AEACI 2023

Welcome to the AEACI 2023!

The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) and NUCLIO join hands again to promote the ninth edition of Astronomy Education Adventure in the Canary Islands. In 2023, under the theme “Other Worlds“, the latest discoveries and advances in research on extrasolar planets, the Solar System and the applications of astrophysical technology to other fields, such as the observation of the Earth from space, will be presented. All from the approach of practical application to STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths).

The main objective of the school is to provide participating teachers with the knowledge and tools to stimulate their students’ interest in science and technology through their participation in research projects in Astronomy and related areas, as well as to promote critical thinking, problem-solving skills, knowledge of the sky and its preservation as part of humanity’s heritage.

The school will be held from July 17 to 21, 2023 in a hybrid format, both face-to-face (in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands) and online, allowing participants from all over the world to enjoy the unique AEACI experience at the best convenience and in a sustainable way.

Teachers of all grade levels and subject domains, as well as informal educators, are invited to attend the school and dive into a real STEAM experience.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

General Information

Dates: July 17-21, 2022 (July 22 optional)

Duration: 30 certifiable hours

Modality: hybrid (in-person and online)

Language: English

Venue: “Sala Grande” of IACTEC, San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain)

Topics and lecturers

The programme will combine lectures by experts from the IAC and other collaborating institutions with hands-on workshops to learn how to use professional robotic telescopes, astronomical images and other scientific data in the development of student research projects.

The school also includes training visits (face-to-face and virtual) to the IAC facilities and to the  Observatories of the Canary Islands.

The school’s contents will cover the following topics:

    • Astronomy for Education
    • Robotic Telescopes for Education
    • Our World
    • Other Worlds in the Solar System
    • Other Worlds Beyond the Solar System

Timetable

Morning programme: It comprises 5 sessions of 3 hours + 15’ coffee breaks + 15’ Warm-ups

Afternoon programme: It will include 4 sessions of 2 hours (July 17, 18, 20 and 21) + 15’ Warm-ups , and a training visit to the Teide Observatory (Tenerife) on the afternoon-evening of July 19.

An optional visit to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the neighbouring island of La Palma will be offered on July 22.

Panoramic view of the Teide Observatory at sunset. Credits: Daniel López, IAC
Teide Observatory at sunset. Credits: Daniel López, IAC

ATTENDING THE SCHOOL

Registration

Registration will be open until June 30 (or until full capacity is reached) and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to teachers working in public schools.

We will admit up to 40 on-site attendees and 200 online attendees.

Fees & Funding

The school is partially funded by the Communication and Outreach Unit of the IAC.

Participation in the course can be funded by the ERASMUS+ Programme.

Attendance to the school requires a registration fee for accepted face-to-face participants that covers:

    • Morning coffee during lecture days
    • Lunch at the school venue
    • Visit to the Teide Observatory (Tenerife) including transportation, guided visit, activities and dinner
    • School materials
    • Tuition fee for lectures, workshops and visits

The registration fee is:

    • 100 € for on-site participants from Spain (fee partially funded by the IAC).
    • 400 € for on-site participants from outside Spain.
    • 10 € for online participants. This symbolic fee will go entirely to the NUCLIO Trust programme to help students from developing countries to pursue university studies.

Payment instructions will be sent to applicants once the registration form has been completed and their participation has been accepted.

A limited number of grants may be awarded by the IAC to cover part of the costs of participants who do not have sources of funding. Applicants who require grants may indicate this on the payment form, once they have registered. Participants who are awarded a grant will be informed by July 5.

Deadline for the payment is July 10.

We are also planning an optional visit to the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory  in the beautiful island of La Palma, on Saturday July 22, with an estimated additional cost of 100 € for Canarian residents and 200 € for non-residents. This trip will take place if it gathers the interest of a minimum amount of people (15), a requirement that has been met in all previous editions of the school. The trip includes the round trip flight from Tenerife to La Palma, bus transfers, lunch and a guided tour to the main telescopes. It is a full day trip and we do not expect to be back in Tenerife before approximately 20:30h.

School Venues & Local Information

The school will be held in the “Sala Grande” of the IACTEC building, in San Cristóbal de La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain).

GETTING READY

Please review the recommendations for IT requirements, software installation, etc. that you will find in the following link prior to the start of school.

ORGANISERS

The school is organized by the IAC and NUCLIO, in the framework of the IAC PETeR project, and in collaboration with the Faulkes Telescope Project, the National Schools’ Observatory and the CESAR initiative (ESA-INTA-ISDEFE), in partnership with the European School Innovation Academy (ESIA).

Organising Committee

    • Nayra Rodríguez Eugenio (Director of the School, IAC)
    • Rosa Doran (Co-Director of the School, NUCLIO)
    • Gustavo Rojas (NUCLIO)
    • Ana Costa (NUCLIO)
    • Teresa Direitinho (NUCLIO)
    • Fraser Lewis (FTP, NSO)
    • Alejandra Goded Merino (IAC)
    • Iván Jiménez Montalvo (IAC)
    • Beatriz González (CESAR, ISDEFE)
    • Sandra Benítez Herrera (CESAR, ESAC)
    • Juan Ángel Vaquerizo (CESAR, ISDEFE)

Technical Secretariat

    • Ana Costa (NUCLIO)
    • Elena González (IAC)
    • Ana Quevedo (IAC)

CERTIFICATION

School attendance is certified by the IAC and NUCLIO, within the framework of the Galileo Teachers Training Programme (GTTP).

The training is approved by the Department of Education (CEUCD) of the Government of the Canary Islands for non-university Spanish teachers.

CONTACT

Ana Costa – NUCLIO