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The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education is the International Astronomical Union’s office dedicated to astronomy for primary and secondary education.

OAE Objectives


Professionalize astronomy education icon

Professionalize astronomy education

Help astronomers, astronomy educators and teachers world-wide to gain the skills they need in order to communicate about astronomy in primary and secondary schools in a professional and effective manner.

We have regular calls for grants for teacher training programs and are running a series of OAE Reviews which serve as best practice guides for important topics in astronomy education. We also host an annual virtual conference, the Shaw-IAU workshops on astronomy for education

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Provide access to good resources

Make available excellent and effective resources for teaching about astronomical topics, internationally, under open licenses, and easy-to-find.

You can search our resources, browse resources by category, view our image gallery or look at our multilingual glossary.

Promote astronomy icon

Promote astronomy in curricula

Support efforts to include more astronomy in national or regional curricula.

View our survey on the status of astronomy in curricula worldwide.




OAE Networking icon

OAE Networking

Create, maintain and grow a network of associates in support of the OAE mission.

We have a network of 421 National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs) from 123 countries and territories, including the NAEC team for The United States of America (USA).

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Spread the news

Inform all relevant stakeholders and communities about OAE activities, and about ways of collaborating with us.

Sign up for the OAE mailing list or follow us on social media.


Collaborate with us

Interested in working with the OAE Office of Astronomy for Education? Then get in touch.

Latest OAE News

The New Light Pollution Awareness Resource Page in Multiple Languages Thumbnail

The New Light Pollution Awareness Resource Page in Multiple Languages

The IAU OAE is happy to announce the launch of our new resource page dedicated to light pollution awareness

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TTP on Astronomy at the RSCP Calicut, India from Feb 20-22, 2024

The RSCP Calicut organized an OAE-Center India supported TTP on Astronomy from February 20-22, 2024 in order to support school teachers who are dedicated to teaching science, geography, mathematics, and environmental studies and wish to impart astronomy concepts to their students.

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Abstract Submission and Registration open for the 6th Shaw-IAU workshop

The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) is pleased to announce that abstract submission and registration are now open for the 6th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education

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OAE Mailing List

If you want to stay up to date with the activities of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education, and receive our announcements about projects, opportunities for collaboration, and events, please subscribe to our mailing list.

More information

Find out more about the IAU OAE.

OAE Main Office

Find out more about the OAE's Main Office in Heidelberg.
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Centers and Nodes

Find out more about the OAE's network of locations at partner institutions.
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Open Positions

Find out how to join our team!
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NAEC teams

Find out more about our National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs).
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Steering Committee

Meet our steering committee – the supervisory body of the OAE.
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