The Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory Ambassadors, both local and international work to support and expand the capacity of the MMAO observatory and its educational program.
Mponda Malozo
Mponda is a life-long Tanzanian amateur astronomer and passionate educator who sees astronomy as a powerful gateway to science. He worked closely with Chuck and Sue Ruehle from the very start of Telescopes to Tanzania (a former Astronomers Without Borders project) which grew into the Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory. Following his introduction to astronomy through the IAU general assembly in 2008, Mponda has worked with astronomy enthusiasts in Tanzania, the East Africa region, Africa, and around the world. He served as the national country coordinator for Universe Awareness (UNAWE) and Astronomers Without Borders.
Eliatosha Maleko
Eliatosha is teaching at Ilboru Primary School, covering subjects English, Geography, and Science in Standard Six. Since his work with the late Chuck Ruehle and Sue Ruehle in 2012, he has made astronomy center to his work as a middle school teacher. He has dedicated much of his time to various outreach activities in several public and private schools, and university colleges such as Dodoma and Patandi Teachers collage in Arusha, Tanzania.
Kai Staats
Kai is a researcher, filmmaker, writer, and amateur astronomer who has since 2016 lead the development of the Mt. Meru Astronomical Observatory. Kai was inspired by and continues to work in the memory of Chuck Ruehle to bring the magic and mystery of dark night skies to learners everywhere. Kai holds a Masters in Applied Mathematics from the University of Capetown, his research in the application of evolutionary computation to noise mitigation in radio astronomy at the Square Kilometre Array, South Africa. Kai worked with the gravitational wave observatory LIGO for three years and is now a director of research at the University of Arizona where he and his team have constructed a sealed and pressurized Mars habitat analog.
Dan Heim
Dan is a retired secondary school physics instructor, life-long amateur astronomer, professional editor and producer of educational multimedia and publications for science and mathematics.
Dan was instrumental in refurbishing the principal telescope for MMAO and continues to be involved in the organization, guiding the on-going training of the ambassadors and provision of high quality educational material for visitors to the observatory.
And the local Ambassadors who regularly bring astronomy education into the classrooms of the Meru District, Tanzania:
SAMWEL DAUDI BARNABA
IRINE MBISE
GIDION DANIEL MWITA
HAMULI MAJESHI
LYDIA AKYOO
ELIONA MILEY
ANASTAZIA MARIO
ESTHER MSHANA
JOSEPHATI UTOU
ELIBARIKI MARIKI
ELIAH NKINDA
ELIATOSHA MALEKO
SIMON MOLLEL
Board of Directors | Ambassadors