MIRTO & STEAM-MED
Lampedusa Workshop on Astronomy Education

The MIRTO & STEAM-MED project was an international initiative coordinated by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education Center Italy (I-OAE) aimed at creating a community among educators of astronomy in the Mediterranean region.

The MIRTO phase (Mediterranean Informal Round Table Online) was held from November to December 2021. Several online round tables were organised among educators and National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs) in the  Mediterranean region to get acquainted with each other and share difficulties and challenges in education in every country.

The second phase, STEAM-MED, was aimed at developing astronomy-based educational activities for students in the Mediterranean region. 

Educators and National Astronomy Education Coordinators (NAECs) collaboratively designed learning experiences connecting astronomy, science, and cultural perspectives. The initiative focused on creating a shared educational pathway on the theme of light, designed primarily for children aged 6–12, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and a sense of scientific community across the Mediterranean area.

Between January and May 2022, participating countries worked together through an international co-design process. Educators from different NAEC teams were paired in several rounds to collaboratively develop educational resources, exchanging ideas and adapting activities to different cultural and educational contexts. This collaborative process led to the development of multiple educational resources exploring the concept of light and its role in astronomy and physics. Regular online meetings allowed participants to present their work, discuss implementation strategies, and refine the activities together.

The project culminated in an in-person workshop held in Lampedusa (Italy) from 3 to 9 July 2022, bringing together 23 NAEC representatives from across the Mediterranean region. During the workshop, participants shared educational practices, further developed the activities created during the co-design phase, and explored ways to adapt them to different school contexts. A multicultural stargazing evening was also organised, where participants shared myths and stories from their cultures related to the constellations visible from Lampedusa, highlighting the connection between astronomy, science, and cultural heritage.

Some shots from the workshop in Lampedusa.