Conveners
Education, Development & Outreach: Science Communication Challenges & Impact Evaluation
- Duduzile Kubheka (SAAO)
Education, Development & Outreach: Outreach across Africa I
- Sally Macfarlane (Inter-university Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy)
Education, Development & Outreach: Outreach across Africa II
- Prospery Simpemba (Copperbelt University)
Education, Development & Outreach: Skills Development & Africa's 4IR
- Nikhita Ramkilowan (Wits Centre for Astrophysics)
Education, Development & Outreach: Addressing Inequality / Indigenous Astronomy
- Ann Njeri (Newcastle University)
Education, Development & Outreach: Global Projects
- Charles Takalana (IAU Office of Astronomy for Development)
Education, Development & Outreach: Astronomy Education
- Simphiwe Madlanga (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO))
Education, Development & Outreach: Astrotourism & Community Development
- Joyful Elma Mdhluli (Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD))
Education, Development & Outreach: Innovative Outreach & Citizen Science
- Naomi Asabre Frimpong (IAU Office of Astronomy)
Doing science is one thing, a satisfactory thing for a researcher, but communicating science with the public is another requirement for mutual benefit of both the researcher and the people for whom the science cases present potential solutions. In this presentation, we report the potential impediments to a successful science engagement in Africa and in most African research institutions....
Over the past year, the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Zambia, in collaboration with the Fast4Future Initiative and the Southern African Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (SAROAD), has delivered a series of innovative astronomy outreach programs to strengthen STEM engagement among young learners. These initiatives incorporated hands-on telescope assembly, virtual sky explorations...
In this talk, I will describe two large scale projects organised by the Science Communication, Public Outreach, and Education (SCOPE) Section of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), both of which utilise the Cascade Model as a core strategy. The first is an ongoing program where, in partnership with the Government of the Karnataka State, we are promoting astronomy and low cost hands-on...
Communicating astronomy to underserved communities is an adventure that requires collaborative efforts among stakeholders to ensure its goals are achieved. In Nigeria, our project team has conducted several outreach programmes and workshops to advance astronomy development in underserved communities and achieve the SDGs. These underserved communities include the rural regions, correctional...
Ethiopia possesses exceptional natural conditions for astronomical observation, including clear skies, high-altitude terrains, low light pollution, and a geographic position that enables visibility of both celestial hemispheres. These advantages uniquely position the country to promote astronomy and strengthen STEM education. However, persistent economic, political, social, and institutional...
This study explores the role of joy, awe, and wonder in informal astronomy education experiences such as planetaria, public telescope viewings, and group viewings of celestial phenomena (solar eclipse). Attending a planetarium show or peering through an observatory telescope at Saturn’s rings for the first time can invoke feelings of inspiration, excitement, awe, spirituality or even...
Mobile planetariums are essential in communicating astronomy with the public, students, enthusiasts, professionals, and non-professionals. In Nigeria, their role in fascinating and inspiring awe in visitors’ minds is undeniable. The West African Regional Office of Astronomy for Development, in collaboration with the project team, designed and executed mobile planetarium-based astronomy and...
The "Madagascar Sous les étoiles" (Madagascar Under the Stars - MUSE) festival, coordinated by Haikintana astronomy association, is the first national astronomy festival in Madagascar, designed as a replicable model for developing scientific culture in low-resource African settings. Initially launched in 2023 as "Majunga sous les étoiles," the initiative progressively scaled its ambition,...
Over the past three years, astronomy outreach in Madagascar has expanded significantly beyond the capital Antananarivo. Led by several associations and clubs, with the support of IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach - NOC Madagascar, activities such as stargazing sessions, school visits, and public sharing events have reached a growing number of towns including Antsirabe, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga,...
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...
The Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS), established in 2004, is a leading non-governmental organization advancing space science and technology in Ethiopia through a four-pillar model: Education, Outreach, Research Infrastructure Development, and Advocacy. ESSS builds capacity from grassroots to professional levels by expanding access to learning, delivering nationwide outreach and citizen...
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,...
Astronomical research in East Africa is constrained by limited access to advanced observational facilities and structured hands-on training, posing a risk of exclusion from the global, data-rich discovery era led by big projects like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (LSST). The Sharing the Sky Programme is a two-year collaborative initiative designed to address this by empowering a cohort of...
Ethiopia is currently experiencing significant political, economic, and educational challenges that have weakened the quality of schooling and limited opportunities for young learners. In this context, astronomy outreach has emerged as a meaningful tool to restore hope, spark curiosity, and strengthen STEM engagement—especially for students with minimal access to scientific resources. This...
Sustainable astronomy outreach in Africa requires models that multiply impact, strengthen local capacity, and ensure long-term engagement. This paper presents Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) Nigeria’s implementation of the Cascade Outreach Model, a framework designed to expand access to astronomy education through mentorship, teacher training, and community participation.
Since its...
Astronomy outreach in Sudan has grown steadily over the past decade despite significant economic and political challenges. Early efforts were led primarily by university departments and small volunteer groups, focusing on public lectures, school visits, and basic sky-watching events. These activities served not just as educational tools, but as a source of national pride and youth engagement...
The Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) and MeerKAT represent some of the most ambitious radio astronomy projects ever undertaken, with large-scale SKAO science operations and data production expected to accelerate only after 2030. Preparing for the scientific opportunities of the next 50+ years therefore requires more than training the next generation of researchers; it demands...
Human capital development is essential to prepare expertise required for the 4th industrial revolution if Africa is to participate fully. The Pan-Africa Planetary Network for Space Science and Technology follows the path set by the successful project PAPSSN (Pan-Africa Planetary and Space Science Network), hence the legacy acronym PAP2SN that will sustain the brand created in the past 5 years....
Effectively engaging the public in astronomy is essential for fostering scientific literacy, inspiring curiosity, and building inclusive communities across Africa. However, the abstract nature of astronomical concepts and the geographic dispersion of audiences often pose significant challenges.
This presentation introduces an interactive online platform designed to bridge the gap between...
Across the African continent, astronomy and space science have long inspired curiosity, creativity, and scientific ambition. Yet, translating this inspiration into real entrepreneurial activity and scalable commercial ventures remains a significant challenge.
The Africa Earth Observation Challenge (AEOC), now in its 10th year, addresses this gap by functioning not only as an outreach...
Abstract
As Africa advances into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), robotics education has emerged as a powerful catalyst for digital skills development, innovation, and inclusive participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This proposed Robotics Outreach and Training Programme—rooted in the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory’s (SARAO) long-standing...
Africa holds some of humanity’s earliest astronomical knowledge systems - from Nabta Playa and ancient star calendars to the scientific manuscripts of Timbuktu. Today, the continent is once again central to global astronomy through facilities such as MeerKAT, SALT and the emerging SKA, producing high-value data and enabling world-leading theoretical and observational research. Yet a defining...
Astronomy has the unique ability to spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and broaden young people’s understanding of the universe. However, in Ethiopia, access to structured astronomy education remains limited, particularly for girls in public schools and boarding and female-only schools, who often have fewer opportunities to engage with STEM fields. To address these gaps, the Ethiopian Space...
This initiative, led by Mehbuba Ahmed from the Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI), highlights the Advanced Ethiopian Women in Physics and Astronomy Focus Group, which empowers female students in STEM, particularly physics and astronomy in Ethiopia. SSGI focuses on space science, remote sensing, and geospatial technologies, achieving accolades and collaborations with global...
Astronomy is the oldest science, and its influence is deeply embedded in cultural practices across Africa. In Zambia, traditional ceremonies offer a unique lens through which communities interpret the sky and integrate celestial knowledge into daily life. This study investigates Zambian cultural astronomy by engaging directly with the tribes of Zambia. By attending these events and interacting...
Egyptian archaeoastronomy explores the deep connection between ancient Egyptian civilization and the cosmos, revealing how celestial phenomena shaped their architectural, religious, and scientific achievements. From the earliest periods, the Egyptians observed the sky with remarkable precision, incorporating astronomical knowledge into the construction and alignment of monuments such as...
Astronomy has long connected societies across East and North Africa through shared skies, cultural memory, and scientific curiosity. The historical relationship between Ethiopian and Arabian astronomy is a powerful example of this exchange, shaped by centuries of interaction along the Red Sea corridor. These connections remain visible today in the linguistic continuity of planetary...
The International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) Flagships Ecosystem is a global framework designed to leverage astronomy’s scientific, cultural, and inspirational value to address societal challenges and promote sustainable development. Built on four interconnected pillars: Resources, Training, Implementation, and Community, the Ecosystem provides...
BRICS Astronomy’s flagship program, the BITDN, aims not only to advance the frontiers of science but also to develop the skills of learners, researchers, and communicators across the BRICS countries and the Global South. This talk will showcase how BRICS Astronomy leverages expertise in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Big Data to contribute to the development of societies hosting astronomical...
Building on our proven success of a program to prevent brain drain from Africa and create the next generation of science and engineering leaders across te continent, we now are expanding our program to multiple countries and invite people at this meeting to participate. I will describe the unique model for the partnerships in the collective and discuss how we can build these into long term...
Africa’s rapidly expanding astronomy ecosystem has become a key driver of scientific excellence, technological innovation, and high-impact global partnerships. Yet to fully realise the continent’s potential—and to ensure African institutions play an influential role in shaping the future of global astronomy—there is an urgent need for coherent, forward-looking policy frameworks that empower...
On the Moon Again is an international outreach initiative dedicated to bringing the wonder of the Moon to people around the world through shared, open-air observations. Launched in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, the event has grown into a global celebration of astronomy, curiosity, and collective exploration. Each year, on a selected weekend in June or July,...
The Turkana Basin Institute facilitated an astronomy workshop for teachers in Ileret, Northern Kenya, aided by the IAU's teacher training grant. Ileret is an isolated village in northern Kenya, with a single high school, low graduation rates, low participation of women in education, and several economic and social challenges. The training was the first of its kind in the region and systematic...
The South African national school curriculum requires teachers to teach astronomy based content( concepts and phenomenon). Many teachers enter the classroom with the same astronomy misconceptions commonly held by students, such as confusing the causes of seasons, interpreting Moon phases as Earth’s shadow, sun as the biggest star and centre of the universe, misunderstanding astronomical...
In the vision to increase the number of African astronomers and related STEM professionals, strengthening undergraduate astronomy education is a crucial (and often overlooked) piece. BLUEshift Africa is a project designed to address this need. BLUEshift’s cornerstone is two-day workshops on undergraduate astronomy teaching for early-career scientists, held at AfAS 2025 and 2026. The main...
As a geography teacher and the Chairperson for Ambassadors at the Mount Meru Astronomical Observatory, and the guardian of all school astronomy clubs in Arusha region, I have witnessed how astronomy can spark curiosity, inspire learning, and foster a sense of wonder across Tanzania. This presentation highlights our national effort to promote astronomy education through the establishment and...
This study examines astro-tourism as a strategic pathway for sustainable development among Botswana’s San communities. Building on prior work that underscores the importance of the indigenous astronomy of the San in Central Botswana—with emphasis on conservation, preservation, and documentation—this follow-up investigates how astro-tourism can be facilitated and used to benefit the San. By...
Urban light pollution is a growing concern for astronomers worldwide, and Africa is no exception. Rapid urbanization in East Africa, especially around major cities such as Nairobi, has led to increased artificial sky-glow, which hampers ground-based astronomical observations and threatens future efforts in astronomy education, outreach, and research. In this study, wewill assess the extent of...
Over the last decade, significant attention has been given to air, water, and land pollution, while light pollution has often been overlooked. Light pollution is defined as the excessive, misdirected, or unnecessary use of artificial lighting at night-lighting that goes beyond basic functional needs and becomes intrusive or harmful to the natural environment. This neglect stems partly from a...
South Africa is blessed with a considerable amount of geographical locations that are both free from light-pollution and are also radio-quiet. The research facilities by design are secluded and purposefully regulate the amount of people that have access to them, respectively. It is within this context that a unique blend of outreach and science engagement initiatives are undertaken to ensure...
This paper explores the dissonances and synergies arising from mega astronomy infrastructure projects and their influence on rural development in the Northern Cape, South Africa. The region, particularly Kareeberg and Karoo Hoogland Local Municipalities, hosts world-class facilities such as MeerKAT and the Southern African Large Telescope, positioning it as a global astronomy hub. While these...
The Hammanskraal Astronomy Outreach and Science Unlimited Expo formed a two-phase programme to establish an astronomy and STEM hub in a peri-urban/rural region north of Pretoria. In April 2025, an interdisciplinary team from RATT, SARAO and local partners conducted a site survey for a low-cost TART radio interferometer at Kwalata Game Lodge and co-designed an outreach week with the Tshwane...
In September 2025, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) coordinated Nigeria’s first physical Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact event for Nigerian Schools, enabling students from selected schools in the FCT (Nigeria's capital city) to speak directly with an astronaut aboard the ISS. The project, supported by the ARISS Telebridge network in...
The Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) Citizen Science Project (CSP) has successfully developed a structured national model for public engagement in astronomy. The CSP functions as an open research and learning initiative, engaging high school and university students, amateur astronomers, and the general public in established global scientific programs, including the International Asteroid...
The advancement of astronomy education in Africa requires innovative models that bridge rigorous scientific knowledge with the lived realities and cultural contexts of local communities. This presentation showcases the experience of the Al-Azhar Global Center for Islamic Astronomy and Space Sciences, a leading institution that successfully integrates academic astronomy, applied astronomical...
Astronomy education is for all irrespective of gender, race, societal status, conditions or special need, etc. Incidentally, the level of engagement in inclusive astronomy across most countries in Africa particularly in Nigeria is very poor. To effectively address this challenge, a multi-modal strategic approach that is hinged on: compassion, capacity building through hands-on activities and...
In Ethiopia, the dream of exploring space is no longer reserved for scientists; it is being shared with children and youth, inspiring the next generation of scientists. The Ethiopian Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) leads this effort through the Ethio Space Kids Club, a dynamic initiative where young learners engage with astronomy, rocket science, UAV technology, remote sensing,...
The “Go Africa, Astronomers’ Anthem” was created to celebrate Africa’s growing achievements in astronomy and to inspire the next generation of scientists across the continent. Commissioned as the first-ever official anthem for an International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly and performed at the historic XXXII Assembly, the first held on African soil, the piece blends multiple...
Astrotourism offers an opportunity for Zambia to diversify its tourism sector and strengthen its position within the regional science, adventure and cultural tourism market. In this project we carried out an objective geographical survey to identify the best locations to develop the astrotourism industry. We considered the following aspects in our spatial analysis: light pollution(VIIRS data),...
Career Dreams Centre, a pioneering tourism and hospitality training institution in Botswana, has been operating for over nineteen years and stands among the first schools in the country to offer professional safari guiding programmes. From its early inception, the Centre integrated a foundational astronomy module into its safari guiding curriculum, emphasizing understanding celestial...
Girls’ education and STEM participation in Zambia face persistent structural, socio-cultural, and institutional barriers. Although gender parity exists at the primary level (1.03), girls’ representation declines at secondary school (0.94 in 2020), with completion rates as low as 26.5–26.7% in some provinces. High teenage pregnancy, 27.6% nationally, reaching 36.2% in rural areas and 43% in...
Abstract:
Astrophotography is a powerful bridge between science, creativity, and public engagement. In Liberia, the Liberian Astronomical Society (LAS) uses this tool to promote astronomy education and inspire curiosity among students and communities. By capturing images of the Moon, planets, star clusters, and other celestial objects, astrophotography makes astronomy visually accessible to...
Ethiopia's emerging amateur astronomy movement faces significant infrastructural and logistical barriers that impede its transformation into a robust observational network. The Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) serves as the key organizational catalyst, focusing specifically on supporting and enabling high-level amateur activities and addressing systemic challenges within the community....
This research explores effective strategies for delivering astronomy education that fosters student engagement and promotes early career development in science. As a young university lecturer in physics and astronomy, I've observed the challenges students face in keeping engaged with scientific content. This study aims to identify and implement innovative pedagogical approaches that make...
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD: apod.nasa.gov) has been featuring and explaining astronomical images from around the world for over 30 years, including many from Africa. This presentation will feature images on APOD that originated from countries in Africa including Algeria, Botswana, Canary Islands (Spain), Chad, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco,...
Astronomy is a very rich field offering exposure into science, instrumentation, and software-programming skills. The intersection of this skills is being shared through Hack4dev practical sessions where astronomy expertise and practical software development are used to solve real-life problems. I will be sharing the story of the GuestPass App that was inspired by astronomy but ended up as a...
Felek, named after the Ge’ez word for “planet,” is a bold digital learning platform developed by the Ethiopian Space Science Society (ESSS) to redefine how space science is accessed and understood in Ethiopia. The platform represents a major step toward bridging long-standing gaps in space education across the country. For many years, space science has not been included in elementary or high...
Astronomy and space science in Africa are evolving beyond traditional research fields into powerful catalysts for innovation, public engagement, and national development. However, their full societal potential remains largely untapped, especially in advancing STEM literacy, digital transformation, and public health resilience. This project introduces an interdisciplinary framework integrating...
In Nigeria, where opportunities for astronomy education have historically been limited, the "Asthera" Astronomy outreach program is fostering meaningful development by inspiring scientific curiosity, creative learning, and a sense of wonder among young scientists. Through these outreaches children/students are introduced to the fundamentals of Space science through interactive activities such...
The Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) program successfully facilitates a mobile planetarium in Namibia as part of its educational and outreach projects. The idea for the project arose in the early stages of exploring the possibility of building the telescope in Namibia. However, the lack of locally qualified and experienced technical and scientific personnel to run the operations phase became...
Public stargazing has become a transformative approach to expanding astronomy awareness and scientific curiosity among Ethiopian communities. While formal astronomy education remains limited in many parts of the country, especially in regions without access to laboratories or science clubs, public observing nights offer an open and inclusive platform where individuals of all ages can directly...
This work aims to choose potential astronomical sites that can be candidates for a new astronomical optical observatory in Ethiopia in addition to the Entoto Observatory and Lalibela sites. For our primary investigation, the six basic criteria, namely the altitude of the mountains, artificial light pollution, cloud coverage, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction, were taken into account. ...
Space Science & Astronomy aspects have been recently included in Ugandas Secondary School Curriculum. The Curriculum has also been improved to entail a Competency Based Teaching style of teaching. The inclusion of aspects of space science and astronomy has called for the need to re-tool physics teachers; especially those that did not have their training at Universities with Astronomy and space...
Science Explorer (SciX) is a cross-disciplinary discovery platform and outreach program that connects literature, data, and software across astronomy, planetary science, heliophysics, and related fields. The platform is developed under a NASA collaboration, and supports open-science through linking between research, advanced search (including similarity and trend exploration), visual analytics...
The Ecoles du Monde (EDM) Campus in Besely, Madagascar, hosted its first pan-african astronomy school, explicitly targeting countries where the field is nascent—driven by amateur groups or the recent emergence of their first PhD graduate. The core mission is to bridge the resource gap by providing practical access to modern astronomical tools, thereby accelerating the growth of skilled...