Columba-Hypatia: Astronomy for Peace

Bi-Communal Astronomy Workshops for Youth

Objective of the Project:

The Columba/ Hypatia Project: Astronomy for Peace, is a joint project by GalileoMobile and the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research (AHDR). The aim of the project is to bring astronomy outreach activities to students, educators and the general public across Cyprus, in a context promoting peace and understanding between the various communities living on the island.

Goals:

The goal of the project is twofold:

1) To inspire young people, through astronomy, to be curious about the world we live in, about science and the cosmos

2) To promote interaction, meaningful communication, understanding and, eventually, a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence across borders.

Why Astronomy for Peace?

The understanding of our planet's place in the cosmological context, through the lens of modern astrophysics, cannot help but impart us with a worldview in which we can appreciate our similarities rather than focus on our differences. Astronomy teaches us about the fragility of life on Earth, and how rare life is in the Universe, therefore imparting us with a sense of global citizenship, a responsibility for coming together across borders to respect and preserve all life on Earth, which is one of the main tenets of Education for a Culture of Peace.

The Workshop:

During the event, youth between 13 and 18 years old from across the divide will engage with a professional astronomer to discover how our own Solar System formed, before moving on to discuss the recent exciting discovery of TRAPPIST-1: the first known system of seven Earth-sized planets to be orbiting a single star. Participants will talk about the methods and techniques that astronomers used to make this discovery and think about the chances of finding life on these planets. The event will finish on the roof of the H4C, where participants will have the opportunity to use a telescope to observe the beautiful night sky. The workshop will also encourage the formation of lasting bonds between participants from both communities, thus foster interaction between youth from across the divide. The workshop will take place on Saturday 1st April, from 15:00-19:00 (EET), at the Home For Cooperation.

Application Form

General information

Child’s name
Child’s age
School
Grade
Child’s first language
Your name
Relation to Child
Telephone number
Email address
City/ Village & District

Permissions

I give permission for my child to attend these activities
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I give permission for my child to be photographed and pictures to be used on media and social media platforms
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