Edward Guinan

Edward Guinan is a professor of Astrophysics and Planetary Science at Villanova University; Served on IAU Astronomy Education and Outreach programs/committees over the last twenty years – including the International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) and Teaching Astronomy for Development (TAD). He is currently chair of the Astronomy for Universities and Research Program at the IAU Office for Astronomy for Development (IAU/OAD). His research interest includes Stellar & Solar Astrophysics, Variable stars, Observational Cosmology, Astrobiology, Exoplanets, etc. He has published over 700 papers that utilized ground-based and NASA/ESA X-ray–Infrared space-mission data and also works with Amateur Astronomy groups.

Michele Gerbaldi

Michele Gerbaldi is an associated Researcher at the Institut d’Astrophysique de Paris (IAP), France. Her astronomical researches are focused on atmospheric properties and evolutionary status of peculiar early type stars. She was a vice-chairperson (1992-1997) and chairperson (1997-2007) of the International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) at International Astronomical Union (IAU). She is now acting as a member (2015-2018) of the Steering Committee of Division C. She is involved with the activities of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) Task Force 1: Universities and Research and currently working on her project called Starlight in the University: Astrolab.

Maria Cunninghum

Maria Cunningham is a senior lecturer in Department of Astrophysics at School of Physics, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Australia. Her research interests include Molecular Astrophysics, Bioastronomy, and Turbulence and energy transfer in the interstellar medium. she has a particular interest in investigating pre-biotic molecules in the interstellar medium, and she is involved in collaborative research with groups in the USA, Chile and Germany. She is also interested in using data intensive astronomy together with computational astrophysics to understand the relationship between star formation and the surrounding interstellar medium.

Sanjaya Paudel

Sanjaya Poudel is a post-doctoral fellow at Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI). He received his PhD in 2011 from University of Heidelberg, Germany. His research interest is the formation and evolution of low mass galaxies. These so-called dwarf-galaxies are fundamental unit blocks of the universe. They are the most abundant and early formed objects as our hierarchical cosmology predicts. Characterizing their properties and understanding the physical processes that influence their evolution have become important tool to understand how large scale structure came to exist in the early Universe and how our observable Universe evolved after the Big-Bang.

Prajwal Kafle

Prajwal Raj Kafle is a lecturer at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in the University of Western Australia (UWA). He has extensive experience observing with large optical telescope, working with super-computing facilities, analyzing big-data and solving scientific problems. His expertise lies in python programming, bayesian statistics and scientific methods. He regularly publishes scientific research in reputed international peer-reviewed journals, publishes outreach/op-ed articles in the newspapers and magazines. Currently, he is involved in two largest endeavors of Australian Optical Astronomy community, i.e., Galactic Archaeology with HERMES (GALAH) and Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) surveys.

Suman Satyal

Suman Satyal got his Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics working with Prof. Dr. Zdzislaw Musielak at the University of Texas at Arlington where he specialized on the orbital dynamics of the exoplanets in stellar binaries. He later extended his research into detection of exoplanets and exomoons. He has authored several scientific papers and his research has been recognized with notable awards and fellowships. As an active member of AAS and APS, he has presented his research in national and international conferences and actively participated in workshops to work on Exoplanet Light Curves, hosted by the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute.

Suresh Bhattarai

Chairman

Mr. Suresh Bhattarai is a PhD Scholar at Insititute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University and an adjunct faculty at Department of Physics, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus. Graduated with M.Sc. Physics degree with majors Astrophysics and Plasma Physics from Tribhuvan University in 2011, his research interests are Planetary Science, Star Formation, ISM, High Energy Astrophysics, Astrochemistry, and Astrobiology. He has eclectic experience on astronomy outreach and education in Nepal. He is a member at International Board of International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) and International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) respectively. He also served at  Space  Generation  Advisory Council (SGAC) with different capacities such as National Point of Contact for Nepal, Executive Secretary for Vienna Office and Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific Regiion during 2009-2018. He has been working as NASA Space Apps Local Leads for eight different location across seven provinces of Nepal since 2020. He serves at IAU with different capacities. He is National Outreach Coordinator (NOC) and National Astronomy Education Coordinator (NAEC) respectively. He is also manager of the IAU OAE Node for Nepal.

Manisha Dwa

Project Coordinator

Manisha Dwa is a MPhil Scholar at Kathmandu University of School of Education. She is a IAU Co-National Outrearch Cooridinator and a member of the National Astronomy Education Coordinator (NAEC) Team for Nepal. She is also a Deputy Manager of IAU OAE Node Nepal. Her research interest lies in STEM education, art-craft, and space law. She is a member at National Astronomy Olympiad Organizing Committee-Nepal and International Board of International Oympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA).  She is a focal point for Universe Awareness (UNAWE) program in Nepal and coordinator of Women in Astronomy Nepal (WIAN). Her works have been featured in different national magazines and newspapers.

Narayan Dhital

Lead- Space Application Group

Narayan Dhital is working as a satellite navigation Engineer in DLR, GfR mbH, Germany. He holds an executive Master of International Affairs & Diplomacy from the United Nations, Institute of Training and Research, in Geneva, Switzerland. He has synthesized research work in EU-Asia Pacific trade & economic instruments for Galileo downstream industry. He also holds a master’s of science degree in Space Science and Technology, focusing on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, from the Technical University of Munich and a bachelor’s of science degree in Earth and Space Sciences, focusing on space physics, from Jacobs University, Germany.

Suresh Bhattarai

Chairman

Mr. Suresh Bhattarai is a PhD Scholar at Insititute of Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University and an adjunct faculty at Department of Physics, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus. Graduated with M.Sc. Physics degree with majors Astrophysics and Plasma Physics from Tribhuvan University in 2011, his research interests are Planetary Science, Star Formation, ISM, High Energy Astrophysics, Astrochemistry, and Astrobiology. He has eclectic experience on astronomy outreach and education in Nepal. He is a member at International Board of International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) and International Astronomy Olympiad (IAO) respectively. He also served at  Space  Generation  Advisory Council (SGAC) with different capacities such as National Point of Contact for Nepal, Executive Secretary for Vienna Office and Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific Regiion during 2009-2018. He has been working as NASA Space Apps Local Leads for eight different location across seven provinces of Nepal since 2020. He serves at IAU with different capacities. He is National Outreach Coordinator (NOC) and National Astronomy Education Coordinator (NAEC) respectively. He is also manager of the IAU OAE Node for Nepal.

Manisha Dwa

Project Coordinator

Manisha Dwa is a MPhil Scholar at Kathmandu University of School of Education. She is a IAU Co-National Outrearch Cooridinator and a member of the National Astronomy Education Coordinator (NAEC) Team for Nepal. She is also a Deputy Manager of IAU OAE Node Nepal. Her research interest lies in STEM education, art-craft, and space law. She is a member at National Astronomy Olympiad Organizing Committee-Nepal and International Board of International Oympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA).  She is a focal point for Universe Awareness (UNAWE) program in Nepal and coordinator of Women in Astronomy Nepal (WIAN). Her works have been featured in different national magazines and newspapers.

Rupa Manandhar

Rupa Manandhar is a principal at a community high school with a degree in Master’s in Education (M.Ed.). She has worked as a science teacher for almost three decades prior to taking up the position of principal. Besides that she is authors of several science fact books for children. She has also translated some books by other authors. She has been a STAN (Science Teacher’s Association of Nepal) lifetime member for more than a decade. She has been actively involved with NASO’s teacher training and workshop/seminar since 2015. She is Bagmati Pradesh coordinator of IAU NOC National Committee and has been working for astronomy olympiad (junior category) since 2019.

Narayan Dhital

Lead- Space Application Group

Narayan Dhital is working as a satellite navigation Engineer in DLR, GfR mbH, Germany. He holds an executive Master of International Affairs & Diplomacy from the United Nations, Institute of Training and Research, in Geneva, Switzerland. He has synthesized research work in EU-Asia Pacific trade & economic instruments for Galileo downstream industry. He also holds a master’s of science degree in Space Science and Technology, focusing on Global Navigation Satellite Systems, from the Technical University of Munich and a bachelor’s of science degree in Earth and Space Sciences, focusing on space physics, from Jacobs University, Germany.

Nancy Dwa

Nancy Dwa, a Civil Engineer, enjoys working with kids for astronomy and space science outreach and education via art and craft. She has also been advocating for Science, Technology, engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Nepal since 2011 after her graduation. She is also a member of Women in Astronomy- Nepal (WIAN), a unique initiative of Nepal Astronomical Society providing a common platform for people with great enthusiasm for astronomy. She works at Create Consult as a Civil Engineer and working on the infrastructural development strategy of Nepal Astronomical Society (NASO) to support its activities in Nepal.