Women and Girls in Astronomy Program (WGAP)

Women and Girls in Astronomy Program (WGAP) is sponsored by North American Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (NA-ROAD). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Women and Girls Astronomy Program – Naroad – Astro4Dev Exciting News! Announcement of the Ten (10) Selected Projects for WGAP 2025 The North American Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (NA-ROAD) announced the selection of ten astronomers whose development projects will receive funding through the Women and Girls in Astronomy Program (WGAP).

WGAP aims to inspire and empower women, girls, and underrepresented genders in astronomy by supporting innovative projects that foster participation and inclusion in the field. From a pool of highly competitive proposals, ten projects were awarded $2,000 mini-grants. The program year will conclude with a showcase, where WGAP Fellows will present their outcomes and highlight their contributions to advancing women and girls in astronomy.

The selected projects represent diverse communities across North America, including: United States (5 projects): Houston, Puerto Rico Texas; New York, NY; Tempe, Arizona; and Connecticut, Mexico (3 projects): Tequila, Jalisco; and Misión de Chichimecas – Guanajuato, Chavarría, Cadereyta de Montes – Querétaro, Jamaica, West Indies (1 project), and Canada (1 project): Castlegar, British Columbia Funding for WGAP is made possible through the generous support of the Heising-Simons Foundation.

The program is managed by NA-ROAD, which is co-managed by Associated Universities Inc. (AUI), Adler Planetarium, and the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). The Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) is a joint initiative of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF), supported by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI).

The OAD leverages astronomy, its skills, practitioners, and infrastructures as a tool for global development by mobilizing resources to realize astronomy’s scientific, technological, and cultural benefits for society. The OAD coordinates with 11 Regional Offices and Language Centres worldwide, each advancing this vision within its geographic, cultural, or language context.

Links to past program reports We are thankful to the Heising-Simons Foundation for supporting the NA-ROAD Women and Girls in Astronomy Program. Questions? Email wgap@aui.

edu Stargazing with Friends is a project of the José Franco Astronomical Club of Querétaro. The goal is to provide indigenous women from Altamira, Querétaro, with knowledge of the use of telescopes and astronomy, and to become night sky guides. This will support tourism groups in enjoying local astronomy resources, and promote women’s development and economic advancement.

UNDER NORTHERN SKIES: EXPANDING ACCESS TO ASTRONOMY FOR GIRLS AND EDUCATORS IN RURAL CANADA This first-ever astronomy workshop in Canada’s West Kootenays will connect high school students and educators with hands-on activities, career talks and stargazing with local Indigenous (Ktunaxa) perspectives —promoting astronomy access for girls and gender-diverse youth in this rural region.

STAR FIELD: WOMEN’S EMPLOYMENT IN ASTROTOURISM IN TEQUILA, JALISCO, MEXICO Star Fields empowers young women in Tequila, Mexico, through training in astronomy, digital and financial literacy, and astrotourism experience design, enabling them to access sustainable jobs and challenge gender stereotypes in tourism.

The Lower Eastside Girls Club will offer a weekly STEM afterschool astronomy course for middle school students in our 64-seat East Village Planetarium, running from mid-September through early December 2025.

Taught by a college professor specializing in Environmental Sciences, each week will focus on a different NASA space mission, with students exploring missions throughout our solar system and developing research projects that will culminate in presentations by the students. The course will conclude with a free public event featuring student-led presentations, hands-on activities, and immersive planetarium experiences.

DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM ONE PLANET AT A TIME! This project brings real-time telescope observation and hands-on astronomy learning to 4th grade students across Metro Atlanta. Students will explore Jupiter, the Moon, or the ISS, then take home activity bags with coloring books, puzzles, and space-themed STEM tools.

STARLIT FUTURES: INSPIRING WOMEN AND GIRLS TO STUDY ASTRONOMY The Futures Forum will train Girl Guide Leaders in Jamaica through workshops to lead astronomy-themed gatherings. Together, we’ll host two “Moonshine Dahlin” events in Oct–Nov 2025, blending moon science, lore, and literature to celebrate heritage and inspire interest in astronomy.

THE SKY SEEN BY UZA’ WOMEN This project brings contemporary astronomy to the Eza’r (Chichimeca Jonaz) community through Uza’-language materials, stargazing, and dialogue circles blending modern science with traditional knowledge, engaging grandmothers, mothers, and daughters to inspire science and strengthen intergenerational learning.

IGNITING STEM DREAMS IN ARIZONA’S YOUTH A two-phase astronomy program in Tempe and Mesa combining museum visits, stargazing, and creative storytelling to inspire Arizona girls and young women, spark curiosity, and build confidence and pathways into STEM careers with a supportive science community.

The Night Sky Explorer Program was implemented in eastern Travis County, Texas, as a community-based initiative designed to combine astronomy education with environmental awareness and night sky preservation. The program sought to increase public understanding of astronomy while encouraging responsible lighting practices and community participation in protecting dark skies.

Through hands-on learning and citizen science activities, participants explored the relationship between astronomy, environmental stewardship, and sustainable community practices. NA-ROAD Recognized Projects NA-ROAD Endorsed Projects