There are of the order of 30 astronomers with research records and another 40-50 with substantial education in astronomy and astrophysics. Geographically, astronomical and astrophysical research is concentrated mainly at Shiraz University (cosmology and photometric observations), Sharif University of Theran (cosmology and gamma-ray astronomy), Tabriz University (binaries and solar physics), Meshad University (binaries and interstellar matter), Zanjan University (stellar dynamics, radio astronomy) and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, Zanjan (stellar and stellar systems studies).