2024 Grand Canyon Astronomer-in-Residence

Grand Canyon National Park, located on the Colorado Plateau in the desert Southwest, has some of the most pristine night skies in the world. In 2019, the International Dark-Sky Association certified Grand Canyon National Park as an International Dark-Sky Park, and later that year, the park was awarded International Dark-Sky Place of the Year.

Grand Canyon Conservancy's Astronomer-in-Residence program supports astronomers and dark-sky advocates from various disciplines who wish to engage with the night skies of Grand Canyon and build connections with the community. Astronomers (both professional and amateur), scientists, dark-sky advocates, educators, writers, and other practitioners with expertise in the night sky are encouraged to apply. Selected residents live and work at the Grand Canyon South Rim for up to six weeks in a private one-bedroom apartment above the historic Verkamp's Visitor Center overlooking the Canyon. In addition to free live/work space, a weekly stipend of approximately $400 is offered to offset travel, food, and supplies costs.

Selected astronomers must provide 2-3 public programs per week in their area of expertise (programs may attract up to 300 people), one community event (which could include a program, workshop, or presentation for Grand Canyon School, National Park Service staff, Lowell Observatory visitors, or others), and develop and/or implement a creative project that fosters emotional and intellectual ties to the Grand Canyon's night skies. Application requirements include a brief bio (200 words max), CV or resume, optional astronomer statement or teaching philosophy, documentation of astronomy-based work (3-5 images, pages, and/or minutes of media with titles, dates, medium, and descriptions), optional press/media materials, and responses to specific questions about dark-sky advocacy, four proposed public programs, and an on-site creative project (200 words max). Instead of an application fee, applicants are asked to make a donation in any amount to the Astronomer-in-Residence program through Grand Canyon Conservancy. Applicants must be 18 years or older. Applicants will be notified of decisions by September 15, 2023. Selected residents must confirm dates, sign a formal agreement, review a Residency Handbook, and complete a background check. Applicants selected for 2024 residency may not postpone to another year.