01
Jul
Astronomy for Equity Launches a New, Updated Website
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Astronomy for Equity’s has launched a new, updated website with features to help move the organization’s programs forward. With not only a more modern look but greater capabilities, the new website will feature a forum for interaction within the new Community Hub for Blind and Low Vision Astronomy, a new newsletter, and other features to... Read More
30
May
Mike Simmons co-moderates panel at IAU CAP meeting
Astronomy for Equity founder Mike Simmons served as co-moderator, alongside Saeed Jafari (IAU OAE Iran), for a panel session titled “Communicating Astronomy in Southwest Asia: Challenges and Stories of Impact.” The session featured a distinguished group of educators and communicators representing the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO), the Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE), and... Read More
10
Feb
Bright Futures Program Distributes First Lessons to Schools in Twelve Countries
The first lessons Astronomy for Equity’s (A4E) Bright Futures program have been sent to organizations in 12 countries taking part in the first phase of this groundbreaking program. The curriculum was developed to provide children with hands-on lessons exploring the Sun and its relationship with the Earth that can then be extended to any STEM... Read More
22
Nov
Founder Gives Keynote Presentation and Masterclass at Prestigious Space Technology Conference in Pakistan
Mike Simmons, Founder of Astronomy for Equity, gave an invited keynote address at the International Conference on Applications of Space Science and Technology (ICAST), held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The conference drew experts from academia, industry, and government around the world to showcase groundbreaking research, discuss space policy, and explore the role of space science in... Read More
20
Dec
Bright Futures Program Ships First Solar Glasses Thanks to IAU Office of Astronomy Education
Thanks to support from the IAU Office of Astronomy Education, Astronomy for Equity (A4E) has shipped 132,500 new, unused solar glasses to the first 12 countries taking part in A4E’s Bright Futures program. Bright Futures provides lessons designed for introductory STEM education in unserved areas lacking science facilities and teachers. The glasses and other resources... Read More
30
Oct
Big Impact Astronomy Podcast Launches
Astronomy for Equity is excited to announce a new podcast, “Big Impact Astronomy,” showcasing ways that astronomy is used for good around the world. The podcast features the work of innovators, educators, and advocates who introduced STEM education where there are no science facilities, inspire girls to consider STEM careers, and more. Each episode of Big... Read More
16
Oct
Documentary to Follow A4E Team Taking Telescopes to Ukrainian Astronomy Students
A new documentary will follow a team from Astronomy for Equity (A4E) on a trip to Ukraine taking telescopes to astronomy students in the war-torn country. It’s a story of resilience and hope through astronomy, with the darkness of conflict and blackouts transformed into an opportunity for discovery and wonder. Astronomy students in Ukraine found... Read More
15
Aug
Astronomy for Equity Presentation at the Triennial IAU General Assembly
Mike Simmons, founder of Astronomy for Equity, gave a presentation at the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) 2024 General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa that introduced the organization’s groundbreaking global initiative to make astronomy accessible to blind and low-vision (BLV) communities worldwide. “Is this really a visual science or not?” asked Simmons. “All these [celestial... Read More
03
Jul
New Global Project for STEM Education Using Sunlight
A new Astronomy for Equity initiative will introduce STEM education to students worldwide using sunlight. More than a million new, unused eclipse glasses leftover from the 2024 total solar eclipse in the US have been collected for distribution to unserved and marginalized communities worldwide. This is just the first step in a broader educational program for schools... Read More