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SUMMARY:O37 - ASEAN Astronomy Camp (AAC)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261125T023000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261125T024500Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261112T142559Z
UID:indico-contribution-841@indico.narit.or.th
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: yadanan inta ()\nThe ASEAN Astronomy Camp (AAC) is a
  regional youth outreach program organized by the National Astronomical Re
 search Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and the International Training Centre
  in Astronomy under the auspices of UNESCO (ITCA). Originally established 
 before the COVID-19 pandemic\, the camp successfully relaunched in 2025\, 
 welcoming students aged 15–19 from across ASEAN and beyond. High school 
 is a critical time for young people\, as many begin thinking seriously abo
 ut their future education and career paths. Moving beyond traditional clas
 sroom learning\, the AAC provides students with direct access to world-cla
 ss observatories\, cutting-edge research facilities\, and space technology
  that may not be available in their home countries\, helping them explore 
 whether a career in science and astronomy is the right path for them. For 
 many\, this is their first time stepping into a world-class scientific env
 ironment\, and that kind of experience can be life-changing.\n\nOver two c
 onsecutive years since its relaunch\, the AAC has shown strong and growing
  international interest. In 2025\, the camp received 317 applications and 
 selected 42 participants from 11 Asian countries. In 2026\, 206 applicatio
 ns came in from 12 countries — including first-time participants from Fi
 nland\, Italy\, the Dominican Republic\, and the United Arab Emirates — 
 showing that the program's reach is expanding well beyond ASEAN.\n\nEach e
 dition offers a range of hands-on educational activities designed to spark
  curiosity and open doors to science careers. Core highlights include star
 gazing atop Doi Inthanon — Thailand's highest peak — and visits to NAR
 IT's advanced observatories and innovation laboratories. In the most recen
 t edition\, new activities were introduced\, including Astro Rally — a t
 eam-based station rotation game featuring astronomy photo matching\, const
 ellation charades\, vocabulary guessing\, and creative video-making.These 
 collaborative activities were highly well-received\, effectively fostering
  peer learning and science communication skills among participants.\n\nAt 
 its heart\, the AAC is a platform for connection\, where young people from
  diverse cultures and languages build friendships\, discover shared passio
 ns\, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations — proving that ast
 ronomy has the power to bring people together and inspire the next generat
 ion of science leaders from the region to the global stage.\n\nKeywords: A
 SEAN\, Astronomy Camp\, International\, Astronomy Education\, Youth\, STEM
 \, Cultural Exchange\,\n\nhttps://indico.narit.or.th/event/238/contributio
 ns/841/
LOCATION:Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort Ballroom III
URL:https://indico.narit.or.th/event/238/contributions/841/
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