This session will inform participants on how Space and Astronomy science education can be introduced thru informal learning approach to audience from varied backgrounds and catering for inclusion and diversity.

Introducing Space particularly how Slooh was adopted and adapted in various settings with three different audience i-e female high school girl students, middle school underprivileged girl students from conflict affected areas of Pakistan and secondary school students both girls and boys from a marginalized community of remote mountain valleys of Pakistan. Reflecting on outcomes and challenges faced while to engage these diverse groups. The session provides an insight to space and astronomy educators on engaging students of diverse background with varied challenges to the realm of space using online tools like a remote telescope network such as SLOOH.

Mirwat Shamshad is a Physics educator, teaching high school girls in Islamabad. She is enthusiastic and eager to bring learning beyond conventional classroom settings. She runs a not-for-profit venture, called “School of Astronomy and Physics”, to foster scientific culture at high school level. Her students regularly participate in national and international activities and projects. Mirwat is also CERN ambassador and is currently serving as National Astronomy Education Coordinator (NAEC) – for International Astronomical Union (IAU), STEPUP Advocate (American Physical Society-APS) Pakistan chapter, and International Day of Light (IDL) alumni. She has recently engaged her students in a scientific inquiry project through the Students on the Beamline (SotB) program at Canadian Light Source, entirely on remote settings. As well, she was part of the 2022 SESAME Teachers’ Workshop planning committee, that brought together three synchrotron-related organizations and teachers across the globe. She has been the recipient of SLOOH Space Exploration Grant, 2021.

Islamabad Girls’ School's “Exhilarating Journey” using Slooh