The International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) participated in the ongoing IAU Symposium on Indigenous Astronomy in the Space Age, highlighting the role of astronomy in sustainable development through astrotourism initiatives. Dr. Joyful Mdhluli delivered a presentation on the OAD’s Astrotourism flagship project, outlining how astrotourism serves as a catalyst for local […]
Author Archives: joy
astrotourism, Blog, News
New Publication in Nature Astronomy Highlights Global Benefits of Exploring the Universe
05
Jul
Jul
Astronomy not only explores the universe but promotes, among others, gender equity, mental well-being, entrepreneurship, employment, and skills development. A new article published in Nature Astronomy underscores how the exploration of the universe is not only scientifically compelling but also socially and economically beneficial. The comment titled “Astronomy as a strategic driver for sustainable development” […]
17
Jun
Jun
In the recent issue of the IAU Office of Outreach’s Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal (CAP Journal), it is demonstrated how astronomy outreach can be a powerful tool for driving societal change. One standout article, “Navigating New Frontiers: Developing an Evaluation Model for a Local and Civic-Led Outreach Project in Mexico” by Ana Magdalena […]
21
Apr
Apr
Members of the OAD team participated in the National Astro-Tourism Broader Stakeholder Workshop held on 2–3 April 2025 in Carnarvon, Northern Cape, South Africa. Hosted by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the workshop focused on the implementation of South Africa’s Astro-Tourism Strategy. The two-day event brought together stakeholders […]
astrotourism, Flagship 1
Culture, Astronomy, and Community. A conversation with a Social Anthropologist.
11
Apr
Apr
For the April edition of the Full Moon Mashup series, we had a deeply reflective session on Culture, Astronomy, and Community with Dr. Hanna Nieber, a social anthropologist. Dr Nieber is and Anthropologist from the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology and visited the OAD for 3 weeks. Dr. Nieber, whose ethnographic research explores how […]