In 2022 Telescopes for All will distribute 15 telescopes to underserved communities around the world, with the aim of broadening the horizons of children, parents and educators by sparking an interest in science. Each telescope is signed by inspirational people in the field of astronomy, including astronauts, Nobel laureates, and scientists. The project also raises awareness of the importance of equal opportunities in pursuing a career in astronomy.

Over past years Telescopes for All has supplied telescopes to 29 communities across five continents. The recipient communities included children in rural areas of Tunisia, migrants and refugees in Spain, and children with hearing and visual impairments in Indonesia and Nepal.

Proposals and letters of recommendation for the 2022 Telescopes for All should be submitted to the OAO by the deadline of 1 June 2022 (extended):

• Proposals with attachments must be submitted by 23:59 local time on 15 June 2022.
• Winners will be announced by 30 June 2022.

All submitted proposals will be evaluated by representatives of the IAU OAO, SSVI and Leiden University. The selected entries will be sent to the IAU National Outreach Coordinators of each selected proposal for final recommendation.

More Information:

• 2022 Telescopes for All submission guidelines
• IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach
• Stars Shine for Everyone
• Bresser
• Leiden University

Source: IAU https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann22017/

The 2021 project received 225 applications from 54 countries with the active support of the IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs). The selected proposals will bring telescopes to socially deprived communities in Poland; help tackle educational disparities and improving access to STEM for women and girls in Botswana and Mauritius; reach rural areas in Malaysia; and refugee camps in Jordan, to name a few.

The telescopes have been awarded to the following proposals:
• Telescopes for All in Afghanistan, Kayhana Astronomical Group, Afghanistan
• Telescopes for All in Botswana, Machana Satellite School, Botswana
• Tomorrow’s Stars (Astros do Amanhã), Leva Ciência Institute (Instituto Nacional Leva Ciência – INALC), Brazil
• Telescopes for All in Ghana, Tetteh-Ocloo School for the Deaf, Ghana
• Namma Telescope, Open Space Foundation (OSF), India
• Telescopes for All in Iraq, Freelance, Al-Muthanna University (Lecturer), Iraq
• Telescopes for All in Jordan, Jordanian Astronomical Society (JAS), Jordan
• Telescopes for All in Malaysia, SJKT JUGRA School, Malaysia
• Telescopes for All in Mauritius, Hindu Girls’ College Astronomy Club, Mauritius
• Evening Meetings With Astronomy, Grupa Edukacji Astronomicznej na Czarnej Hucie (The Black Ironworks Astronomical Education Group), Poland
• Telescopes for All in Samoa, Tiapapata Art Centre, Samoa
• Telescopes for All in Timor Leste, Knua Sentrál ba Prátika Siénsia no Matemátika (KSP), East Timor

News Source: IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach