Office of Astronomy for Development

The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) is a joint project of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) with the support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The mission of the OAD is to help further the use of astronomy, including its practitioners, skills and infrastructures, as a tool for development in every country by mobilizing the human and financial resources necessary in order to realize the field’s scientific, technological and cultural benefits to society. This is primarily implemented through funding and coordinating projects that use Astronomy as a tool to address issues related to sustainable development. 

The OAD is based in Cape Town at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). It works closely with the other IAU offices, namely, the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) in Tokyo, the IAU Office for Young Astronomers (OYA) and the Office of Astronomy for Eduation (OAE) as well as the IAU Secretariat in Paris.

Read more about OAD in its dedicated web site