20–27 Mar 2026
Wild View Resorts
Africa/Gaborone timezone

From Stars to STEM: Using Astronomy to Promote Science Education in South Western Uganda

24 Mar 2026, 12:00
15m
Wild View Resorts

Wild View Resorts

Plot 80 President Avenue, Kasane, Botswana
In-person - Talk 2&3 Outreach initiatives Across Africa Education, Development & Outreach

Speaker

Priscilla Muheki (Mbarara University of Science and Technology)

Description

Astronomy plays an important role in society by inspiring young people and children to explore the beauty of the Universe, sparking their interest in science and thereby supporting education.
In Uganda, many rural schools face challenges such as high dropout rates and poor performance in science subjects, particularly among girls. In this talk, I will share insights into how, using astronomy, we are encouraging primary school children to stay engaged in their education and progress to the next levels and helping secondary school girls develop confidence and interest in science by demystifying it, ultimately promoting STEM careers.
Through school outreach programs featuring a variety of activities and the development of a curriculum that integrates astronomical robotics challenges, students from three primary and three secondary schools have been introduced to astronomy and inspired to develop a passion for science. A positive shift in attitudes towards subjects like Science, for primary school and Physics and Mathematics for secondary school has been observed, and ongoing efforts are being encouraged to ensure these impacts are measurable.

Stream Education, Development and Outreach

Primary author

Priscilla Muheki (Mbarara University of Science and Technology)

Presentation materials

There are no materials yet.