The 2026 Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement has been awarded to CosmoAmautas, a Peruvian non-profit association that uses planetary science and astronomy as a gateway to spark curiosity and bring scientific opportunities to children and young students across Peru.
Dr Gabriela Calistro Rivera received the prize on behalf of CosmoAmautas at the recent Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC2026) in The Hague and gave a public lecture about the work of the association. The prize is accompanied by a cash award of 1000 Euros.
Thibaut Roger, presenting the prize on behalf of Europlanet, said: “We are proud to honour CosmoAmautas through the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement. This dynamic and innovative association has demonstrated how rural schools can be supported to become places where planetary science and astronomy are not only explained, but actively and sustainably practised, for example through the search for exoplanets using real data.”
Since 2021, CosmoAmautas has trained over 200 teachers across 21 out of 24 regions of Peru, supported more than 80 Astroclubs, and reached over 10,000 students through participating teachers. With a focus on inquiry-based learning, the team of researchers and educators has developed a range of resources, adapted to schools with limited infrastructure and linked to the Peruvian curriculum, that can be delivered to teachers through experiment boxes, printed guides and online materials. Activities covered include measuring the Earth’s rotation and dimensions, investigations with scale models of the Solar System and analysis of space mission data. Gender equality and inclusion are key values of the association and programmes are integrated with Andean ancestral astronomical traditions, showing that observing and interpreting the sky are deeply rooted in Peru’s cultural history.
The CosmoAmautas team is composed of Peruvian students and astronomy professionals living in Peru and all around the globe and working across all fields of astronomy and planetary sciences. In order to reach underserved communities, the initiatives developed by the team have occurred mainly online, but future plans include in-person events that will be partially supported by the Europlanet prize funding.
On receiving the prize, Gabriela Calistro Rivera said: “It is a great honour to receive the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement on behalf of CosmoAmautas. ‘Amauta’ means teacher in the quechua language, and our programme is based on the principle that when a teacher is empowered, the future of an entire community can be transformed. This award recognises not only the CosmoAmautas team, but also our community of teachers and students across Peru. This is a great incentive to continue our efforts in bringing scientific education and access to astronomy to more regions and students in our country.”
Images
Gabriela Calistro Rivera accepting the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement 2026 on behalf of CosmoAmautas. Credit: Europlanet.
Gabriela Calistro Rivera, on behalf of CosmoAmautas, accepting the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement 2026 from Thibaut Roger. Credit: Europlanet.
Gabriela Calistro Rivera giving the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement 2026 Lecture on behalf of CosmoAmautas. Credit: Europlanet.
Contacts
EPSC2026 Press Office
press@europlanet.org
+44 7756 034243
Notes for Editors
About CosmoAmautas
CosmoAmautas is a nonprofit association that uses astronomy to empower teachers as agents of change, inspire students and boost scientific development across the country.
We train teachers in astronomy, the scientific method, inquiry-based learning, and educational innovation in science. Astronomy naturally connects concepts from physics, math, chemistry, biology, technology, and environmental science, offering a powerful tool to enrich science and technology classes with hands-on, motivating experiences aligned with the school curriculum.
We also support the creation of school AstroClubs, develop accessible materials for low-connectivity contexts, and lead the CosmoAmautas Ambassadors Network: teacher leaders who multiply the methodology across their regions, strengthening local educational communities and contributing to a sustainable improvement of science teaching.
https://www.cosmoamautas.org/index.html
About the Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement.
The Europlanet Prize for Public Engagement with Planetary Science, established in 2010, is awarded to individuals or groups who have developed innovative and socially impactful practices in planetary science communication and education.
Through the Prize, Europlanet aims to:
- Recognise achievements in engaging European citizens with planetary science, promoting inspiration, learning and social responsibility.
- Raise the profile of public engagement and education as valued activities within the scientific community.
About the Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC)
The Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC), established in 2006 as the European Planetary Science Congress, is currently the largest annual planetary science meeting in the world. It covers the entire range of planetary sciences, with an extensive mix of talks, workshops and poster sessions, as well as providing a unique space for networking and exchanges of experiences. It is the annual meeting of the Europlanet association.
EPSC2026 is sponsored by The Hague and Partners, Springer, the Space: Science & Technology journal, and the American Astronomical Society’s Planetary Science Journal (PSJ).
About Europlanet
Europlanet (www.europlanet.org) is a non-profit association and membership organisation that provides the planetary science community with access to research infrastructure, services and training. The Europlanet Association Sans But Lucratif (AISBL), established in 2023, builds on the heritage of a series of projects funded by the European Commission between 2005 and 2024 (Grant Numbers 871149, 654208, 228319 and RICA-CT-2004-001637) to support the planetary science community in Europe and around the world.
