written by Alboricah Rathupetsane, PhD student at the Centre for Sustainability Transitions, Stellenbosch University who participated in the writing retreat program in Sutherland, South Africa organised by the OAD’s Astro for Mental Health team A different kind of peace emerges from the vastness and emptiness of Sutherland. It is borne from the lack of embellishment […]
Category Archives: Blog
By Abeeha Hussain, STEM Ambassador for the OAD supported project “Astro -Phy Quench” Growing up in the northern reaches of Pakistan, far from the light pollution of bustling cities, I’ve had the incredible experience of gazing upon the vast expanse of clear, star-studded skies. Physics has always held a special place in my heart, with […]
By Joyful Mdhluli, OAD Fellow June has been an overwhelming month for me. Joining the OAD office has been the highlight of my year so far, but as with any new adventure, it brought its fair share of uncertainties. I often chuckle at the irony of having the uncertainty principle tattooed on my wrist, as […]
25
May
May
By Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt “Is it possible for astronomy to make the world a better place? Can astronomy help solve problems of inequality and sustainability in the world?” These are questions I have long asked myself. In February 2023, I arrived at the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in Cape Town, South Africa looking for […]
astrotourism, Blog
Astrostays: A Community-centred Astro-tourism Model for Creating Sustainable Livelihoods
01
Aug
Aug
The Astrostays model of Astro-tourism aims to achieve sustainable development in remote and rural communities by leveraging astronomy and tourism in conjunction with other elements. In 2019, a pilot project was run in the northern India state of Ladakh where villagers from a remote mountainous community were trained on basic astronomy and telescope operation. They […]