A bus of scientists, artists, engineers and innovators that drives to towns across Ethiopia, so students can meet them, look through a telescope, build and make things, and ask questions. Its aim, in its founder's words, is to stimulate a culture of critical thinking.
The SpaceBus Tour drives across Senegal. It is part of what gives Yabebal Fantaye the idea for an Ethiopian version.
A group of Ethiopian astronomers applies to the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development, and wins funding that November.
Planned for December 2015 but held back by the situation in the country, the first tour finally sets off, south from Addis Ababa.
The second tour heads north, as far as Axum and Mekelle.
The third tour reaches the Omo Valley, with an art team chosen by open call.
Three tours across Ethiopia. Pick one to follow its trail.
Tap a year on the map to follow that tour, town by town.
First tour · 20–30 October 2017
The first tour, south from Addis Ababa through the Rift Valley towns. It opened at Adama University and closed at Nazareth School in Addis Ababa.
Second tour · December 2019
The second tour, north by Bahir Dar and Gondar as far as Axum and Mekelle. It reached Fiche on 7 December and was planned to finish in Addis Ababa on 17 December.
Third tour · 10–15 May 2021
The third tour, to the south-west, with an art team chosen by open call alongside the scientists, and activities adapted to each place on the route.
Southern Ethiopia · 2017
When 20 October 2017
The first stop.
Southern Ethiopia · 2017
Where Adama Science and Technology University, and schools around it
The grand opening.
Southern Ethiopia · 2017
Southern Ethiopia · 2017
Southern Ethiopia · 2017
Southern Ethiopia · 2017
Southern Ethiopia · 2017
When 30 October 2017
Where Nazareth School
The last stop, open to all.
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
When 7 December 2019
Where the bus had reached when the tour was reported on.
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
Northern Ethiopia · 2019
Planned; not confirmed as reached.
When 17 December 2019, as planned
The planned finish.
The Omo Valley · 2021
Where Three schools, in one day
The first stop. With local volunteers busy with the national election, organising took longer than planned.
The Omo Valley · 2021
Where A school, whose science club showed its herbal medicine and machine models
The second stop.
The Omo Valley · 2021
The last stop. Students made films with the team's filmmaker.
First tour · 20–30 October 2017
The first tour, south from Addis Ababa through the Rift Valley towns. It opened at Adama University and closed at Nazareth School in Addis Ababa.
Second tour · December 2019
The second tour, north by Bahir Dar and Gondar as far as Axum and Mekelle. It reached Fiche on 7 December and was planned to finish in Addis Ababa on 17 December.
Third tour · 10–15 May 2021
The third tour, to the south-west, with an art team chosen by open call alongside the scientists, and activities adapted to each place on the route.
Have photographs from one of the tours? Send them in: info@ethiosss.org.
Scientists, artists, engineers and innovators, most of them Ethiopian, meet students where they are.
Talks, sky watching, and the night sky through the bus's telescopes, after finding objects in the sky with software.
2017, 2019
Robotic cars, smartphone sensors and Scratch programming: building and coding, hands on.
2019
3D printing and spacesuit design; in 2021, an art team of ten, from filmmaking and photography to street art, poetry and music.
2019, 2021
Meeting local people and learning from them: the 2021 tour shaped its activities around the communities on its route.
2021