The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO), founded in 1946, is one of the most important astronomical observatories in the territory of the Former Soviet Union and the Middle East region. Since 2015, it also hosts one of the IAU Regional Centres – IAU South West and Central Asian Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (SWCA ROAD). Along with the professional research activities, a significant fraction of work for both BAO and SWCA ROAD are educational and public activities. At BAO, we encourage public engagement through various means and channels, namely dissemination of press-releases, interviews and TV/radio programs with astronomers, Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) monthly Electronic Newsletter, publication of popular books, articles and promotional materials. Beyond that, we hold public events such as school and public lectures, Olympiads, Summer Camps for young Astronomy enthusiasts, as well as organize excursions around the Observatory to bring Astronomy closer to people. Among these events, most important are Astronomical School Lectures “From the School to the Space” (since 2012); visits to 30 schools every year for interactive lectures and Byurakan Science Camps (BSC, since 2014), where some 30-35 pupils are selected every year to visit Byurakan and stay there for 1 week for lectures, practice, tutorials, night observations, intellectual and sports competitions, excursions and other entertainment. BAO is in fact, the founder of Scientific Journalism in Armenia; its Facebook group exists since 2010. BAO is also the initiator of the Scientific (Astro) Tourism in Armenia and in the region. We have run projects with the IAU and the Armenian Institute of Tourism (AIT), where we have opened a Chair of Scientific Tourism, one of the first such Chairs in the world and produced a regional Astro Tourism map. A regional Astro Tourism webpage was created (http://astrotourism.aras.am/index.php). We will report our activities to share experience and exchange ideas in the communicating astronomy with the public.
G. D. Baleyan is the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) Public Relations Manager and Coordinator of the IAU South West and Central Asian Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (SWCA ROAD). She is a Member of the Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) and the European Astronomical Society (EAS). She coordinated the Galileo Teacher Training Program (GTTP) international certificate (2022) and the ArAS School Astronomical Lectures Program. She has organized several outreach and Educational events at BAO.