Speaker
Description
Located at 2765 meters in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the Oukaimeden Observatory has rapidly grown into a leading actor in African astronomy and an emerging hub for distance-learning innovation. This talk will present how the deployment of robotic telescopes, such as MOSS, TRAPPIST-North, and OWL-Net,Spectrophotometry of Variables stars, has enabled Oukaimeden to offer an open, accessible, and research-grade learning environment to students and educators worldwide.
By leveraging automated instrumentation and remote-control platforms, the observatory provides continuous access to real observational data, allowing learners to engage directly with the scientific process from any location. Through remote observing sessions, online interfaces, and project-based activities, participants gain experience in image processing, data interpretation, and modern astrophysical techniques opportunities that were previously out of reach for many institutions across Africa.
The talk will highlight the educational impact of this approach: strengthened scientific literacy, increased engagement, and the emergence of new scientific vocations in regions traditionally distant from research facilities. Importantly, this transformation is supported by international capacity-building initiatives, most notably the VLIR-UOS STELLAR project and its extension STELLAR-LINK, which have been instrumental in developing infrastructure, training educators, and fostering long-term international collaboration.
We will also discuss the operational challenges inherent to remote astronomical facilities network constraints, high-altitude maintenance, and multi-partner scheduling, and the strategies implemented to ensure reliability, accessibility, and sustainability. Finally, the presentation will outline future directions, including the expansion of the robotic telescope network, deeper integration of AI-driven educational tools, and the consolidation of Oukaimeden’s role as a pan-African center for astronomy education, capacity building, and outreach.
| Stream | Education, Development and Outreach |
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