secretary for the Women in Physics in South Africa (WiPiSA) for the 2022–2024 term. She is passionate about science communication and community outreach through volunteering her time in outreach programmes. She joined the OAD in June 2023 and forms part of the Astronomy for Mental Health Flagship. She believes that life is too short to be anything but joyful, so smile as often as you can.

Azasiwe has a Masters in Economics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa with a strong background in microeconomics research and quantitative and qualitative data analysis. She joined the OAD in May 2025 as an intern focusing on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), contributing to the assessment of impact and effectiveness in astronomy-for-development projects. Passionate about econometric models that make sense and tell compelling stories about people and behaviour, Azasiwe finds excitement in turning numbers into narratives. As a member of the Macroeconomic Research Unit (MRU), she contributes to ongoing economic research and brings data wrangling skills. Her interests lie at the intersection of microeconomics, behavioural science, policy, data, and inclusive development, driven by a belief in the power of research and evidence to support meaningful change.

Julia is a student of Astronomy and Planetary Science at the Open University (UK). Her academic work includes research on neutron star accretion processes, exoplanet transits, and galaxy evolution, reflecting her broad interest in astrophysics. Beyond astronomy, Julia has held leadership positions in sustainability- focused organisations, including serving as Community Lead at Ocean Community, where she supported outreach and engagement on ocean sustainability. Her academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of astronomy, science communication, and sustainable development. At the OAD, she is developing an educational booklet for the Astrotourism flagship programme.

Sarah is a bibliophile and emerging science writer who is currently studying Mathematics through UNISA, and wondering what the universe is really up to. After years in the world of books, from managing bustling bookstores to writing a guide on starting one, she has turned her attention to the sky. As a volunteer with the OAD, Sarah helps build online learning materials for astro-tourism that make astronomy more approachable. She has also been quietly collecting and analysing variable star data (particularly the mischievous Blaze Star), designing resources, and inching her way toward science journalism. She is especially passionate about STEM education and translating complex scientific ideas into accessible stories that spark wonder and awe.

Ermias is a student at Deerfield Academy, USA. He has done research on the orbital dynamics of an asteroid at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Morehead Observatory. He is passionate about investigating fundamental questions in astrophysics and cosmology and hopes to continue research in the field. He has given lectures and workshops on ongoing research in astrophysics to high school students in Ethiopia. Ermias is also experienced in computational science and serves as Co-President of his school’s Computer Science Club. He is highly involved in the school’s STEM Magazine and Robotics Team. In his free time, you might find him perusing ancient and medieval manuscripts. Currently, Ermias is part of the team developing an astrotourism course at the OAD.

Parham Eisvandi is a passionate astronomer and educator with a background in chemistry, actively contributing to global astronomy outreach and education initiatives. As an Associate Member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), he is deeply involved in astronomy education research and the fascinating intersection of astronomy with various cultures. He serves as an Official Working-Group Member of Astronomy Day in School (ADIS) and is recognized as an International Astronomy Instructor for the Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE), where he has led numerous courses worldwide. Parham is dedicated to making astronomy accessible and engaging for diverse audiences, leveraging his expertise in astrophotography, dark sky preservation, and cultural storytelling to create unique learning experiences. At the OAD, he contributes to the online course on astrotourism.

Daysi is an astrophysicist located in Quito, Ecuador. She is an observational astronomer in radio and submm who studies the properties of the ISM with one of the brightest water lines at 752 GHz in low redshift ULIRGs. She is interested in submm, star formation, and masers. Furthermore, she is an advocate on gender, equity, diversity and mental health. She is supporting the OAD in developing a free, online course on Astronomy for Mental Health.

Timar, often called Tim by his friends, is an amateur astronomer from Iran with a lifelong passion for astronomy and astro-tourism that began at the age of 15. Over the past 16 years, he has traveled extensively across Iran, measuring night sky darkness and discovering unique destinations for astro tours. He has won several national astronomy competitions in Iran and served as editor-in-chief of Nojum magazine, the country’s oldest astronomy publication with over 33 years of history. Currently, he conducts astro tours in diverse formats throughout Iran, while also serving as editor-in-chief of Istgahe Fazaei, the most popular Persian astronomy podcast, and This is the Night Sky, a leading Persian astronomy show. In the past decade, he has led more than 100 astro tours and continues to support travel agencies in developing high-quality, standard astro-tourism experiences. He often says, “When starlight falls upon the desert, the world knows no greater enchantment.”

At the OAD, he is contributing to the astrotourism flagship initiative.

Thara holds a physics bachelor’s degree from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Passionate about advocating for physics students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, she has been part of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Physics Students for the past two years. She is interested in astroparticle physics and how science and policy can combine to improve the world. She joined the OAD in June 2023 and forms part of the Astronomy for Mental Health Flagship.

Sandra Benitez Herrera studied Physics at the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, and obtained her PhD at the Max-Planck for Astrophysics and the Technical University in Munich, Germany. She also has a specialization in Science Communication and Education, which she studied while she was working at the Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences of Rio de Janeiro. Currently, Sandra works at the Outreach Department of the Astrophysical Institute of the Canary Islands in several astronomy outreach projects. She is a member of the GalileoMobile voluntary program since 2011 and has organized educational initiatives in rural schools of India, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Uganda, Bolivia & Algeria. Since 2018 she is the coordinator of the “Amanar: under the same sky” project to support the Sahrawi refugee community. Within the OAD Sandra is part of the Astronomy for Mental Health Flagship, trying to assess the restorative effects of Astronomy and its potential to improve the mental well-being of vulnerable communities, such as refugees.

Dana joined the OAD Team in October 2021 to work on the impact analysis and communication of OAD projects.  She has a background in astronomy- obtained her Bachelors in Astronomy at the University of Nanjing, China, her Masters at the Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca and her PhD at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. She also has a masters in Educational Sciences, Curricular Management and experience as a member in the OAD Review panel. In her OAD project, she is studying the impact of funded OAD projects as well as ways to improve the communication of this data base of projects.

Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt is a South African astrophysicist, currently working on her PhD at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Her PhD research is on the gas and dust in galaxies, which are essential ingredients for star formation and galaxy evolution. She focusses on investigating the metal variation in the interstellar medium of both distant galaxies and the Milky Way. Tanita believes that science is for people who have an unshakeable desire to discover, understand and communicate how and why the universe works. She is passionate about using astronomy as a tool for development and for giving all people equal access to pursuing their dreams. Tanita is visiting the OAD for two weeks in March 2023.

Michael Levine is a student of Finance and Economics at Susquehanna University based in Selinsgrove Pennsylvania, USA. He has done previous research on the effects of COVID-19 on the aesthetic industry (non-invasive surgery)  in Europe. And completed an internship and work experience in global settings with people around the world, most recently at a large financial technology-based solutions firm in NYC.