IAU Announces Astronomy Outreach, Development & Education Prizes Winners
This post is adapted from a press release issued by the International Astronomical Union:
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has announced the 2024 winners of three IAU prizes: the IAU Astronomy Outreach Prize, the IAU Astronomy Development Prize, and the IAU Astronomy Education Prize. The three awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the fields of astronomy outreach, development, and education.
The 2024 winners are:
Outreach: Saran Poshyachinda
Development: Central American-Caribbean Bridge in Astrophysics (Cenca Bridge)
Education: Linda Strubbe and Bonaventure Okere
The 2024 IAU Astronomy Development Prize is awarded to Cenca Bridge. The Cenca Bridge program, co-led by Antonio Porras Valverde, Gloria Fonseca Alvarez (AAS member), Valeria Hurtado, and Yahira Mendoza Moncada, has had a unique and transformative impact on the ability of undergraduate students in the Central America-Caribbean region to engage in astronomical research and capacity building using astronomy as a tool. Cenca Bridge is a well-conceived and well-executed platform for remote astronomy research and has paved the way for an impressive number of opportunities for aspiring astrophysicists across Central America and the Caribbean who have had very few opportunities before. Its students apply successfully to graduate programs worldwide, not only in astronomy but also in other STEM subjects. In addition to advancing the frontiers of astrophysical research, Cenca Bridge has also fostered a culture of collaboration, mentorship, and inclusivity within the astronomical community.
The 2024 IAU Astronomy Education Prize is awarded to Linda Strubbe (AAS member) and Bonaventure Okere for their leadership in creating high-quality educational experiences in astronomy for African university students. Bonaventure Okere led the foundation of the Pan-African School for Emerging Astronomers (PASEA) at the IAU XXVIII General Assembly in Beijing to improve STEM education in Nigeria and Africa. Linda Strubbe has been central in creating very high-quality educational experiences in PASEA through her design, leadership, and teaching. Her work draws on a particularly strong evidence base across the educational curriculum, from professional development for PASEA instructors to the evaluation of student learning. The inquiry-based curriculum intertwines teaching content with scientific practices and is highly regarded by students, building on Bonaventure Okere’s vision of leveraging the world-class astronomy facilities on the continent. The instructors, two-thirds of whom are African, are given specific training in inquiry-based learning, interactive strategies, and group discussion, including through paired teaching. The teaching skills they learn are applicable well beyond their PASEA activities and support them within the broader undergraduate teaching landscape across Africa. Participants’ learning in the course is measured with tools such as the Astronomy Diagnostic Test and the Colorado Learning Attitudes about Science Survey. A survey of PASEA alumni indicates that almost all student participants now teach or work in STEM, and 88% said PASEA was very influential for their career choice. PASEA has now trained some 300 students across 18 African countries, with the sixth school being held in Tunisia this year. The impact of Linda Strubbe’s and Bonaventure Okere’s initiative, leadership, and excellence in implementing PASEA is already enormous and will continue to grow into the future.
Congratulations to Gloria Fonseca Alvarez and Linda Strubbe!