Sustainable, Local Socio-Economic Development Through Astronomy

TL;DR

This paper discusses how astronomy can serve as a catalyst for sustainable local socio-economic development by fostering education, tourism, and capacity building, supported by case studies and a practical implementation framework.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework for designing and evaluating astronomy-based community initiatives aligned with SDGs, based on diverse international case studies.

Findings

Astronomy initiatives stimulate local economies and employment.

Community engagement enhances STEM participation.

Challenges include benefit inequality and sustainability gaps.

Abstract

Astronomy, often perceived as a distant or luxury science, holds immense potential as a driver for sustainable local socio-economic development. This paper explores how astronomy can create tangible benefits for communities through education, tourism, technology transfer, and capacity building. Using case studies from South Africa, Chile, Indonesia, and India, we demonstrate how astronomical facilities and initiatives have stimulated local economies, generated employment, supported small enterprises, and enhanced STEM participation, while simultaneously inspiring a sense of shared global heritage. The analysis identifies both successes and challenges, including unequal benefit distribution, limited local ownership, and sustainability gaps once external funding ends. Building on these lessons, we propose a practical framework/guidelines for designing, implementing, and evaluating astronomy-based community initiatives, rooted in participatory engagement and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper positions astronomy as a catalyst for inclusive growth, demonstrating that investment in the cosmos can translate into grounded, measurable benefits for people and places on Earth.