AMANAR
A GALILEOMOBILE PROJECT
AMANAR: UNDER THE SAME SKY (2019)
Working in close collaboration with the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), the Asociación Canaria de Amistad con el Pueblo and with the support of the International Astronomical Union Office of Astronomy for Development, the project accomplished two phases in 2019 involving activities both in the Canary Islands and the refugee camps near Tindouf (Algeria).
During the summer, hands-on astronomy activities and visits to professional observatories in the Canary Islands were organised for the Sahrawi children and their host families participating in the Holidays in Peace programme.
In October 2019, Amanar organised educational activities and teacher training at the Sahrawi refugee camps and donated kits of educational material. An ethnographic study on the Sahrawi traditional knowledge of the sky was also conducted.
In total, 635 children, 66 teachers and 150 people from the general public participated in the project activities.
THE AMANAR TEAM
The project was initially conceived by GalileoMobile and the Canarian Association of Friendship with the Sahrawi People in Tenerife (ACAPS).
The ACAPS has dedicated more than 30 years to denounce the situation of the Sahrawi population and plea for their auto-determination. They coordinate, together with other organizations, the collection and distribution of humanitarian aid as well as the establishment of educational and social projects in the camps and programs to reunite the families separated by the war. The ACAPS is our link with Sahrawi authorities, including the Ministry of Education.
GalileoMobile is a non-profit, itinerant, science education initiative that brings modern astronomy closer to young people around the world, with emphasis in regions that have little access to other outreach actions. The initiative was created in late 2008 inspired by the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) and is currently run by a crazy bunch of astronomers, educators, and science communicators. Click here to learn more about GalileoMobile.
PROJECT COORDINATORS
Sandra Benitez Herrera
(Spain)
Astrophysicist & Science Communicator at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).
GalileoMobile member since 2011.
Alberto Negrín
(Spain)
President of the Canarian Association of Friendship with the Sahrawi People (ACAPS).
TEAM MEMBERS
Mayte Vasquez
(Dominican Republic)
Space Physicist at EUMETSAT
GalileoMobile member since 2011.
Diego Torres Machado
(Brazil)
Astrophysicist at the Brazilian Center of Physical Research.
GalileoMobile member since 2016.
Eduardo Penteado
(Brazil)
Astrophysicist & Science Communicator at International Astronomical Union.
GalileoMobile member since 2011.
Fabio del Sordo
(Italy)
Astrophysicist and Researcher at University of Crete.
GalileoMobile member since 2008.
Felipe Carrelli
(Brazil)
Independent filmmaker.
GalileoMobile member since 2015.
Demetrio Rodrigues
(Brazil)
Independent filmmaker & photographer.
Camera at Media Report.
Alba Fernández
(Spain)
Astrophysicist & Science Communicator at the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO).
Nayra Rodriguez
(Spain)
Astrophysicist & Science Communicator at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).
Sarah Massalkhi
(Denmark)
Astrophysicist at Instituto de Física Fundamental (IFF).
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
Iván Jimenez
(Spain)
Scientific journalist at Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).
Andrea Rodriguez Antón
(Spain)
Expert on Etno & Archeoastronomy. Instituto de Ciencias del Patrimonio.
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC).
PARTNERS
AMANAR PRODUCTS
Desert Stars is a transmedia narrative co-created between the Saharawi people, GalileoMobile and Amanar Task Force. The project was developed in partnership with the Graduate Program in Creative Media (PPGMC - UFRJ), the Multimedia Research Group (GPMM - CEFET/RJ) and the Institute of Physics (if - UFF).
The initial proposal of Desert Stars was to use virtual reality to popularize the Saharawi worldview. Yet, throughout the co-creation process, arises the demand to denounce the refuge situation faced by this population of Western Sahara since 1975.
Desert Stars is composed of six different products. Each piece explores a different approach and user experience, based on the specific media and platform.
Click below to check out our hotsite and know more about our products.
SNAPS FROM OUR ACTIVITIES
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