Astronomy Education and Public Outreach in Africa

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October 29, 08 www.astronomy2009.org.za

SOUTHERN AFRICAN LARGE TELESCOPE

Kevin Govender

[email protected]

www.saao.ac.za

www.astronomy2009.org.za

ESO March 2008

Astronomy Education and Outreach in Africa

Carolina Odman

[email protected]

www.unawe.org


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African Facilities

SALT / SAAO HESS

HartRAO / MeerKAT


Astronomy for Development

• Education (especially Maths and Science)

• Development of Research

• Public Understanding of Science

• Development of Partnerships

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Theme

Vision

Astronomy for Education

The continent of Africa, with an ever-

growing astronomy research community,

united in the fields of education and

outreach, working together and sharing

resources, such that the people of Africa

are educated, especially in the fields of

science, engineering and technology.

A Plan for Africa


Core Missions

• Enhance the teaching and interest in

Maths and Science in schools

• Enhance the teaching and research in

astronomy in universities

• Increase the awareness and

knowledge of science amongst the

public

• Support and encourage an African

network

A Plan for Africa

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A plan for Africa by Africa

1. Algeria

2. Angola

3. Congo

4. Egypt

5. Ethiopia

6. Gabon

7. Kenya

8. Lesotho

9. Malawi

10.Mauritius

11.Morocco

12.Mozambique

13. Namibia

14. Nigeria

15. Rwanda

16. South Africa

17. Sudan

18. Swaziland

19. Tanzania

20. Tunisia

21. Uganda

22. Zambia

23. Zimbabwe


What’s been happening

Southern Africa

-Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Namibia,

Madagascar, South Africa, Botswana

East Africa

-Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania

West Africa

-Ghana, Nigeria

North Africa

-Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia

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The Kenya Visit as a Model

Day 1:

-Meet IYA Steering Committee

-Lunch with relevant government officials

-Afternoon/Evening session with volunteers/outreach staff

Day 2:

-Morning visit to Primary school

-Afternoon visit to Secondary school

-Evening public stargazing event

Day 3:

-Consolidation and planning meeting with volunteers and

steering committee

Day 4 (2 weeks later):

- Report back and further consolidation/planning


Science in many lingos

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Personal experience of internationalism


The power of fun

ZOO

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Cornerstone 11: Developing Astronomy Globally

GOALS

- Use the momentum of IYA to stimulate the establishment

and enhancement of regional structures/networks

around the world that would focus on the development

of astronomy. These structures would support current

and future development work of the IAU and other

programmes.

- Ensure sufficient reach and benefit of IYA and other

cornerstones to developing regions.



Structure:

• International Office

• 8 Regional Hubs

• Country Nodes

• Email Networks and Communication Structures

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Focus areas

• Professional development

• Development of public understanding of astronomy

• School-level education development



Target

“Phase 1” (well established)

“Phase 2” (in need of support)

“Phase 3” (non existing but strong potential)

“Phase 4” (non-existent with limited potential)

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- High level discussions with

government departments

of Science and Education

- Explore potential in

neighbouring countries

and likelihood of

collaborating

- training workshop on

“astronomy in the

classroom”

- link with activities of region

- provide educational

resources

- introduction of astronomy

into the school

curriculum

- provide training for local

“champions”

- provide education

resources and

networks (link with

Galileo Teacher

Training and UNAWE

Cornerstones for IYA)

- use as

regional

hub

School-level

education

Development


government department

of Science

- Explore potential in


and likelihood of

collaborating

- training workshop on

“communicating

astronomy to the

public” (involve IAU

Commission 55)

- link with activities of region

- provide resources for public

outreach

- provide training for local

“champions”

- feed public info and

stories to champions

regularly

- train facilitators to run

public events

- link with relevant

cornerstones (e.g. 100

Hours)

- use as

regional

hub

Development of

public

understanding

of astronomy


government departments

of Science and Education

- Explore astronomy status in


and likelihood of

collaborations

- Provide guidance on

student and research

opportunities

internationally (with

clause to return to

home country)

- Combine with IAU

Commission 46’s

TAD/ISYA/WWDA

programmes

- Link with IAU network

- Student/researcher

exchange

programmes co-

ordinated by regional

hubs

- use as

regional

hub

Professional

Development

Phase 4 countries (Non-

existent with limited

potential)

Phase 3 countries (Non-

existent with strong

potential)

Phase 2 countries (In need

of Support)

Phase 1

countries

(Well

establish

ed)


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[email protected]

www.astronomy2009.org.za