IAU-OAE Conference on Astronomy for Education

Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

The Shaw Prize Foundation generously funds an annual IAU-OAE Conference on Astronomy for Education, previously know as "The Shaw–IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education", a key activity of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE).

The OAE launches an annual international call for proposals to co-organise this workshop, which is expected to take place in a different region each year.

The workshop will have a different focus each year and combines two objectives:

• Present and showcase astronomy education activities in the region where the workshop is held
• Address specific topics of relevance to the use of astronomy as a stimulus to teaching and education in STEM and the professionalisation of astronomy education from elementary to high-school worldwide.

Typically, the workshop will accommodate 50 invited participants, in an appropriate mix of astronomers, astronomy educators, astronomy education researchers, experts, and teachers.

The 2026 IAU-OAE Conference on Astronomy for Education is scheduled to take place on 17 – 20 November 2026. The fully virtual workshop will focus on astronomy education for primary and secondary school students and teacher training both in universities and in-service. The 2026 conference will feature two focus topics: Radio Astronomy and Inclusive Astronomy.

 📢 Registration is free and open until 20 November 2026.

❗Abstract submissions close on 25 June 2026 (extended).

List of sessions:

• Science focus – Radio Astronomy
• Education focus – Inclusive Astronomy
• Astronomy Education Research
• Teaching methods and tools
• Astronomy education in schools in practice (primary and secondary schools)

Talks may be presented in any language, although talk abstracts and also posters will need to be submitted in English. In addition, English subtitles will be required for all talks.

Following their success in the last couple of years, we also aim to host regional and/or language sessions during the conference. These sessions are allocated a maximum 2 hour slot. In case of interest, please contact [email protected].

Past Workshops

• The 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop on ''Astronomy for Education'', 2025
• The 6th Shaw-IAU Workshop on "Astronomy for Education", 2024
• The 5th Shaw-IAU Workshop on "Astronomy for Education", 2023
• The 4th Shaw-IAU Workshop on "Astronomy for Education", 2022
• The 3rd Shaw-IAU Workshop on "Astronomy for Education", 2021
• The 2nd Shaw-IAU Workshop on "Astronomy for Education", 2020
• The 1st Shaw-IAU Workshop on “Astronomy for Education”, 2019