The Regional Astronomical Workshop is aimed at summarizing and reporting regional activities and exchanging experience in Astronomy/Astrophysics and related scientific research, Astronomical Heritage and Regional Tourism, Astronomy Education and Outreach. The workshop promotes establishing regional collaboration and networks.

The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) is one of the main observational centers of the former Soviet Union and is an important observatory with modern facilities in the region. It was founded in 1946 by one of the greatest astrophysicists of the 20th century V. A. Ambartsumian (1908-1996) and is well known for its large spectroscopic surveys: First and Second Byurakan Surveys (FBS and SBS), undertaken by B. E. Markarian and his colleagues. BAO hosts a number of medium-size optical telescopes, the most important being the 2.6m classical telescope and 1m Schmidt telescope. BAO holds the Digitized First Byurakan Survey (DFBS, or the Digitized Markarian survey), containing ~40,000,000 low-dispersion spectra of ~20,000,000 objects, largest number in the world, which is the basis of the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO), a member of the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA).

BAO hosts the IAU South West and Central Asian Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (SWCA ROAD), where 6 countries are officially involved: Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkey. SWCA ROAD tightly collaborated with the neighboring Arab World ROAD and European ROAD (E-ROAD). SWCA ROAD organizes a number of meetings and other events and runs a number of projects, including one of the most important Regional Astro Tourism project.

During the 5 days of the Workshop, the participants will have sessions on Regional activities, astrophysical research, Inter- and Multi- Disciplinary Sciences, Astronomical Heritage and Regional Tourism, Astronomy Education and Outreach.

A limited number of travel grants for the participants from South West and Central Asian Region (Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Turkey) and few more grants will be offered. English is the working language of the Workshop. The Workshop follows the 9th Byurakan International Summer School (9BISS), so that the participants will have possibility to take part in this event as well. Some lecturers from 9BISS will be invited speakers at the Workshop too.