Fostering STEM Interests through Astronomy Outreach Initiatives in Secondary Education

Astronomy offers a unique and engaging gateway to foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines among secondary school students. This study investigates the effectiveness of astronomy outreach initiatives in inspiring curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM subjects and careers. Through a combination of hands-on activities, knowledge sharing, and games, these programs provide students with opportunities to explore scientific concepts in an accessible and exciting way. The research focuses on several key outreach initiatives, including the use of telescopes for celestial observations, participation in citizen science projects, and integration of digital tools such as open-source astronomy software. The inclusion of service-learning elements allows students to act as knowledge ambassadors, sharing what they learn with their peers and local communities. This dual approach not only deepens students’ understanding of astronomy but also develops critical skills such as teamwork, communication, and leadership. A set of questionnaires have been distributed to ninety-two (92) participants involve in the service-learning program. The result show that 92.8% of the respondents agreed that their get a positive impact, new knowledge and enhance their innovation perception from the knowledge sharing and hands-on activities. This paper highlights the potential of astronomy outreach initiatives to address challenges in STEM education, such as the perceived inaccessibility of complex scientific topics and the lack of diverse role models.