Friday, Feb 21, 2025
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 2024, the IAU OAD funded 14 projects for a total of €114,667. These projects were run by multidisciplinary teams and addressed local and global challenges through astronomy-related innovations.
Projects spanned the globe, with activities taking place cover Asia, Africa, South and Central America, and the Middle East. They included: astro-tourism initiatives near petroglyph sites in Mongolia and the Tharparkar Desert in Pakistan; a community education programme in rural Honduras; a remote internship for marginalised students from Central America and the Caribbean; a collaboration between astronomers and artists in a Brazilian favela; projects advancing girls’ education and empowerment in Ethiopia and Kenya; and teacher training workshops in Timor-Leste.
As projects draw to a close, they will present their outcomes, achievements, and challenges on Friday, Feb 21, 2025. 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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