Women and Girls in Astronomy Program Now Accepting Applications

Henry Luce Foundation Awards Grant to Expand WGAP Through 2029

The Women and Girls in Astronomy Program (WGAP), led by Associated Universities Inc. (AUI), under the North American Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (NA-ROAD) has been awarded a three-year grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to expand its impact and establish a formal, scalable model for advancing the participation of women, girls and underrepresented genders in astronomy and STEM throughout North America. With this new support, WGAP is launching its 2026 call for proposals, inviting innovative, community-based projects from the North American region that aim to foster inclusion, leadership and participation in astronomy and STEM. Applications must be received by May 31, 2026. Applicants may be based in the United States and its territories, Canada, Mexico, Greenland or Caribbean island nations.

"In the past three years, I've seen firsthand how powerful small grants can be in helping reduce the gender gap in communities through astronomy and STEM outreach," said Yasmin Catricheo, principal investigator and senior STEM education specialist at AUI.

Selected projects from previous years exemplify the use of astronomy as a tool for development, focusing on broadening access to astronomy education and improving community livelihoods. Such projects have included telescope donations, mentorship opportunities, and a variety of outreach and engagement activities. The most far-reaching initiative, Discovery Science Center, engaged over 10,000 participants by revitalizing an exhibit to enhance gender representation in rocketry and astronomy.

"This program has not only broadened access to STEM education through astronomy, but has also sparked curiosity, strengthened belonging and encouraged participants to imagine themselves in futures they may not have thought possible," said Desmond Wysenyuy, program coordinator for NA-ROAD.

Collectively, WGAP has impacted over 2,700 people to date. WGAP is a partnership between AUI and NA-ROAD and is made possible through a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation. Ten mini-grants of $2,000 USD will be issued each year over the next three years to support WGAP development projects. From these projects, the program will sponsor five outstanding project leads each year to attend the winter American Astronomical Society (AAS) annual conference.

This year, 10 projects will be selected for mini-grants of $2,000 USD. Applicants are encouraged to apply by May 31, 2026. For more information on past WGAP projects, please visit the NA-ROAD website.

About WGAP Partners

AUI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation founded in 1946 that builds, manages and operates large research and development (R&D) facilities for the federal government including the U.S. National Science Foundation's National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) facilities, the Center for American Supply Chain Resilience (CASCR) and the AUI Center for Advancing Therapeutics. AUI also develops and implements innovative approaches to education, outreach, and workforce development.

The North American Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (NA-ROAD) furthers the use of astronomy, including its practitioners, skills and infrastructures, as a tool for development by mobilizing the human and financial resources necessary in order to realize the field's scientific, technological and cultural benefits to society.

The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to deepen knowledge and understanding in pursuit of a more democratic and just world. Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc., the Luce Foundation advances its mission by nurturing knowledge communities and institutions, fostering dialogue across divides, enriching public discourse, amplifying diverse voices and investing in leadership development.

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