OAD Call for Proposals 2020 & Special Call for COVID-19 in Category Astronomy

[Eli]

This year, the OAD is launching two calls for proposals. You may apply for one or both the calls.

1. Annual Call for Proposals:

This is the regular, annual call for proposals you may be familiar with. The call is open to anyone from anywhere in the world and invites proposals for projects that use astronomy as a tool to address an issue or issues related to sustainable development. It follows a 2-stage process, similar to previous years. The deadline for Stage 1 applications is May 31, 2020.

Information on the call: http://www.astro4dev.org/aboutiauoad/cfp/
Application: http://www.astro4dev.org/2020-stage1-application/
Contact: Email address

2. Extraordinary Call for COVID-19 related Proposals:

The OAD is also releasing an additional, extraordinary call for COVID-19 related proposals. We invite proposals for projects or partnerships that use astronomy, in any of its aspects (including skills, methodologies, tools, infrastructure, inspiration or even just networks of astronomers/enthusiasts) to help mitigate some of the impacts of COVID-19. This call will run in parallel with our regular call for proposals but on an accelerated timeline. Deadline for proposals for the extraordinary call is May 15, 2020 and results will be announced around 2 weeks later.
Astronomy, by no means, can solve these enormous challenges by itself but it can have a small role to play in the global, grand scheme of things. As these are complex issues with long term impacts, we recommend proposers consult or work with experts in those domains.

Information and Application: http://www.astro4dev.org/call-for-covid ... proposals/
Contact: Email address.

[Eli]

Personal appeal: COVID-19 projects

This is a personal appeal for you to apply your minds and come up with ideas to address the current challenges being faced by so many in our families and communities because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Times are tough for so many people - and only made worse by this pandemic! Some have lost jobs or income. Some have lost loved ones and breadwinners. So many people don't know how to manage their kids' education while schools are closed. There are more and more people finding themselves not knowing where their next meal will come from. It is a stressful time for many, and although the lockdowns across the continent have clearly helped to slow down the spread of the virus, it has also had some serious negative effects on people's livelihoods, and will probably continue to do so in the coming months or even years.

My appeal to you is that you engage with those who are negatively affected by all this, engage with those who are trying to help (NGOs, community groups, medical experts, etc), and come up with ideas to help your fellow human beings. We have redirected funding from the OAD's budget to offer grants of up to ZAR20,000 each for ways to help address the challenges caused by COVID-19. Because of our mandate at the OAD, we would like the projects to use astronomy in some way, either the technology/skills from astronomy or even the people involved in astronomy - but please don't let this limit your imagination because regardless of this we could still help you to shape good ideas accordingly, and at the very least we will be able to pass your ideas on to other organizations funding such initiatives.

Come up with your creative ideas and send your proposals to us (there is an easy-to-complete form at the following link: http://www.astro4dev.org/call-for-covid ... proposals/). Below are some project examples from that webpage. Please take a moment, be creative, think of how you can help people around you, and send us your ideas by 15th May 2020.

Please also do spread the word among your communities and personal networks, and please help those who may have ideas but not the means to complete the application form above.

[Eli]

A reminder that the deadline for the COVID-19 call is this Friday, May 15. We will continue accepting proposals as long as it is May 15 somewhere in the world.

We are happy to announce that the African Planetarium Association (APA) will be contributing financially to this Extraordinary Call, enabling us to offer more support to people at this difficult time.

Information and application: http://www.astro4dev.org/call-for-covid ... proposals/

[Eli]