Published: 18th July 2026 18:25 (UTC)

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is pleased to announce the establishment of the OAE Center Thailand, a new institution that will support the IAU’s Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) in advancing its mission to use astronomy in support of primary and secondary school education worldwide. The new Center joins a global network of “branch offices” supporting the OAE mission.

The OAE Center Thailand is a collaboration between the IAU, the OAE, and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), a leading astronomical institution dedicated to advancing astronomical research, fostering educational initiatives, and promoting public engagement with astronomy, which will host the Center.

IAU General Secretary Prof. Diana Worrall says:  “NARIT has grown remarkably in recent years, and amongst its broad activities it has demonstrated its success in education through many successful programmes. This collaboration of Thailand with the IAU-OAE, which focuses globally on astronomy education at secondary-school level, is greatly to be welcomed”.

Founded by the IAU in December 2019, the OAE is hosted by the Haus der Astronomie and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany. Its mission is to promote the use of astronomy in primary and secondary education, with the aim of fostering education in the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering mathematics) worldwide. In support of this mission, the OAE is building a global network of collaborators and partners.

This network includes National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs), volunteers who serve as liaisons between the OAE and their respective countries, as well as OAE Centers and OAE Nodes as “branch offices,” funded by host institutions that share the OAE’s commitment to advancing STEM education in schools.

Dr. Markus Pössel, Director of the OAE, says:  “It is impressive to see how NARIT has put Thailand on the world map of astronomy and astrophysics over the past decades. NARIT has a strong record of supporting teachers and learners, and we warmly welcome the OAE Center Thailand to our network!”

OAE Centers and Nodes play an important role in advancing the OAE’s mission. They contribute to global projects coordinated by the OAE while also developing their own areas of specialisation, tailored specifically to the host institution’s expertise and strength. The OAE Center Thailand is managed by Matipon Tangmatitham of NARIT, who says:  “As the director of International Training Centre in Astronomy under the auspices of UNESCO (ITCA) and coordinator of Southeast Asian Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (SEAROAD), I have had many opportunities to interact with many teachers and students internationally via ITCA and SEARAOD teacher training programs. We recognize many common problems many teachers around Asia and emerging countries are facing. With the addition of OAE Center Thailand, we look forward to expanding our collaborations with many new international partners”.

Hosted by NARIT, the OAE Center Thailand will focus on teacher training, the development of hands-on and affordable classroom astronomy activities, astronomy education research, and support for developing countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and the broader Asian region. Through these efforts, the Center will help strengthen astronomy education capacity and foster international collaboration across the region and beyond.

The Executive Director of NARIT, Wiphu Rujopakarn, says:  “Here at NARIT we try to reimagine how astronomy can serve the society. We take improving Thailand's astronomy education seriously as our key strategy and sole responsibility. This can be witnessed through our dedication in working with our educators and students since NARIT's inception 17 years ago. We are excited by the prospect of working with the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education in lending our expertise in improving astronomy education for all”.

The IAU, the OAE, and NARIT look forward to a productive and inspiring collaboration in the years ahead.

         

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