On the occasion of the annual UN World Science Day for Peace and Development on 10 November, the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) is organising a special online event to highlight real-life examples of science in action at the grassroots level.
Join " Science in Action: Grassroots Pathways to Development" on Monday, 10 November 2025, at 11:00 UTC.
REGISTER to join on Zoom or watch the event live on YouTube. Participation is free and open to the public.
The session will feature an online panel discussion with representatives from three community-based initiatives in India, St. Lucia, and South Africa, who are promoting science-driven community development at the grassroots level. The discussion will explore the role and meaning of science in different cultural and socio-economic contexts, as well as motivations, challenges, and practical examples of how science can drive positive change. The panellists will share insights from their work, reflect on the barriers to inclusive science engagement, and discuss what science needs to do better to truly serve society.
Programme
- Welcome
- Opening Remarks: Prof. Willy Benz (IAU President), Mr. Kevin Govender (OAD Director)
- Setting the Scene
- Panel Discussion
- Audience Q&A
- Closing Remarks: Ramasamy Venugopal
Panellists
Cheyenne Polius
Born and raised in St Lucia, Cheyenne’s love for astronomy took her to the UK to pursue an Integrated Master’s Degree in Astrophysics. Her journey in the field of astronomy brought her full circle back to her home country when she founded LUNAA Journeys. Through this organisation, she is pioneering astro-tourism in the Caribbean and revolutionising space education across the region. As an international speaker and published researcher, Cheyenne is committed to connecting the Caribbean to the International Space Sector. She is an avid advocate for using astronomy as a tool for socioeconomic development and her work continues to empower the next generation of Caribbean change-makers to take their place on the global stage.
Anupama Pradeepan (India), CSTERC Women AstroPreneurs Collectiv
Lead of the CSTERC Women AstroPreneurs Collective (CWAPC) designed to address the gender gap in workforce participation, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
Anupama Pradeepan is an educator working at the intersection of science communication, community learning, and social development. She co-founded the Open Space Foundation, taking astronomy education to thousands every year in India. She also leads the C-STERC Women AstroPreneurs Collective (CWAPC), an IAU-OAD supported initiative that trains first-generation women graduates in astronomy-focused entrepreneurship. Her work centers on making science accessible through participatory and inclusive learning experiences, connecting local communities with global knowledge networks. Anupama has over eight years of experience designing and facilitating experiential education programmes that integrate science, governance, and innovation for social impact.
Wilma De Souza (South Africa), Usiko, Rites of Passage
Rites of Passage helps young people discover identity, purpose and direction through a combination of wilderness therapy, education and life skills, mentoring.
Wilma De Souza is a Fundraiser, Capacity Builder, Project Manager, Coach, Mentor and Board Member working in the non-profit, academic and business sectors. She was born in Nairobi, Kenya to parents of Goan descent, an ex-Portuguese colony in India. At age two she moved to the UK. She has South African permanent residency and has lived and worked in Cape Town, South Africa since 2007. Wilma’s career began in publishing, marketing and advertising which provided her with insights around branding, image and stakeholder management. She moved into Management and Leadership training in 2005, working in both the UK and South Africa. In South Africa she worked with large corporate companies such as Allan Gray, South African Breweries, and The Arabella Hotel Group. From 2009 onwards, Wilma became involved with international study visits for master’s in business administration (MBA) and post-graduate students to South Africa as part of experiential learning opportunities. Wilma project managed the programmes with clients including Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK and Hochschule Kempten University in Germany. Between 2020-2023, she part-time managed Henley Business School, Africa’s Cape Town campus and ran online short course programmes for the Healthcare Profession and corporates. Wilma has sat on two NPO Boards and has a successful company, Golden Fleece Living (Pty) Ltd since 2012, working with a variety of Non-profit organisations. Wilma has personally secured donations from Trusts, Foundations, Corporates and Embassies in South Africa and overseas. These institutional funders include Makwande Empowerment Trust, HCI Foundation, Comic Relief UK. She has built the profile and awareness of her Non-profit clients, as well as provided mentorship to upskill fundraising skills within the organisations. Wilma delivered a Masterclass and workshops at the International Fundraising Conference (IFC 2024) in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands in October 2024 on the topic of Authentic Resilience to an international, diverse audience from the Non-profit sector. In August 2024 Wilma was featured in The Training Portal podcast series on South African Change Makers.