The official inauguration of the CosmoLab 2023-2027 project, an educational project to create an astronomical community in the schools of the island of Tenerife, took place last Friday 17th at the Observatorio del Teide (OT). The inauguration was attended by the Island Councillor for Innovation of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Juan José Martínez, the director of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), Rafael Rebolo, and directors and STEAM representatives from the four teaching centres on the island of Tenerife. They all enjoyed a tour of the facilities, an astronomical observation with telescopes and a presentation of the project for the next four years, as well as a spectacular sunset.

"We live in a true astronomical paradise," says Irene Puerto, outreach astrophysicist and coordinator of the CosmoLab project. "In addition to having crystal-clear skies for astronomical observation, the Canary Islands also have a great cultural heritage associated with this wealth: two of the best astronomical observatories in the world."

CosmoLab, devised by the IAC and financed mainly by the Cabildo de Tenerife, "is a project to bring the passion for astronomy to the educational community of Tenerife, so that teachers and students are aware of this great natural and cultural heritage that we have, and enjoy it," adds Alfred Rosemberg, outreach astrophysicist and head of the CosmoLab project.

CosmoLab offers teachers solar and nocturnal telescopes on loan to use with their students. Prior to the loan, training in the use of the telescope is given under the title 'CosmoLab: set up a telescope and observe the Universe', which is organised in collaboration with the four teaching centres on the island of Tenerife and includes a practical astronomical observation session at the OT.

Thanks to the support of the STEAM area of the Ministry of Education of the Government of the Canary Islands, an annual course in general astrophysics called 'CosmoViaje: del aula al Universo' (CosmoViaje: from the classroom to the Universe) is also offered, which is face-to-face for all teachers on the island of Tenerife and retransmitted to the rest of the Canary Islands. The sessions, which are held at the Museum of Science and the Cosmos every fortnight, consist of a talk open to the general public given by IAC research and outreach staff, and a practical workshop where educational resources on how to transfer the content of the talk to the classroom are presented. (See the topics and dates at: www.iac.es/cosmolab/cosmoeducando/)

From 2024, astrophotography courses will also be offered, as they have been in high demand by the teaching staff. And for the next academic year, when the project receives the corresponding material, courses in spectroscopy, the science that allows us to know what chemical elements the stars are made of, will also be offered.

More information:
Web: www.iac.es/cosmolab
Facebook: EduCosmolab
Instagram: cosmolab_tenerife