Donetsk National Technical University hosted a hands-on workshop on building a telescope, which brought together young people, faculty, and mentors to explore astronomy, engineering, and modern technologies. The event was part of efforts to advance STEAM education and promote a culture of making among young people.
During the workshop, participants worked on building a Newtonian reflector telescope as part of the “Koterma’s Universe” educational initiative, which aims to promote astronomy, 3D printing technologies, and hands-on technical training. Thanks to the use of modern technologies, this complex optical instrument became accessible for independent construction and study.
Participants went through all stages of assembling the telescope: from mounting the body parts printed on a 3D printer to integrating the technical and optical components of the design. The work required precision, attention to detail, and teamwork, and the result was the successful creation of a fully functional optical instrument.
The next stage of the project will involve testing the telescope, adjusting the optics, and verifying its capabilities while observing objects in the night sky.
The organizers note that they plan to scale up the experience gained. In the future, educational institutions will have the opportunity to participate in similar workshops and use the project’s findings to develop their own science and technology clubs and STEM programs.
The event took place as part of educational and technological initiatives aimed at developing practical skills, fostering engineering thinking, and sparking young people’s interest in the natural sciences.
Based on materials from Donetsk National Technical University