Margarita Metaxa

National Outreach Coordinator Greece

Margarita Metaxa holds a BSc in Physics and a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Athens. Since 1987, she has taught at Arsakeio School in Athens and collaborated with the National Observatory of Athens on astronomy education initiatives. She coordinates the annual Astronomy Summer School for gifted high school students and has published over 40 works on astronomy education. She has led 8 astronomy projects supported by UNESCO, ESO, and other organizations. A member of the International Astronomical Union since 2000, she contributes to Commissions C1 (Astronomy Education) and B7 (Light Pollution). She is using astrobiology and space exploration as educational tools.

Rebecca Raskin

KU Leuven & LESEC

Rebecca Raskin obtained her Master of Speech Therapy and Audiology Sciences from KU Leuven in 2007. For over 16 years, she worked as a speech and language therapist, primarily in educational settings. Driven by a longstanding passion for science—particularly physics and mathematics—she enrolled in the Educational Master of Science and Technology program at KU Leuven in 2023 to become a physics teacher. In 2024, she joined the Astronomy and Physics Education Research Group at KU Leuven, where she is currently pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Prof. Mieke De Cock. Her research focuses on exploring high school students’ mental models of the apparent motion of the Sun and stars, as well as the reasoning and learning processes involved.

Pierre Chastenay

Full Professor UQAM

I holds a M.Sc. in astrophysics from Université Laval (Québec City, Canada) and a Ph.D. in science education from Université de Montréal (Montréal, Canada). I am a Full Professor at Université du Québec à Montréal, where my main research interests are science and astronomy education. Previously, I was Director of Education at the Planétarium de Montréal.

Christine Hirst Bernhardt

Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator, PhD Student Astronomy Education

I have taught astronomy to high school and college students as well as teachers for many years. I am interested in developing an international teacher training program in astronomy for primary and secondary school. Want to collaborate? Experienced in curriculum and professional development for teachers. Current doc student investigating how other nations use astronomy in primary school.

Daniel Fernández González

Astronomy Teacher

Daniel Fernández González is a high school astronomy teacher at National Administration of Public Education (DGES-ANEP) and works at Los Molinos Astronomical Observatory (Ministry of Education and Culture). He holds his teaching degree from the Education Training Council (CFE-ANEP) in Montevideo, Uruguay. His main interests include astronomy education, didactic innovation, and cultural astronomy. He is a member of the organizing committee of the Uruguayan Astronomy Olympiad and contributes to the development and advising of secondary school observatories and space sciences laboratories.

Markus Pössel

Director, IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE). Based at Haus der Astronomie, Heidelberg

I'm passionate about astronomy education, always eager to learn more in that field and others. My current focus is on finding out the best ways the OAE can support the international astronomy education and wider science education communities – and to act on what I have found out.

Dunja Fabjan

NAEC Slovenia

astrophysicist, science communicator, podcaster

Jana Bogdanoska

Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje

Jana Bogdanoska is an assistant professor of astronomy and physics education at the Institute of Physics in Skopje, North Macedonia. She holds a PhD in astrophysics, with research focused on galaxy evolution, chemical enrichment, and dust in the early Universe. In recent years, her work has expanded to include teacher education, low-cost experimental methods, and the integration of authentic data and AI tools in physics and astronomy classrooms. She is passionate about making astronomy accessible, conceptually rich, and inquiry-driven for both students and teachers at all levels.

Joana B. V. Marques

Astronomy Education Researcher, PLOAD - IAU

Interested in Astronomy Education and Communication, planetaria and observations of the sky

Willem Keppens

KU Leuven

Willem Keppens obtained his master’s degree in Astronomy & Astrophysics in 2023 at KU Leuven. Currently, he is engaged in a PhD project on astronomy education research. His work focuses on exploring high school students’ understanding of astronomical scales, and how this understanding may influence explanations for various astronomical phenomena. Willem is part of the Astronomy and (Astro)Physics Education (APER) team in the Department of Physics & Astronomy and the Learning for Understanding in STEAM education (L4U) group of LESEC. He is guided on his PhD quest by Prof. Dr. Mieke De Cock, Prof. Hans Van Winckel, Prof. Dr. Wim Van Dooren and Prof. Jan Sermeus.

Jakub Stepanovic

KU Leuven

Jakub Stepanovic is a PhD student at KU Leuven/LUCA School of Arts, Belgium, who develops visualizations and interaction approaches for a planetarium. His project aims to improve informed views on the nature of science for high school audiences and beyond.

Amoghavarsha N

COSMOS Mysuru, Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Amoghavarsha N is a Project Associate at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics for the COSMOS Project. He previously completed his master's degree from the St. Joseph's University. His research interests include Classical Be Stars, Blue straggler stars, dense stellar environments, and Novel methods in astronomy education.

Julia Plummer

Professor of Science Education

I focus on early childhood and elementary science in formal and informal spaces. My research interests include support for spatial thinking in early childhood and the use of stories to support science learning for your children.

Laila Linke

University of Innsbruck

Laila Linke is a cosmologist, working as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institut for Astro- and Particle Physics of the University of Innsbruck. She is particularly interested in the effect of gravitational lensing and its use in unveiling the structures of dark matter and the impact of dark energy.

Robert Hollow

Education Manager, CSIRO Space & Astronomy. NAEC Australia

Robert is the Education Manager at CSIRO’s Space & Astronomy unit. He leads the PULSE@Parkes program for high school students and coordinates Space & Astronomy’s undergraduate and postgraduate student programs. He has extensive experience in high school teaching, curriculum development and astronomy education and is a Life Member of STANSW. He was one of the team that developed the “Space Careers Wayfinder” program. Robert is chair of the National Astronomy Education Coordinators for the IAU’s Office of Astronomy Education and also heads the Education Panel for the Astronomical Society of Australia’s Eclipse Working Group planning for the 2028 total solar eclipse.

Elizabeta Šimunović

Faculty of science, University of Split, Split, Croatia

Elizabeta Šimunović holds a Master's degree in Mathematics and Physics Education and a PhD candidate in the postgraduate scientific study Research in Natural and Technical Sciences Education at the Faculty of Science, University of Split, field of Physics.

Anastasia Kokori

UCL, University College London

Currently Anastasia is a PhD candidate in astronomy at UCL University London (UK) where she specialises in exoplanet characterisation. She is also the public engagement officer at CSED, where she is responsible for astronomy outreach activities for ESA's Ariel space mission aimed to exoplanets. She is the main developer of the ExoClock project, and the ExoWorldsspies project, platforms dedicated to foster open science and citizen science (exoclock.space & https://www.exoworldsspies.com/en/). Her research interests include exoplanet characterisation, citizen science and astronomy education.

Shylaja B S

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, High Grounds, Bengaluru, 560001, India

Observational astronomer, education and outreach at planetarium, currently working on history of astronomy in India

Aynura Hasanova

Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory named after N.Tusi of Ministry of Science and Education the Republic of Azerbaijan

I am an observational astronomer specializing in massive supergiant stars, currently working at the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory named after N. Tusi. At the same time, I am engaged in the teaching of astronomy at the Republic Children and Youth Development Center. In my research and educational work, I use real astronomical data to develop programs that increase scientific interest and literacy among young learners. My goal is to combine scientific research and education to inspire a love of science in future generations.

Ľubomíra Hujsová

NAEC Slovakia, Tempus Universum, Slovak Astronomical Society at the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Astronomy teacher and educator for preschool and primary school children, mostly. Author of the educational project Hello, Universe! (Tempus Universum). She leads astronomy clubs for children aged 4–10 and engages in science outreach in Slovakia, Austria, and abroad. Ľubomíra participated in the prestigious and successful science and astronomy outreach project SpaceBus – the Space Caravan in Senegal. Professional lecturer at the DSB Observatory (Deutsche Schule Bratislava), where she primarily guides school excursions. She enjoys working with children all around the world and is inspired by their curiosity about the universe.

Shubha BS

Research assistant

postgraduate in mathematics and Doctorate. interested in the history of Indian Astronomy and manuscripts related to it. enjoying creating interest among youngsters in the field of astronomy

Nan Song

China Science and Technology Museum

Song Nan is an assistant researcher of astronomy education research at China Science and Technology Museum. He previously completed his masters and PhD at National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research interests include theoretical research and practical application of astronomy education activities in special effects cinema.

Tomáš Gráf

lecturer, head of Unisphere and WHOO!

Make astronomy not war

Elise Abbott

The Pennsylvania State University

Elise Abbott is an undergraduate student at The Pennsylvania State University, double-majoring in Planetary Science & Astronomy and Psychology. Her research interests include science communication and narrative learning.

Gilbert Sánchez

SEO Proyectos Educativos Integrales Sánchez Cosmodom

Divulgador Cientifico, astronomo aficionado y creador del Planetario Cosmodom

Taisiia Karasova

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Taisiia Karasova is a Ukrainian physics student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), specializing in astrophysics and data science. She has conducted research at institutions including the Perimeter Institute, MIT Kavli Institute, and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, focusing on galaxy evolution, tidal disruption events, and radio polarimetry. Taisiia is the founder of AstroSandbox, Ukraine’s largest student-led astronomy outreach initiative, which has provided advanced online courses, national competitions, and local lectures to hundreds of students since 2020.

Yilin Guo

Beijing Planetarium

Guo Yilin is a assistant research fellow at the Beijing Planetarium. She previously completed her PhD at National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and masters at Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research interest include the design of astronomy popularization experimental activities, the formation and evolution of solar prominences bubbles, and the dynamical evolution of solar filaments.

Debra M. Elmegreen

Past President, IAU

Debra Meloy Elmegreen is Past President of the International Astronomical Union and Emerita Professor of Astronomy at Vassar College in New York. She is also Past President of the American Astronomical Society. She received the AAS George van Biesbroeck Prize for service to astronomy, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the American Astronomical Society. Her research is on the structure and evolution of galaxies at optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths, primarily with the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes.

Vikranth Pulamathi

SCOPE Section, Indian Institute of Astrophysics

Vikranth Pulamathi holds a Master's degree in Physics and is currently an Associate in the Outreach Section of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. Over the past five years, he has been actively engaged in the fields of science education, communication, and public outreach, with a particular interest in the development of innovative teaching methodologies and strategies for enhancing student and public engagement.

Abel Yang

NAEC Singapore

Abel Yang is a senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore. He completed his PhD at the University of Virginia in 2012. He has taught hands-on practical astronomy as an undergraduate nonmajor course for over 15 years and has an interest in active learning methods.

Fernando Ariel Karaseur

Universidad del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires

Fernando Ariel Karaseur is a Professor of Secondary and Higher Education in Physics (School of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires) and is currently pursuing a PhD in Science Teaching (Universidad del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires) supervised by Dr. Gangui, head of the Didactics of Astronomy group to which he belongs since 2011. He has been working in primary schools for eleven years and in teacher training for four years.

Daysi Quinatoa

Observatorio Astronómico de Quito

I am Daysi Quinatoa, PhD in astrophysics and an observational astronomer based in Quito, Ecuador. My research focuses on studying the interstellar medium using bright water lines at 752 GHz in low-redshift ULIRGs and calibrating dust continuum as a tracer of gas in nearby galaxies. I specialize in radio and submillimeter astronomy, with interests in star formation and masers. I am also dedicated to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in science, and advancing astronomy education in Ecuador.

Sara Issaoun

Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

Observational astronomer and member of the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration

Eleni Vardoulaki

Greece

I am an Astrophysicist, science communicator and published author. I have a PhD from the University of Oxford in Observational Cosmology. Currently I am an Astrophysicist and public outreach officer at the Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing at the National Observatory of Athens. I am the PI of the OAD-IAU funded educational program RADIIO.

Hira Fatima

IAU OAE NAEC Pakistan

Research Associate

Saneli Carbajal Vigo

Universidad del Pacífico

Saneli Carbajal Vigo holds a degree in Physics from UNMSM, a master’s in Theoretical Physics with a specialization in Cosmology from the University of Edinburgh, and a PhD in High Energy Physics from PUCP. He teaches at Universidad del Pacífico, Peru, where he leads the course Introduction to Cosmology and the Science of Life. His research focuses on early universe cosmology and neutrino physics. He is a member of the TAMBO experiment led by Harvard University and serves on the scientific committee of the Peruvian Olympiad of Astronomy and Astronautics. He has been a panelist at the Nobel Prize Dialogue and is the creator of 3o4cosas.com, a platform of interactive simulations in physics, astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Maire Lucero

GLAS Education, UW Madison

Maire Lucero has been a summer intern at Geneva Lakes Astrophysics and STEAM for the past four years. Through her internship, she has worked on developing many low-vision accessible education tools using sonification. She is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison double majoring in physics and math with a minor in Russian language. Maire is currently doing research on hydrogen spectroscopy to study climate change. After undergraduate studies, she intends to pursue research in academia regarding climate change, acoustics, and/or anything in astrophysics.

João Fernandes

Centro de Investigação da Terra e do Espaço da Universidade de Coimbra

João Fernandes has been an Professor in the Department of Mathematics, University of Coimbra since 1999. His areas of research are the formation and evolution of stars, solar physics and the history of Astronomy in Portugal. He has been involved in scientific dissemination (namely through lectures in schools) and was the national single point of contact for the International Year of Astronomy 2009, appointed by the International Astronomical Union. He was Director of the UC Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory (2022-2023). He has been coordinator of the Earth and Space Research Centre at the University of Coimbra since April 2021.

Antonio Fernandes

Cabo Verde

"Assistente Graduado na UniCV Formação: Mestre em Física Mestre em Matemática Licenciado em Engenharia Oceânica Experiência Profissional: Vários cargos ao longo da vida"

Kevin Hainline

University of Arizona

Kevin Hainline is an astronomy professor at the University of Arizona and part of the JWST NIRCam Science Team. Within the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), he leads work to measure precise redshifts for the earliest galaxies in the universe. His research examines galaxy formation at cosmic dawn, the evolution of supermassive black holes, and the discovery of ultra-cool brown dwarfs in the outskirts of the Milky Way. He is also an avid science communicator, speaking at public events around the world about humanity’s relationship with the infinite.

Massimo Meneghetti

National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF)

Massimo Meneghetti is a senior researcher at the Osservatorio di Astrofisica e Scienza dello Spazio di Bologna (INAF – Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica). His research focuses on the formation and evolution of cosmic structures and on cosmology, with a particular emphasis on using gravitational lensing as a tool to investigate the distribution of dark and luminous matter in the Universe.

Kanak Saha

Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA)

Kanak Saha is a professor of astrophysics at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India. Dr. Saha’s primary research interest lies in understanding galaxy formation, reionization, and dynamics.

Karen Masters

Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Haverford College, USA

Karen Masters is a Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Haverford College (a small undergraduate only college just outside Philadelphia). In her research Prof. Masters seeks to use large surveys to understand how galaxies in our Universe form and evolve. She is the Principle Investigator for Galaxy Zoo (www.galaxyzoo.org), a project she has been involved in for over a decade. She was Spokesperson for the Fourth phase of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV; www.sdss.org), and uses MaNGA data from SDSS-IV frequently in research. She is also a radio astronomer, specialising in 21cm line observations, particularly with GBT, and running a large HI following program for MaNGA (HI-MaNGA) as well as participating in ALMA survey teams.

Dr. Cecilia Scorza

LMU Faculty of Physics Munich

LMU Faculty of Physics Munich

Shahrzad Mirsoltani

Astronomy Educator and Director of Kargahe Setare Project

Astronomy Educator for children

Professor Michael Perryman

European Space Agency (retired); Adjunct Professor, University College Dublin

Michael Perryman is an astrophysicist and space scientist. His career has been with the European Space Agency, where he was scientific leader for ESA's pioneering Hipparcos astrometry mission for 17 years, and co-originator and scientific leader for the Gaia mission for its first 15 years.

Annalisa Pillepich

Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy (MPIA)

Max-Planck-Institute for Astronomy (MPIA)

Sara Ricciardi

INAF, OAE Italy

I’m a researcher at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics. I’ve been working on data analysis for cosmic microwave background radiation. Then, back in Italy, I started to be interested in STEM learning at school, and I began to work closely with schools and teachers. I rapidly fell in love with constructionist practices and communities. Now I’m co-designing STEM projects and professional

Maryam Papari

NAEC Iran

I am Maryam Papari, Director of Mehr Observatory, under the supervision of Ministry of Education, a graduate in Educational Sciences from Teacher Training University, and I am active in the field of astronomy education and outreach in Iranian schools, with a special focus on teachers and students.

Rodolfo Langhi

São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Sciences, Astronomy Observatory

Coordenador do Observatório Didático de Astronomia, docente do Depto. de Física e Meteorologia e do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação para a Ciência, da Faculdade de Ciências da UNESP campus da cidade de Bauru, estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Francesca Cavallotti

Museo del Balì, Ufficio ESERO Italia

Francesca Cavallotti is the scientific director of the Museo del Balì, a science centre in central Italy. She graduated in physics with an experimental thesis at the Brera Astronomical Observatory in Milan and completed a master’s in science communication. For over 20 years, she has gained experience in the museum field, engaging the public, designing science labs for schools, and leading the museum’s mission and activities. She collaborates with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and ESA through the ESERO Italia programme to promote STEM careers and support teacher training.

Rosa Doran

NAEC Portugal / International Projects Coordinator

Rosa Doran is a physics and science educator devoted to integrating modern trends for innovation in the classroom with a special emphasis on the use of Astronomy for STEAM learning. She received a PhD in Science Education from the University of Coimbra in 2020. She also has MSc in the field of High Energy and Gravitation, in particular on Black Holes. She is the president of the executive council of NUCLIO (Núcleo Interativo de Astronomia), an NGO for development, vice-president of the panel education of COSPAR, the chair of the Galileo Teacher Training Program and the vice-president of the Executive Committee of the Global Hands-on Universe Association.

Marcela Best

Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH)

Marcela Best is a postdoctoral researcher in astronomy education at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH). She completed her PhD in planet formation and dynamics from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC). Her current work focuses on applying her research to the development of teaching sequences to bring this knowledge into the classroom.

Ola Ali

Astronomer-OAE center Egypt

Ola is an Egyptian astronomer and science communicator with a passion for astronomy education and outreach. She is working as an Assistant Researcher at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics. She holds an MSc in astrophysics (Open Star Clusters) from Cairo University. Through interactive activities, games, and art, she aims to inspire children—especially those in remote areas of Egypt, such as Siwa and Aswan—to explore the universe. Doha is a visual artist and researcher in the history of visual arts. She is passionate about teaching and empowering children, and about promoting positive behavioral change through engagement with diverse art forms. To bring her vision to life, she founded the Art Narty Fes

Nebiyu Mohammed

Team Chair, NAEC team - Ethiopia

I was National Point of Contact for Ethiopia in Space generation Advisory Council where I hosted many events such as stargazing, astrobus, spacecamp and summer schools. I studied communication engineering and Astrophysics in MSc programs.

Hazi Qasimov

lecturer

I work at the Department of Physics at Baku Engineering University. I hold a PhD in Astronomy.

Nariman Ismailov

Executive Director of the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory named after N.Tusi, Azerbaijan

Executive Director of the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory named after N.Tusi, Azerbaijan

Bulent Acma

Researcher

Professor, Researcher and Lecturer Anadolu University, Turkey

Saule Shomshekova

Lead Researcher in the field of Photometry of Seyfert Galaxies of Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, Kazakhstan

Lead Researcher in the field of Photometry of Seyfert Galaxies of Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, Kazakhstan

Aysel Rustemov

PhD student in the field of astrophysics and stellar astronomy in the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory

PhD student in the field of astrophysics and stellar astronomy in the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory

Rosa Maria Ros Ferré

NASE

NASE

Fidan Guliyeva

Student

Computer Science and amateur astronomer

Samira Rahimli

Scientist, PhD student and Lecturer

Phd student in the field of Astophysics and Stellar Astronomy. My research focuses on the photometric and spectral monitoring of active galactic nuclei (AGN), particularly the Seyfert galaxies. I'm also teacher in Sumgayit State University in the field of Astronomy

Ainash Rassylova

senior lecture

senior lecture

Namig Dzhalilov

Director-General of the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory, Corresponding Member of ANAS

Director-General of the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory, Corresponding Member of ANAS

Ruslan Mammadov

PhD Astronomy

Batabat Astrophysical Observatory and Nakhchivan State University, Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan

Lourenço Vicacopro

Centro de Ciências de Luanda

Lourenço de Jesus Vicaco Kucula, Licenciatura em Física pela Universidade Agostinho Neto, Faculdade de Ciências Naturais. Nascido em Angola, Provincia de Luanda. É Chefe do Departamento de Comunicação de Ciência, Multimédia e Planetário do Centro de Ciência de Luanda (CCL), Angola. Professor da Universidade Jean Piaget de Angola. Membro da Associação Angolana de Física (AAF). Tem dedicado a sua carreira à promoção da Astronomia e da divulgação científica, liderando projectos de educação não formal, observação astronómica e actividades itinerantes em diferentes províncias do país. Com experiência na coordenação de eventos como o De Luanda ao Universo, a Semana Mundial do Espaço, Jornadas Cientificas em Alusão o dia da Luz e da Física, entre outros. Lourenço de Jesus Vicaco Kucula, tem sido um dos principais rostos da promoção da Astronomia em Angola, contribuindo para o engajamento de estudantes, professores e do público em geral. O seu trabalho centra-se na democratização do acesso ao conhecimento científico e na valorização da Astronomia como ferramenta para a educação e o desenvolvimento.