IUB Launches “Cosmic HerStory” to Empower Young Women in Astronomy
Center for Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics (CASSA) of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) has launched a new initiative titled Cosmic HerStory to address gender disparities in astronomy education through supervised technical training and science communication instruction for young women.
Funded by the British Council Bangladesh under the WOW (Women of the World) Bangladesh Chapter, the project will run from January to August 2026 and will include a series of training programs and workshops hosted at IUB. The first workshop was held from January 15 to 17, 2026, at IUB as part of CASSA’s outreach program, Durbin.
The three-day Durbin Workshop introduced participants to telescope optics, observational techniques, astrophotography, image processing, and science writing. A total of 20 participants from nine institutions across Dhaka, Chattogram, and Pabna took part in the training.
The official grant agreement for Cosmic HerStory was signed on December 22, 2025, by Prof. Dr. M. Tamim, Vice Chancellor of IUB, and Maarya Rehman, Deputy Director of the British Council Bangladesh. The project is supervised by Dr. Lamiya Mowla, Assistant Professor at Wellesley College, USA, and Associate Member of CASSA; Dr. Syeda Lammim Ahad of the University of Waterloo, Canada; and Dr. Khan Muhammad Bin Asad, Director of CASSA.
Durbin program—short for Duur Biswer Nagorik (Citizens of the Far Worlds)—was established by Dr. Lamiya Mowla in 2022 with a seed grant from the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, Canada. In 2023, the Dunlap Institute further supported IUB through the acquisition of two Unistellar Equinox-1 telescopes, significantly strengthening hands-on observational astronomy activities at CASSA.
WOW grant primarily supports Durbin-related activities throughout 2026, supplemented by in-kind contributions from remaining Dunlap Institute resources. The Cosmic HerStory proposal was developed by the Durbin volunteer team, led by Project Manager Farzana Akter Lima.
This project will culminate in a public event organized by the WOW Bangladesh Chapter in August 2026 at IUB. The event will feature astronomy education programs and public engagement activities, showcase the achievements of the participants and promote inclusive participation in space science.
Through Cosmic HerStory, CASSA and IUB aim to create a sustainable pathway for young women in Bangladesh to engage with astronomy and astrophysics, strengthening both scientific capacity and gender equity in STEM fields.
