Category Archives: 2025

Astrolab – Starlight in the University Lab Project: Learning STEM skills by doing

This article was originally published by the American Physical Society in the December 2025 issue of the African Physics Newsletter and is shared with the permission of APS. The AstroLab (Starlight in the University Lab) project is an annual training workshop tailored toward undergraduate students in introductory astronomy courses. It is an inquiry-based astronomy lab […]

IAU OAD Partners with the Royal Bafokeng Nation to Advance Community Development through Science

PRESS RELEASE Royal Bafokeng Nation and IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Sign a Memorandum of Understanding to Advance Community Development Through Science The International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU–OAD) and the Office of Kgosana Dr Koketso Rakhudu have formalised a partnership aimed at leveraging astronomy to drive socio-economic transformation within the […]

How Stargazing is Shaping Mental Health Research

source: Stellenbosch University As mental health challenges continue to escalate globally, the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) is spearheading a groundbreaking initiative that leverages the cosmos. By partnering with public health researchers, the OAD is unveiling novel ways in which astronomy experiences can enhance emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and foster […]

Video: Australia’s Cultural Night Sky

Koya Aboriginal Corporation and Dr John Goldsmith / Celestial Visions have released a film of their project, “Australia’s Cultural Night Sky: Culture, Creativity and Community at Lake Ballard, Western Australia”. The video documents the journey and activities of 12 Aboriginal high-school students, visiting the remote, dark-sky location of Lake Ballard, in the Goldfields region of […]

IAU-OAD Team Visits the Kgosana Rakhudu Foundation in Tsitsing, North West

On Tuesday, 25 November 2025, the OAD team travelled to Tsitsing village in the North West Province, South Africa, to visit the Kgosana Rakhudu Foundation. The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the Foundation’s work, share the OAD’s programmes, and explore possible ways to collaborate in the future. On arrival in Tsitsing, […]