Sara Anjos
PLOAD, CECS - U. Minho, NUCLIO/IA

Abstract
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the largest body of professional astronomers in the world and has set up the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in partnership with the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). The OAD was officially opened on 16th April 2011 at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then nine regional offices have been established in Armenia, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Nigeria, Portugal, Thailand and Zambia.

The mission of the OAD is to help further the use of astronomy as a tool for development by mobilizing the human and financial resources necessary in order to realize the field’s scientific, technological and cultural benefits to society.

Regional Nodes and Language Expertise Centres are offices based around the world with similar objectives as the OAD but with regional focus. These offices work closely with OAD in order to implement IAU´s Strategic Plan. “Regions” which they focus on could be geographical (neighbouring countries) or cultural (language or cultural similarities spread over a large geographic region).

Recognizing the importance of the Portuguese language and culture on the implementation of the Strategic Plan, the Portuguese Language Office of Astronomy for Development (PLOAD) was inaugurated in May 2016.

In this seminar we will be presenting PLOAD, which is coordinated by Núcleo Interactivo de Astronomia (NUCLIO) in collaboration with the Institute of Astrophysics and Space Sciences (IA) in Portugal and involves a network of partners in Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Mozambique, Portugal and S. Tome and Principe.

2016 December 14, 13:30

IA/U.Porto
Centro de Astrofísica da Universidade do Porto (Classroom)
Rua das Estrelas, 4150-762 Porto