Astronomy Education and Public Outreach in Africa

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October 29, 08 www.astronomy2009.org.za
SOUTHERN AFRICAN LARGE TELESCOPE
Kevin Govender
kg@saao.ac.za
www.saao.ac.za
www.astronomy2009.org.za
ESO March 2008
Astronomy Education and Outreach in Africa
Carolina Odman
carolina.odman@unawe.org
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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www.astronomy2009.org.za

Astronomy Education and Public Outreach in Africa

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