Teaching Astronomy for Development (TAD)
TAD is intended to help enhance astronomy education significantly in countries where there is currently very little on offer. TAD operates on the basis of a proposal from a professional astronomy organization or a contract between the IAU and an academic institution, usually a university.
The capabilities of the TAD program are limited to assistance with university-level activities, such as:
- The creation of university-level astronomy/astrophysics courses and the faculty training and equipment associated with the development and first presentation of such courses.
- A basic, largely educationally oriented, research capability for faculty and students.
- Travel (i.e. transportation) costs of foreign visiting lecturers and of students invited to study at foreign universities.
- Professional preparations needed as a prerequisite for plans to offer astronomy in schools and to the public.
TAD can provide advice about the education of schoolteachers, but not financial support. The training of schoolteachers, school teaching itself and public outreach are considered to be part of the national resources.
Read more on the Program Groups of IAU Commission on Astronomy Education and Development
