Pilot Study Promoting Equitable Astronomy Literacy Among Schools in West Bengal, India

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: Pilot Study Promoting Equitable Astronomy Literacy Among Schools in West Bengal, India Presenter:Sibsankar Palit (LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation) Astronomy literacy is crucial but often missing in Indian school curricula. To address this, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and Astronomical Society of India (ASI) developed accessible astronomy resources. In 2024, the IAU Office of Astronomy Education (OAE) launched a pilot in India for schools and NGOs to use these materials and provide feedback. The LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation (LTBF) participated, integrating resources like "Big Ideas in Astronomy" into outreach programs in West Bengal, including the Planetary Parade in Badkulla, a seminar at Krishnapur Adarsha Vidyamandir, and sessions at Newtown School, Kolkata. The study assessed student understanding, interest, and hands-on experience, revealing significant knowledge gaps and the need for targeted interventions. Collaborators:Subhrajit Barua (LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation, India)Subhajit Hazra (LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation, India)Narendra Singh (LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation, India)Ryan Kirby (LIFE-To & Beyond Foundation, India) 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