Durbin is a CASSA outreach program powered by a cohort of student volunteers from various universities across Bangladesh. Its primary mission is to introduce the universe to the public, bridging the gap between professional astronomy and the community.
The Durbin management team is comprised of a project manager and a panel of supervising astronomers.
The supervisors are professional astronomers who hold PhDs in the field and maintain active academic careers through university-level teaching and research.
The Project Manager role is open to Durbin volunteers who have completed their undergraduate studies. While this position is primarily volunteer-based, a monthly stipend of 20,000 to 30,000 BDT may be provided subject to fund availability.
The supervisors and the project manager select Durbin Volunteers on an ongoing basis. While the standard term is one year, appointments may be extended based on performance and project requirements.
As part of the training curriculum, volunteers participate in weekly hybrid Durbin Event Horizon sessions and quarterly in-person Durbin Workshops. Based on their training outcomes and overall contributions, volunteers are assigned three competency Levels: I (beginner), II (intermediate), and III (advanced).
Volunteers are expected to capture long-exposure images via telescopes, process raw data into publication-ready astrophotographs, organize outreach and stargazing events, and develop diverse digital and print content—including essays, articles, infographics, posters, exhibition prints, and social media assets.
II. Volunteership
Durbin volunteership is open to all residents of Bangladesh aged 18 and above with a passion for astrophotography or astronomical science communication. Eligible candidates may join the volunteer program following the successful completion of a comprehensive three-month recruitment and probationary phase outlined below.
To become a volunteer for Durbin, candidates must email the Project Manager at [email protected], attaching a current CV and a one-page Expression of Interest (EOI) detailing their motivation for joining and how they intend to contribute. Upon receipt, the Project Manager will invite the candidate to Durbin’s regular ‘Event Horizon’ meetings, which are held either online or in person at the CASSA office; however, at least two of these meetings must be attended in person. For a duration of three months, the candidate is required to participate regularly in these sessions, undergo training, and actively contribute to either the astrophotography or science communication tracks. To finalize the selection process, candidates must present their accumulated learning and work to the supervisor(s) and Project Manager at the end of the three-month period in person at CASSA.
A successful candidate will be recruited as a Durbin Volunteer for 1 year. Within this one year, the candidate is expected to attend the Event Horizon sessions and Workshops. The volunteership can be extended upon good performance.
A volunteer can leave Durbin at any moment during this period. A certificate of volunteership will be given if someone remains a volunteer for at least 6 months.
III. Funding
Volunteers participating in Durbin outreach events or imaging campaigns are eligible for travel and sustenance reimbursements, subject to fund availability. In the event that Durbin funds are exhausted, all ongoing activities must either be hosted at CASSA (utilizing CASSA’s annual budget) or conducted via volunteer self-funding.
The initial Durbin funding provided by the Dunlap Institute is scheduled to conclude in June 2026. Consequently, standard reimbursements for Durbin-related activities will be discontinued at that time.
