About Dūrbin

Telling the story of the universe with Dūrbin

Dūrbin is run by student volunteers, selected each year through an open nationwide call. Our students are trained in astrophotography, and they learn the physics of the objects they photograph: planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. They work hands-on with our portable telescopes, carrying them around the country in search of dark skies, and they remotely operate large telescopes under some of the darkest, clearest skies in the world through iTelescope. They also learn image processing, turning their data into the deep-sky images you can see in our gallery.

Our students then share what they have learned. They take the telescopes to schools and public gatherings, and organise events where everyone can learn about space and what lies beyond our world.

You can get involved by coming to one of our events, by inviting our students to bring their telescopes to an event near you, or by applying to join Dūrbin as a volunteer.

Dūrbin is based at the Center for Astronomy, Space Science and Astrophysics (CASSA) at Independent University, Bangladesh, and is made possible by generous support from the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto, Canada, and the British Council Bangladesh.

What we do

Astrophotography

Our students photograph the night sky themselves, from the first observation to the finished image.

A Dūrbin student at the eyepiece of a small telescope lit by a red lamp at dusk — Observe locallyWith our small telescopes, carried to dark skies across Bangladesh.

The Horsehead Nebula imaged by Dūrbin students — Image remotelyWith iTelescope, under some of the darkest skies in the world.

Workshop participants working on laptops around tables, with a telescope on a tripod beside them — Image processingOur in-house pipeline turns the data into colour images.

What we do

Outreach

The same students take the sky to the public, in classrooms, training rooms and galleries.

Dūrbin students and instructors together after a workshop at CASSA — Workshops and trainingHands-on teaching for new students and learners.

A Dūrbin student explaining a framed astrophotograph to visitors at an exhibition — Exhibitions and eventsPublic evenings and exhibitions of our students' images.

How the programme runs

The Dūrbin Manual

Dūrbin works with CASSA at IUB, and CASSA's Constitution sets one principle for that work: Dūrbin "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 Dūrbin Management Team in consultation with the Office of the Director.

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 Dūrbin astrophotography;
operate telescopes at Dūrbin 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 · Appendix E

Everyone is safe at a Dūrbin event

All Dūrbin activity with minors follows 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 Dūrbin 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 Dūrbin, IUB or CASSA 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 (safeplace@iub.edu.bd) or the Proctorial Committee (proctor@iub.edu.bd). 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

Dūrbin 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, Dūrbin is transitioned or wound down only on dissolution of the Center (cl. 28).