Description
India is the land of unity in diversity. It offers unique challenges when it comes to delivering quality, affordable, and accessible astronomy education to students, especially in its most remote and marginalized regions. Inspired by the vision and efforts of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of the Indian space program, the LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation came up with the Outreach Sarabhai initiative in 2022 that seeks to bring space to the mainstream discussions. Some of our efforts help bridge the accessibility gap in astronomy and space education through space-themed online events, targeted physical outreach workshops, inclusive pedagogy, and innovative partnerships. We foster experiential and inquiry-based approaches to learning. The program integrates hands-on activities, local language (like Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and more) resources, and community engagement to foster scientific temper and curiosity among students from diverse backgrounds. For the last 3 years, we have been involved in collaborative efforts with organizations such as the Pratham Education Foundation and pilot studies with the Astronomical Society of India (ASI), Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) and International Astronomical Union (IAU) impacting more than 500 rural and tribal kids physically across the remotest parts of India states including West Bengal, Chhattisharh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Grassroots outreach experts enable the deployment of astronomy kits and training in linguistically and culturally relevant formats, ensuring that physical, economic, and societal barriers are addressed. Special emphasis is placed on including girls, students from rural and tribal areas, and those from other underrepresented communities, thus embodying the principles of accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The outcomes demonstrate that with adaptive strategies and sustained effort, astronomy and space can become a gateway to STEAM learning and empowerment, even in the extremes of India. This model offers valuable lessons for the broader Asian context, underscoring the importance of localized, inclusive outreach in building a scientifically literate and equitable society.
