Objectives
To promote, in the Portuguese speaking countries and communities, the use of Astronomy and the exploration of the Universe in the development and in the scientific and technological empowerment of nations, fostering technology, science and culture, three fundamental vectors of development.
PLOAD was created in august 2015 by the Office of Astronomy for Development of the International Astronomical Union – IAU, with the purpose of implementing the IAU Strategic Plan.
This plan puts in evidence the role of Astronomy and the exploration of the Universe – one of the most significant adventures of our civilization – in the development and in the scientific and technological empowerment of nations, showing how it became a unique gateway for technology, science and culture, three fundamental vectors of development.
PLOAD is coordinated by NUCLIO in partnership with the Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço. So far, a number of partnerships have been established, in Portugal and in the several Portuguese speaking countries and communities, namely in Brazil, Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde and Mozambique (see full list of partners on the PLOAD website).
