The Central American Master’s Program in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Abstract

AbstractThe Master’s Program in Astronomy and Astrophysics for Central America arises as part of the project of the National Autonomous University of Honduras to contribute to the establishment of “Astronomy and Astrophysics” as an academic field within the region (Pineda de Carias 1993). In 1997, the same year that the Central American Suyapa Astronomical Observatory (CASAO) was officially inaugurated (within the frame of the VII UN/ESA Workshop on Basic Space Science), a degree course in astronomy and astrophysics at graduate level was approved. In 1998 the program was formally opened for Central American graduate students in physics, mathematics or engineering. In the year 2000, the first group of students is expected to finish their courses. In this document we present the main features of the Master’s Program: the syllabus, resources, organization. A discussion of the results achieved and of future tendencies is also included, together with some recommendations about how the international community may contribute to the enhancement of this type of effort, and on how this model may be useful for developing countries.