The 1st Shaw-IAU Workshop on “Astronomy for Education”, 2019

The 1st Workshop was organised by the IAU Secretariat and held on 17-19 December 2019, in the auditorium of the IAP (Institute Astrophysique de Paris) near IAU Headquarters in Paris.

The aim of this 1st workshop was to establish a solid foundation for a global collaborative network through a broad and inclusive IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE). 

The Workshop involved 48 invited or selected participants from among the many applicants, from 26 countries.

The IAU General Secretary welcomed the participants and presented a summary of the selection process and the objectives of the OAE.

The Director and Deputy Director of the OAE presented the plans for the new office, with a view of achieving the goals expressed in the IAU Strategic Plan for 2020-2030.

Invited speakers addressed the infrastructure needs for astronomy education. 

Among the presenters were stakeholders such as runner-up OAE-proposers, who outlined possible options for new OAE Nodes and Centres and how the synergies could be grown. Other selected highlights were speakers from IAU’s Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage, from the IAU’s Office of Outreach (OAO), Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) and several IAU National Outreach Committee members. 

During the workshop, the agreement to officially establish the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) was signed between the IAU and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. The OAE is located in Haus der Astronomie (HdA), an astronomy outreach centre based in Heidelberg, Germany.

Participants of the 1st IAU–Shaw Workshop are witnessing the signature of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education agreement. Credit: IAU/A. Gustin