The IACTEC building, in the Las Mantecas Science and Technology Park in La Laguna, is hosting the 11th International Astronomy Education Adventure in the Canary Islands (AEACI 2026) this week.
This edition forms part of the Erasmus+ Astro-Journeys project, co-funded by the European Union, in which the IAC is participating alongside eight other institutions from France, Portugal, Germany and Greece. The aim of the project is to support the professional development of teachers, enabling them to design interdisciplinary, inclusive and research-based learning experiences, using astronomy as the overarching theme.
From 20 to 25 July, the 76 participants in the School – 46 attending in person and 30 online – will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Big Ideas in Astronomy, the use of robotic telescopes to carry out research projects with their students, access online resources and laboratories to practise with real astronomical data, and visit the IAC’s facilities and the Canary Islands Observatories, where they will be able to observe the night sky from one of the best locations in the world for stargazing. In addition, they will learn about the latest advances in research on the Sun, the science behind eclipses and high-energy astrophysics, guided by IAC staff.
The School has been sponsored by the CajaCanarias Foundation, which has enabled a delegation of two lecturers and three students from the University of Bethlehem in Palestine to take part in this training in person. “For us, this is proving to be a unique and unforgettable experience,” explains Professor Ahmad Atiyha, president of the university’s Astronomy Club. “We are discovering a world of possibilities that will enrich our activities, and we hope this marks the start of a fruitful collaboration between the University of Bethlehem and the IAC to promote the teaching of astronomy in our region.”
The international nature of the school, which features lecturers from five continents, aims to offer participants an excellent opportunity to forge links with teaching staff from other countries, fostering future collaborations for the development of joint educational projects and exchanges.
The school is organised by the IAC, through its Communication and Scientific Culture Unit, and is run in collaboration with Núcleo Interactivo de Astronomia (NUCLIO), CY Cergy Paris Université, Ellinogermaniki Agogi,Haus der Astronomie , France – Hands-on Universe, Lake Alqueva Observatory, la Sociedad Portuguesa de Astronomía, los proyectos FTP-europlanet, The Schools’ Observatory and the CESAR (ESA-INTA-ISDEFE) educational initiative.
More information:
Web de la escuela
Contacts:
Nayra Rodríguez Eugenio and Alejandra Goded Merino (peter [at] iac.es (peter[at]iac[dot]es))
