Author: Ikechukwu Obi
Affiliation: Centre for Basic Space Science, National Space Research and Development Agency, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Country: Nigeria
Co-Author(s):
Bonaventure Okere
Affiliation: Centre for Basic Space Science, National Space Research and Development Agency, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Emeka Onyeuwaoma
Affiliation: Centre for Basic Space Science(CBSS), National Space Research and Development Agency, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Okeke Pius
Affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria Nsukka
Title: Bringing Astronomy to the poorest rural communities using the Raspberry Pi computer and VO tools: Our experiences in Nigeria
With over 50 years of active research in Nigeria, Astronomy is still faced with various challenges in particular poor funding from government and the prevailing harsh economic condition (Reference 1 and 2). Despite these challenges, there is a recent growing interest of the younger generation in astronomy which comes mainly through astronomy outreach programme, biennial summer schools and information dissemination through internet. The later stems from the fact that Nigerians are the second largest consumers of telecommunicatiions, thus virtually everyone in the most remote rural areas can access the internet via their mobile phones. However, electric power supply has remained a long-lasting problem and contributes immensely, especially in rural communities, to the hindrance faced in areas of education like astronomy that can not progress without the use of computers for data visualisation and analysis.
It is worth mentioning that cultural astronomy already exist and is well recognised in these poor communities(Reference 2).
The amazing credit card size 5V battery-powered Raspberry Pi computers and Virtual Observatory(VO) will play a major role in this regards. We target the less privielegd students in tweleve rural secondary schools (located in 6 different states) by bringing to their doorsteps astronomy using these low cost but effective tools. Various hands-on astronomy exercises were carried out with the VO tools and introduced to their curriculum.
In this work, we discuss our experiences with the students and teachers with these tool which at the same time promotes not only astronomy but also Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We intend to expand the number of schools covered in this pilot project through a fund-raising programme or grant from IAU.
References:
[1]: Urama, J.O. (2002) “The Challenges of Astronomy in Nigeria” Physica Scripta. T97, pp. 20 – 23.
[2]: Urama, J.O. (2008) ÒAstronomy and Culture in NigeriaÓ in J. Holbrook, R. Medupe & J. Urama (Ed.) African cultural astronomy (Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer, pp. 231 Ð 238).
[3]: Okeke, P.N. (2011) “A Brief Review of the Origin and Propagation of Basic Space Science and Technology Programmes in Nigeria”. African Skies, Vol. 15, p. 2