As part of the Onboarding Week at AIMS South Africa in January 2024, new students embarked on a journey of exploration, space, and astronomy through a series of thought-provoking documentaries. One of the highlights was A Look at the Stars: Bringing Astronomy to Remote Nepal, a documentary created by students from the Pokhara Astronomical Society in Nepal.

This film had a special connection to AIMS. Prof. Claire David, Academic Director of the AI for Science programme, met the filmmakers while attending the Masterclass in Particle Physics & Workshop in Machine Learning in Kathmandu, Nepal, in December 2023. During her visit, she was also invited to speak at BCVSPIN, a conference dedicated to promoting particle physics in South and Southeast Asia.

Upon returning to AIMS, Prof. David organized a surprise post-screening Q&A session featuring two of the documentary’s creators, Nishan Lamichane and Angel Bashyal. Speaking live from Nepal, they engaged with the AIMS students, answering questions and sharing their experiences in bringing astronomy education to remote areas. The session was met with enthusiasm and curiosity, inspiring students to think beyond borders and explore the intersection of science, technology, and global outreach.

AIMS extends a special thank you to Angel and Nishan for their time and insightful discussions, and to our dedicated volunteers—Emmanuel Ahenkan, Yassir Osman, Emmanuel Ayanful, and Rodéo Toha—for their support in making this event a success.

Prof. Claire David’s participation in the Kathmandu conference was partially sponsored by the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, highlighting the value of international collaboration in scientific research and education.

We look forward to bringing more inspiring experiences to AIMS students and fostering a spirit of curiosity, innovation, and global engagement in mathematical sciences.