Abstract

This opening seminar introduces Astronomy Education Research (AER) as a distinct field, situated at the intersection of astronomy, discipline-based education research, and the broader social sciences. We then ask why AER matters before turning to AER literacy, a notion central to ICAER’s capacity-building goals: what it means to be familiar with the aims, scope, methods, and practices of AER without necessarily being a professional researcher. The seminar closes with a practical look at how AER is done and where participants can go to learn more, thus setting the stage for the sessions that follow in the upcoming months.

By the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:
- Explain what distinguishes AER from neighbouring fields and why we treat it as a field in its own right
- Describe the concept of AER literacy and distinguish it from professional qualification to conduct AER
- Identify entry points to further engage with the AER community and its practices

Glossary terms:
- Astronomy Education Research (AER)
- AER literacy
- Discipline-based education research (DBER)
- Physics Education Research (PER)