The goal of this flagship project is to use the inspirational themes of astronomy – namely, that we live under one sky and that we all have innate similarities on the basis of being human – to promote SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 13 (Climate Action), 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

SDG4, Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

By inspiring people with the fascinating Universe, the projects under this flagship will attempt to increase the fraction of the population who are interested in following careers in science and technology and promote literacy in science and technology, particularly among the more vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. 

SDG13, Climate Action: Take urgent action to prevent climate change and its impacts.

Introducing a global perspective of our continually-changing planet as part of a larger solar system, Milky Way Galaxy and an enormous Universe, promulgates the message of the vulnerability of the earth and the human race to climate change.

SDG10, Reducing Inequalities within and among countries

By encouraging a sense of global citizenship and unity we aim to shift people’s consumption patterns, also increasing support for sustainable policies that promote equality.  This flagship promotes the theme of acting beyond one’s self interest in accordance with the greater good of humanity. Through using astronomy to highlight our common humanity, 

SDG16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Perhaps the most important problem that prohibits achieving peaceful and inclusive societies is conflicts between different ethnic groups within nations and nationalist-based conflicts between countries. In the age of sophisticated weaponry and climate change, such global conflicts not only impede sustainable development, but they also threaten the very survival of the human race. We therefore regard it crucial to promote a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and its contribution to sustainable development through the astronomical perspective.

The IAU-OAD has already funded a number of projects that employ astronomy as a means of helping to build bridges in a divided world. The Columba-Hypatia: Astronomy for Peace initiative has been a force for promoting peace and a sense of global citizenship in Cyprus since 2017, focusing on primary school children and their families as well as hosting events for the public. Sentiments of peace and non-violence are incorporated through teaching that we all live under one sky and all share a common experience of being human and living on the same planet. Universe Awareness is another global educational program that employs astronomy education to instill a sense of global citizenship in young school children. To date, the project is enacted in 63 countries and has reached 106,419 children, although the organization has produced a series of online educational resources that can be accessed around the world. 

To learn more about this flagship theme, you can visit the OAD web page. 

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