Closer to the sky: co-creating astronomical knowledge in a favela of Rio de Janeiro

The project “Closer to the Sky” aims to bring national and international astronomy to Brazilian slums (“favelas”). The project’s major focus is using astronomy as a tool to the development of children who live in the favelas’ underprivileged circumstances.

Since 2022, the project organizes classes that take place in a public library, called “Ninho das Águias” (in english, “Eagle’s Nest”), built by the residents of a community called Pavão-Pavãozinho (from Rio de Janeiro’s PPG complex). The library was built where before stood a dumping ground. Every Friday the library makes its space available for the project Closer to the Sky, where activities such as physics experiments and games are conducted, using astronomy to promote children’s development and learning.

This outreach project not only brings academia to the public, but it also promotes inclusion, values community knowledge and culture, and provides institutional support and protection to children in Pavão-Pavãozinho.