NARIT News
A Recap of SEA-PEO 2024: The First Conference Uniting Astronomical Personnel and Organizations in Southeast Asia
The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and the International Training Centre in Astronomy under the auspices of UNESCO (ITCA) hosted the Southeast Asia Planetarium, Education and Outreach 2024 (SEA-PEO 2024) from 25-28 November 2024 at Princess Sirindhorn Astropark Chiang Mai, Thailand. The event represented the first international conference in the Southeast Asia Region dedicated to exchanging knowledge, experience and advancement in improving how we enhance interaction with the public in astronomy. The conference brought together 252 participants, including planetarium operators, educators, astronomy outreach personnel, and enthusiasts from 24 countries.
The conference featured a wide-ranging variety of 86 talks and presentations delivered with diverse insights from individuals across different nations. The topics include: Engaging the Public via Planetariums; Interdisciplinary Astronomy; Astronomy Education; Communicating Astronomy with the Public; Dark and Quiet Sky; and Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Astronomy Communication. The participants also engaged in practical workshops, gaining hands-on experience in various astronomy-related activities—from planetary imaging and multiwavelength astronomy to creative projects and effective outreach strategies, all of which can be applied to enhance public engagement in various contexts.
NARIT has experienced one of the most explosive growths in the field of astronomy in the past 16 years. Via its expansive outreach campaign, this first astronomical research institution of Thailand has received exponential growth in public engagement which now rests at about 1.6 million engagements in the last fiscal year. This boost in public support was vital in enabling the construction of many of its cutting-edge astronomical infrastructures: the largest and second largest optical telescope in Southeast Asia (2.4m and 1m, respectively), the largest radio telescope in the region (40m). SEA-PEO participants get an exclusive experience in witnessing how deeply entwined the public engagement can have upon these infrastructures.
In order to extend SEA-PEO beyond the conference; an additional public lecture session was held, open to all who are interested. Public lectures by Martin George and Christopher Go discussed how astronomy is for everyone and how amateurs can still contribute to professional astronomical research. Additionally, a stargazing session was included, providing the public with the chance to observe celestial objects through telescopes firsthand.
The event marked the beginning of significant changes in how astronomy communications to the public take place across various countries. It offered participants valuable new experiences and inspired them to develop initiatives in their own countries and also forged future collaboration within the regions, making astronomy more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
To extend its impact, promote sustainable accessibility to astronomy for all, and continue expanding the reach of astronomy education outreach in Southeast Asia, SEA-PEO will be back in 2026 in the Philippines. We look forward to seeing you there for another exciting journey!
