Inauguration

The Arab Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (Arab-ROAD) and the Arabic Language Expertise Center (Arab-LOAD) had officially joined the IAU-Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) network. The inauguration took place in Amman, the Capital of Jordan, on the 2nd and 3rd of December 2015.

The inauguration was attended by the IAU General Secretary (Prof. Piero Benvenuti), the Director of the OAD (Mr. Kevin Govender), representatives of the host institution and from several Arab states in the region. Dr. Awni Al-Khasawneh, the General Secretary of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS), and the General Director of the Royal Jordanian Geographic Centre (RJGC), had delivered a welcome address. Prof. Hamid Al- Naimiy, President of the AUASS and Chancellor of the University of Sharjah, had read a statement, and Prof. Dia Eddin Arafa, President of Al al-Bayt University (AABU), had given the opening address.

Opening of the Office for the Development of Better Astronomy Dr. Hamid Majoul Al-Nuaimi, Secretary General of the International Astronomical Company Piero Bienvoniti, and Dr. Jevin Govender, Director of the Astronomy Office / of the International Astronomical Company

The meeting also included individual sessions focusing on Astronomy for Development, astronomical projects and capacity building in the Arab world, in addition to a round table discussion. A meeting of the Regional Office’s Steering Committee had also convened during this time.

The Arab Regional Office (Arab-ROAD) and Arabic Language Expertise Center (Arabic-LOAD) is thus hosted by the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences (AUASS) which is currently located at the Royal Jordanian Geographical Centre (RJGC) in Amman, Jordan. In addition the RJGC hosts the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education which is affiliated to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).