Astronomy in the Classroom: Bringing the Universe to Public Schools in Ecuador

This is a poster presented at the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE, https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/7th-shaw-iau-workshop/). Title: Astronomy in the Classroom: Bringing the Universe to Public Schools in Ecuador Presenter:Daysi Quinatoa (Observatorio Astronómico de Quito) Our initiative, Astronomía en el Aula (Astronomy in the Classroom), brings astronomy education to Ecuadorian public schools through interactive visits, hands-on activities, and telescope observations. Starting in Quito, the program has expanded with support from local educators and the Ministry of Education. We introduce basic astronomy concepts, foster curiosity, and give many students their first view of the sky. By integrating astronomy into curricula, we aim to inspire future scientists and promote equity and inclusion in STEM. Collaborators:Ericson Lopez (Observatorio Astronómico de Quito)Freddy Picoita (Observatorio Astronómico de Quito)Francisco Carvajal (Observatorio Astronómico de Quito) About the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop:The 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop took place 18 - 21 November 2025. The Shaw-IAU workshops focus on astronomy education for primary and secondary school students and teacher training both in universities and in service. This year's Education focus session on Teaching with authentic data and the Science focus is on Galaxies.More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/Keep up to date with future Shaw-IAU Workshops and other opportunities at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education by joining our mailing list https://astro4edu.org/mailing-list/ Follow the IAU OAE on Bluesky and Facebook under @astro4edu