Pan-African Citizen Science e-Lab: An Emerging Online Platform for Astronomy Research, Education and Outreach in Africa
Miracle Chibuzor Marcel, Kassamba Abdel Aziz Diaby, Meryem Guennoun,, Betty Rose Nabifo, Mohamed Elattar, Andoniaina Rajaonarivelo, Privatus Pius,, Molly Nkamogelang Kgobathe, Immanuel Luis, Sigrid Shilunga, Nejmeddine, Etteyeb, Keketso Qhomane, Samuel Nyangi

TL;DR
The Pan-African Citizen Science e-Lab is an online platform engaging Africans in astronomy research, education, and outreach, fostering international collaboration and contributing to sustainable development goals.
Contribution
It introduces a collaborative online platform for African citizen scientists to participate in astronomy research and outreach, expanding access and engagement across the continent.
Findings
Engaged over 600 Africans from 40+ countries
Runs multiple astronomy projects including asteroid search and exoplanet photometry
Aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract
Citizen science offers an opportunity for ordinary people, known as citizen scientists or citizen astronomers in the context of astronomy, to contribute to scientific research. The Pan-African Citizen Science e-Lab (PACS e-Lab) was founded to promote and engage the African public in citizen science and soft astronomy research to advance space research and exploration and enhance space education and outreach. PACS e-Lab, in collaboration with several international astronomy research, education, and outreach organizations, currently runs several projects including but not limited to asteroid search, exoplanet photometry, research writing for peer-reviewed publications, astrophoto visual development, and Amateur Radio contact with astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ARISS). Despite several challenges, the group has engaged over 600 Africans from more than 40 countries and is…
Peer Reviews
No public reviews on file for this paper yet. If you reviewed it on a platform where reviews are public (OpenReview, ICLR, NeurIPS, ICML), you can paste yours below so the community can read it here.
Videos
No videos yet. Explain this paper in a talk, walkthrough, or lecture? Add one.
Taxonomy
TopicsGenetics, Bioinformatics, and Biomedical Research
