Exeter Astronomy Education Conference

The Astronomy Education Conference occurs every other year. We look forward to seeing you in June 2026!

The 2024 conference is filled. The next Exeter Astronomy Education Conference will be in June 2026.

The Exeter Astronomy Education Conference is a weeklong meeting of secondary school astronomy educators of all levels. Teachers from around the United States gather to connect with peers, generate long-term collaborations between astronomy programs at various schools, and learn about changes to the science of astronomy and astronomy education. All attendees participate on a scholarship basis. Your conference tuition, meals, and lodging are covered. Those interested should submit an application. Applicants will be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis and the conference will close when it reaches capacity. 

Twelve applicants will be chosen such that individuals from a diverse astronomy education background are involved. This allows us to share our knowledge across experiences.  

Topics from past conferences includes:

• Tips and tricks for successful astronomy education.
• Goals of astronomy courses: Syllabus construction to accommodate the rapid developments in the science.
• Meeting the needs of the students and the course: Prerequisites.
• Textbooks and software: available resources for the educator.
• Observing Components: Computer use in the field.
• Merging observational astronomy into classroom discussion.
• Equipment Selection: Cost versus performance analysis.
• Equipment use: From binoculars to CCD imagers.
• External Resources: User groups, associations, planetariums, other schools, etc.
• Course-long projects in observational astronomy.