The #Astronomy2024 Legacy Project

Project Overview

The #Astronomy2024 Legacy Project is a nationwide initiative that extends the impact of the 2024 International Astronomical Union General Assembly (IAU-GA), the first ever hosted in Africa, into long-term, meaningful benefits for South African communities.

Building on the momentum of this historic event, the project connects young people with astronomy and STEM through technology, mentorship, and sustained partnerships. Its focus is on creating lasting educational value, particularly in underserved schools and communities, ensuring that the legacy of the IAU-GA continues well beyond the conference itself.

What the Project Aims to Achieve

The project focuses on four clear outcomes:

Expand access to astronomy and STEM education across South Africa, particularly in underserved communities.
Equip schools and science centers with 100 TV learning systems, enabling visual, interactive, and digitally connected learning.
Inspire learners through mentorship and outreach, led by trained Legacy Ambassadors.
Build sustainable engagement, combining in-person outreach with virtual sessions, live-streamed events, and long-term institutional partnerships.

The Legacy Ambassador Initiative

At the heart of the project is the Legacy Ambassador Initiative, which builds on successful outreach conducted during the IAU-GA in the Western Cape and the Cascade Outreach programme of National Science Week 2023.

Ambassadors—drawn from astronomy postgraduate students, science communicators, STEM professionals, and educators—receive training in science communication, leadership, and community engagement. They serve as the human connection between the project and the communities it reaches.

As part of their role, ambassadors:

Lead astronomy and STEM outreach activities in schools nationwide
Act as relatable role models, sharing academic and career pathways
Support the delivery, installation, and classroom integration of TV systems
Partner with science centres to ensure long-term educational use
Gain hands-on experience through training and job-shadowing opportunities

Technology That Supports Learning

Each participating school receives a 40-inch TV screen, Raspberry Pi computer, keyboard, mouse, and webcam—equipment repurposed from the hybrid poster sessions of the IAU-GA.

These systems strengthen teaching and learning by:

Enhancing lessons with visual and interactive content
Supporting regular astronomy and STEM outreach activities
Enabling virtual engagement with scientists, researchers, and global science events

Importantly, the technology is not delivered in isolation. It is embedded within an outreach framework that supports educators and learners in using the systems effectively over time.

Partnerships That Enable Sustainability

Long-term impact is achieved through a growing network of schools, science centres, professionals, and young researchers. Together, they support:

Virtual STEM talks and interactive sessions with guest speakers
Live-streamed events connecting schools across provinces
Continued engagement through science centres, ensuring consistent use of the technology

Science centres play a central role in maintaining continuity, providing ongoing support and follow-up beyond the initial distribution phase.

Reaching Schools Across the Country

How Beneficiaries Were Identified

In the Western Cape, school selection was guided by a list provided by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), with additional input from science institutions including SAAO, SARAO, and iThemba LABS.

In other provinces, distribution was coordinated through selected science centres. These centres identified schools within their regions, prioritising accessibility, engagement potential, and underserved township and rural communities. Recommendations from SAASTEC further supported equitable national reach.

Adapting to Real-World Challenges

Initial outreach to 80 Western Cape schools resulted in lower-than-expected response rates, with fewer than 30 schools engaging over several months. To ensure the project’s momentum and impact, the distribution strategy was adapted to include a broader national rollout.

As a result, approximately 40 TV systems remain allocated to the Western Cape, while the remainder are distributed across other provinces, significantly expanding the project’s national footprint.

From Planning to Implementation

Ambassador Recruitment and Training

A nationwide call invited individuals from science, education, and technology sectors to participate as ambassadors. Selected participants completed training focused on:

TV system installation and operation
Science communication and public engagement skills

School Engagement

Schools committed to the programme through agreed timelines that outlined:

TV delivery and setup
Participation in scheduled online engagement sessions

The Role of Science Centres

Science centres are key partners in the success of the project. Their responsibilities include:

Supporting ambassador training and job-shadowing opportunities
Collaborating on school visits and outreach activities
Identifying schools, they can engage with beyond the project timeframe
Serving as primary points of contact to ensure continuity and long-term use of the systems

Online Outreach and Key Milestones

The project includes a structured online engagement programme, connecting schools with speakers from diverse STEM disciplines. These sessions align with national and international science events, including:

Dark Sky Week
Asteroid Day
National Science Week
Women’s Day
World Space Week and 100 Hours of Astronomy

Measuring Impact

Between March and September 2025, TV systems were distributed to 84 schools across South Africa, with a strong focus on lower-quintile schools. Engagements reached both primary and secondary learners, with approximately half targeting Grades 10–12, where career guidance and subject choice are most critical.

A total of 16 science centers participated in the initiative, with 9 centers also receiving TV systems to support continued outreach.

Ambassadors and Community Reach

The project recruited 52 ambassadors, with equal representation of men and women. Collectively, they represented all 11 official South African languages and came from towns and cities across the country.

Most ambassadors were undergraduate or postgraduate students, followed by working professionals and unemployed graduates. Nearly all had current or previous experience in STEM fields, strengthening the relevance and authenticity of their engagement.

Learning Beyond the Screen

Outreach activities extended well beyond system installation. Sessions included:

Talks on careers in space science and higher education pathways
Astronomy topics such as the solar system, stars, galaxies, space weather, and indigenous astronomy
Hands-on activities including quizzes, telescope demonstrations, stargazing, and problem-solving challenges

These engagements reached several thousand learners and supported educators by introducing new tools and content for classroom use.