Outreach · Durbin
The Durbin Manual
How CASSA's volunteer astronomy-outreach programme is run — governance, the volunteer model, and safeguarding, under the CASSA Constitution.
Purpose
A volunteer programme, by design
Durbin — Bangla for binoculars or a telescope — is CASSA's public astronomy-outreach programme: astrophotography, immersive science communication, school visits, and public Astronomy Nights. It was founded on 9 March 2023 by Dr. Lamiya Mowla.
The Constitution makes one principle binding: Durbin "shall always remain an outreach program conducted by volunteers under the supervision of the Directors of CASSA" (cl. 33.1). Changes to its funding or affiliation are managed by the Durbin Management Team in consultation with the Directors.
Governance
The Durbin Management Team
Durbin operates under the Durbin Management Team (DMT), within the Center's outreach mission (Constitution cl. 33; Outreach Manual, Appendix F). Scientific supervision is provided by Dr. Lamiya Mowla, Dr. Syed Ashraf Uddin, and Syeda Lammim Ahad.
Khan Muhammad Bin Asad
Director
Evaluates team proposals and initiatives and determines final outcomes.
Muhammad Jobair Hasan
Manager (Science)
Oversees programme funds and their punctual disbursement, under the Director's authorization.
Farzana Akter Lima
Project Manager
Activity and partnership planning, volunteer communications, expenditure tracking, and reporting to IUB and the funder.
Ahmad Al-Imtiaz
Graduate RA
Assesses scientific content and coordinates publication across platforms.
Farhana Ferdous
Undergraduate Research Intern
IR/VR content, English-language anchoring at events, school outreach, and English web text.
Ashratul Zannati Purnota
Outreach Ambassador
Maintains the Durbin webpages, public-event logistics, and volunteer assignments.
Md Shahadat Hossain Shahal
Postbac RA
Maintenance and imaging on the 8-inch telescope, and the image-processing pipeline for small telescopes.
Taking part
The volunteer model
Volunteers form fixed teams for each programme cycle — once a team is constituted, members are not transferred between teams. Across a cycle, teams:
- develop lasting materials — text, imagery, audiovisual and immersive — from Durbin astrophotography;
- operate telescopes at Durbin events and Astronomy Nights, and run remote imaging camps;
- produce physical prints and visual-art installations of deep-sky imagery.
CASSA covers pre-authorized costs. Volunteers who complete a cycle receive a Letter of Experience, and winning teams at public exhibitions receive prizes.
Safeguarding
Everyone is safe at a Durbin event
Appendix E
A zero-tolerance-to-inaction commitment
All Durbin activity with minors is governed by the CASSA Safeguarding Policy (Constitution Appendix E), which takes a zero-tolerance-to-inaction stance on abuse and on sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. Safeguarding is overseen by a Central Safeguarding Focal Point (CSFP) — currently the Research Affiliate Rafia Rokaiya Hossain — and a Project Safeguarding Focal Point (PSFP) for the programme.
Core rules at every Durbin and Astronomy Night activity:
- at least two CASSA representatives are present at every evening or rooftop event;
- no one is ever alone with a child in a closed or unlit space — activities run in pairs or groups;
- photography of a minor requires prior written consent from the parent and the child;
- all communication uses official CASSA/IUB channels;
- anyone working with children is vetted (reference checks and a boundary interview).
Concerns can be raised with the PSFP or CSFP, or directly with the IUB Gender & Sexual Harassment Committee ([email protected]) or the Proctorial Committee ([email protected]). The approach is survivor-centred, and severe cases are reported to IUB within 24 hours. The policy aligns with IUB policy and Bangladeshi law, including the Children Act 2013.
Funding & governance
Support, and the governing document
Durbin was seeded by the University of Toronto's Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics, and from May 2026 is supported by a British Council Bangladesh grant through Women of the World. Under the Constitution, Durbin is transitioned or wound down only on dissolution of the Center (cl. 28).