Shaw-IAU Workshops by the OAE

Languages possess unique features for representing scientific concepts, and these concepts are expressed and understood differently across various languages. Using a psycholinguistic approach, teachers and researchers can assess the interplay between mental representations and linguistic expression in both formal and informal educational settings. I will highlight the importance of metaphor, analogical reasoning, and linguistic precision in enhancing conceptual grasp. For instance, the use of metaphors like "stellar nurseries" to describe star formation and analogies such as comparing the solar system to a classroom model helps learners grasp complex ideas. These insights contribute to developing more effective educational practices, benefiting astronomy educators and learners alike.

About Saeed Jafari

Saeed Jafari is a science communicator and a science journalist. He has completed his studies in linguistics at the University of Kurdistan. He has been working as External Relations Manager at the World Space Week Association and Co-chair of
International Decade of Indigenous Languages co-led by UNESCO. For more than ten years, Saeed has led astronomy communication, outreach and education for many organisations and institutions, and currently researches public understanding of science in media, technology and society. He co-founded Under Iran Sky programme, an open online astronomy education platform in Iran, and also is the developer of several innovative projects that aim to involve the general public in active astronomy communication.