Working With A Network Of 6000 Rural Libraries For Astronomy Education In Rural Communities
TalkDuring Teaching Methods and Tools
7th Shaw-IAU Workshop
Niruj Mohan Ramanujam (Indian Institute of Astrophysics)
The Indian Institute of Astrophysics, in collaboration with the Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Dept. of Govt of Karnataka, is working with almost 6000 rural libraries to make astronomy accessible to the rural public, and entirely in Kannada language. To address deficiencies in science education and to use darker skies in rural areas, we are training the Library Supervisors to conduct hands-on activities on basic astronomy especially for school students. We organise training workshops, create Kannada resources, do monthly online talks, create monthly activity (e.g. the recent Zero Shadow Day), and conduct in-person events in selected Libraries. This talk will highlight the vision and goals of this long term project, for rural education using state infrastructure on a large scale.
About Niruj Mohan Ramanujam
Niruj Mohan Ramanujam heads the SCOPE (Science Communication, Public Outreach, and Education) Section at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. He is a member of the IAU OAE NAEC team for India and is a IAU OAO co-NOC for India. He is the co-chair of the national outreach committee (ASI POEC) and former chair of the outreach committee of AfAS. His primary interests are co-curricular astronomy education, large scale outreach campaigns, and accessible astronomy communication.
