image: Stargazing in the Maldives
Credit: SETI Institute
April 24, 2025, Mountain View, CA – The SETI Institute and the Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) will collaborate on astronomy research, space science education and public outreach. This initiative, established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), provides a framework for projects that combine cutting-edge scientific research with the rich cultural heritage of Maldivian celestial navigation.
The collaboration began during the 2024 Space for Island Nations Conference (SIN2024), where the SETI Institute first learned about MSRO’s efforts to engage students and the public in astronomy. MSRO recently acquired a Unistellar telescope to provide students and tourists with hands-on experience in astronomy. Additionally, they published a cultural star map highlighting significant constellations and patterns based on ancestral Maldivian navigation traditions.
“We saw the incredible work MSRO was doing at SIN2024, inspiring this exciting collaboration,” said Dr. Franck Marchis, Director of Citizen Science at the SETI Institute and Chief Science Officer at Unistellar. “The Maldives, with its unique location and cultural connection to the stars, is an ideal place to develop new astronomy initiatives. We look forward to working with MSRO to bring science and traditional Maldivian wisdom together."
The two organizations will work together on research projects, policy guidance and resource sharing. The SETI Institute will support MSRO’s efforts to develop astronomy education in the Maldives, providing technical expertise and facilitating training programs for Maldivian scientists, educators and policymakers. The collaboration will also enhance citizen science projects and engage the public through interactive outreach programs.
“This collaboration marks a new era for the Maldives in space science,” said Madin Maseeh, President of MSRO. “The stars have always guided our ancestors across the ocean, and now, through this partnership, we are bringing astronomy back to our communities. By engaging with the global scientific community and incorporating our rich cultural heritage, we aim to inspire the next generation of Maldivian space scientists and explorers.”
MSRO is already conducting astronomy programs in various parts of the Maldives, with students and tourists using the Unistellar telescope to connect to the Maldivian sky and history in a new way. In this video, Aishath Mohamed Rasheed, Heritage and Culture Researcher at MSRO, discusses the importance of astronomy in Maldivian culture.
The MOU will be in effect for five years, with opportunities for renewal and expansion. This collaboration will bring global expertise to the Maldives while promoting public engagement with space science.
About the SETI Institute
Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary research and education organization whose mission is to lead humanity’s quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and share that knowledge with the world. Our research encompasses the physical and biological sciences and leverages data analytics, machine learning, and advanced signal detection technologies. The SETI Institute is a distinguished research partner for industry, academia, and government agencies, including NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Contact information
Rebecca McDonald
Director of Communications
SETI Institute
rmcdonald@seti.org
About Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO)
MSRO was founded in the Maldives in 2022, with a vision to help Maldives become a spacefaring nation making significant contributions to the exploration and use of space. It is now the official space organisation of Maldives through authorisation from Ministry of Defence.