ann22017 — Announcement

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14 April 2022
OAO Welcomes Proposals for 2022 Telescopes for All

The Telescopes for All project, which brings astronomy to underserved communities around the world, is now welcoming proposals for 2022. The initiative is run jointly by the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) and Sterren Schitteren Voor Iedereen (Stars Shine for Everyone — SSVI), in collaboration with Leiden University. Details about the requirements for proposals and the submission process are available on the Telescopes for All webpage.

In 2022 Telescopes for All will distribute 15 telescopes to underserved communities around the world, with the aim of broadening the horizons of children, parents and educators by sparking an interest in science. Each telescope is signed by inspirational people in the field of astronomy, including astronauts, Nobel laureates, and scientists. The project also raises awareness of the importance of equal opportunities in pursuing a career in astronomy.

Over past years Telescopes for All has supplied telescopes to 29 communities across five continents. The recipient communities included children in rural areas of Tunisia, migrants and refugees in Spain, and children with hearing and visual impairments in Indonesia and Nepal.

Proposals and letters of recommendation for the 2022 Telescopes for All should be submitted to the OAO by the deadline of 1 June 2022. All submitted proposals will be evaluated by representatives of the IAU OAO, SSVI and Leiden University. The selected entries will be sent to the IAU National Outreach Coordinators of each selected proposal for final recommendation. Accepted proposals will be announced on 15 June 2022.

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) is a joint project of the IAU and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). The mission of the OAO is to engage the public in astronomy through access to astronomical information and communication of the science of astronomy. This is implemented through a network of IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) and the IAU’s engagement initiatives with the public. The work of the OAO is about building bridges between the IAU and the global astronomy community, and through international collaboration, making astronomy accessible to all.

Sterren Schitteren Voor Iedereen (Stars Shine for Everyone — SSVI) is a cooperation between Volkssterrenwacht A. Pien vzw (Armand Pien Public Observatory) and Ghent University. The project is based on the idea that “all children in special education and vulnerable people should have the opportunity to admire the starry sky with the help of a telescope,” according to project leader and founder Jean-Pierre Grootaerd. SSVI is run by the amateur telescope-making group Kijkerbouw of the Armand Pien Public Observatory in Ghent, Belgium.

Links

Contacts

Suzana Filipecki Martins
OAO International Outreach Officer
Tel: +31 644 0701 53 
Email: suzana.filipecki@oao.iau.org 

Jean Pierre Grootaerd
Stars Shine for Everyone
Email: jeanpierre.grootaerd@oao.iau.org 

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Director of Communications
Cell: +1 520 461 0433/+49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars.christensen@noirlab.edu

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