Inspiring Stars Tours in Europe

on January 25

From February 18 to 25, Belgium, Austria and Italy will host Inspiring Stars events, in the projects first European tour. While Brussels and Rome will have their first bridging events, with inclusive teacher-training and talks; Vienna will welcome the IAU inclusive project for the third time, as a follow-up event of the earlier 2018 editions.

The Inspiring Stars Project focuses on the IAU actions on inclusion in three aspects: research, education and outreach. Each Inspiring Stars Project has a minimum of two events: the first – the bridging event -- allows to establish a connection and dialogue with the national community including people with disabilities, and/or professional astronomers, experts on inclusion and disabilities, outreach professionals and formal educators; through panel discussions, and a second – the Inspiring Stars Event -- to showcase best practices (this event is usually paired up with a parallel action with talks and/or workshops).

On February 18, the Brussels Planetarium, lead by the National Outreach Coordinator/IAU100 National Committee Rodrigo Alvarez; will host a teacher-training for formal and informal educators with interest for inclusion. The activity will showcase Astronomy educational workshops paired with an interactive exhibition, where the multisensorial exploration of science will fascinate educators and pupils alike, regardless of their personal, unique, features.

From 20 to 22 February, Inspiring Stars will be present at the the Zero Project Conference 2019, on Independent Living and political participation, in Vienna. The Zero Project finds and shares models that improve the daily lives and legal rights of all persons with disabilities worldwide. This is a fantastic opportunity to broaden the projects reach and showcase the best practices on inclusive astronomy identified so far to an international network of experts in the field of accessibility.

In Rome, on February 25, Dr Wanda Diaz-Merced will give a TEDx Talk on her experience as an astronomer. The event will also feature an interactive exhibition, showcasing national resources on astronomy for inclusion, that will be on display with international activities. These activities are organised nationally in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency and with the participation of INAF.

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Inspiring Stars is an IAU100 Global Project designed to highlight, support, and promote inclusive initiatives to encourage equality of participation in research, outreach and at a professional aspect in the field of astronomy and these initiatives are under the umbrella of the 100 years celebrations of the IAU in 2019.