1) IAU launches astroEDU in Italian

The first-ever platform for high-quality, peer-reviewed astronomy education resources in Italian has been launched today at the LXI Congresso della Società Astronomica Italiana in Padova, Italy. astroEDU allows educators to discover, review, distribute, improve, and remix science activities, particularly those with an astronomical, earth-science, or space-science focus, and offers a free peer-review service by professionals in education and science.

Find more about the platform here: https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann17035/ 

2) Nominations for the IAU PhD Prize

IAU PhD Prize recognizes outstanding scientific achievement in astrophysics around the world. Each IAU Division (including IAU Division C, dedicated to Education, Outreach, and Heritage) has, once a year, the opportunity to award its own prize to the candidate it feels has carried out the most remarkable work in the previous year. The IAU PhD Prize is an excellent opportunity for young and talented scientists to gain some recognition and exposure. The deadline for nominations is December 15th, 2017.  

All information on the application procedure for the PhD Prize can be found here: https://www.iau.org/science/grants_prizes/phd_prize/   

3) National Outreach Contacts (NOCs) Corner: News from the State of Palestine

a) The Technological Astronomical Challenge - GATA Challenge
The Gaza Astronomy Techno-Apps Challenge (GATA Challenge) is a technological astronomical challenge implemented in the Gaza Strip that offers an opportunity for anyone who has ideas for spreading astronomical sciences using various technologies.

Discover more about the project here: https://www.facebook.com/gatacamp/

4) National Outreach Contacts (NOCs) Corner: News from South Korea

a) KASI Teacher Training program, KTT
The KTT, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute Teacher Training has been conducted during summer and winter vacations for the past 22 years. About 40 teachers are divided into beginner and intermediate classes, respectively. The training mainly focuses on the usage of telescopes, trends in recent astronomical research, and sharing experiences of student club operation, etc. Approximately 6 000 teachers have taken the KTT program over the last 22 years.

Here are photos of last year’s event: http://bit.ly/2f9aqeD. 

5) The European Southern Observatory (ESO) blog

ESO now has a blog: the ESOblog! The project aims to share stories from one of the most productive ground-based observatories with readers from all walks of life. ESO currently operates an impressive fleet of telescopes equipped with several dozen instruments that, together, are pushing astronomy research towards exciting discoveries. Hidden behind the scenes of all this work are amazing stories about our people, our technology and the science they enable. The ESOblog was born from the desire to share more of the many interesting stories at ESO, going beyond the news items already released.

Discover more here: https://www.eso.org/public/blog/. 
 

6)  Eratosthenes Experiment September 2017

Following last March’s great success with more than 670 schools from around the world involved in the initiative, the experiment is back! The Eratosthenes Experiment September 2017, will take place on the 22nd of September, 2017. Do not miss the opportunity to participate in this fascinating international event! Take part through your school by registering with your school’s longitude and latitude. Additionally, you also have the chance to win a scholarship to attend the 2018  European Science Education Academy (ESEA) Summer School in Greece.
 
Find all the updates and latest news at the Eratosthenes Experiment official website. 

7) Historical Telescopes and Astronomy Outreach Project

The Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences (MAST) is surveying institutions around the world that use historically valued telescopes or refractors for public sky observation activities, and compile this information into a guide. The project intends to generate awareness of the history of Astronomy, and it needs your support! If your institution owns a telescope or refractor, please consider collaborating by answering this questionnaire. All of the institutions that become part of the guide will receive a copy.

Your contribution is important! For further queries don't hesitate to contact the MAST team at historicaltelescopes[at]mast.br

8) PLATON project

Transform your science class into an exciting environment where students use their creativity and imagination! The PLATON team offers training and tools that lead towards a more student-centred approach that fosters interdisciplinary learning and promotes students' 21st-century skills. Teachers can work in collaboration with other teachers of your school using tools of inquiry and interdisciplinary learning. As a PLATON teacher, you will be able to share your work with a broad community of practitioners within your own country as well as all over Europe. You will even be empowered to become a teacher trainer and share your know-how with other teachers.

Find more about PLATON here: http://platon-project.eu/. 

9) Meetings & Global Events

Here you can find a list of astronomy outreach & education conferences and events around the world. Plan ahead for a year full of interesting events!

Upcoming

a) Astronomy Museums, Visitor Centres, & Public Observatories Workshop
Date: 27-29 September 2017
Location: Leiden, the Netherlands
More information: https://www.communicatingastronomy.org/visitorexperience/  

b) World Space Week 2017
Dates: 4–10 October 2017
Location: All around the world
More Information: http://www.worldspaceweek.org/theme/ 

c) International Observe the Moon Night
Date: 28 October 2017
Location: All around the world
More Information: http://observethemoonnight.org/ 

d) East Asian Young Astronomers 2017 (EAYAM2017)
Date: November 13-17 2017
Location: Ishigaki city, Okinawa, Japan
More Information: http://www-irc.mtk.nao.ac.jp/eayam/2017/index.html 

e) Astronomical Heritage of the Middle East
Dates: 13-17 November 
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
More Information: http://heritage.aras.am/

f) .Astronomy
Date: 14-17 November 2017
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
More Information: http://dotastronomy9.saao.ac.za/ 

g) Astrobiology 2017 
Dates: 26 November - 1 December 2017
Location: Coyhaique, Chile
More Information: http://astrobiology2017.org/ 

h) Communicating Astronomy with the Public - CAP2018
Date: 24–28 March 2018
Location: Fukuoka, Japan
More Information: http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/cap2018/ 

i) 15th International Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference (PCST2018)
Date: 4–6 April 2018
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
More Information: http://www.pcst2018.org/pcst18  

j) International Planetarium Society 2018
Date: 1–6 July 2018
Location: Toulouse, France
More Information: http://www.ips-planetarium.org/page/IPS2018Toulouse  

Have we missed something? Then share your astronomy outreach and education international meetings or events with us via outreach@iau.org.

10) IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter in other languages

-     Translations into Serbian are available, by Dr. Liliana Gracanin from Serbia: https://twitter.com/IAU_srpski ;
-     Translations into Spanish are available by: 
             - Dr. S. Meneses-Goytia (ICG-UoP, UK): http://bit.ly/2rIqVGe;  
             - Basilio Solís-Castillo, PhD Student, Max-Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy,
               University of Bonn: http://astronomia-para-todos.blogspot.de;
             - The Association of Amateur Astronomers from León, Nicaragua:
                http://asafile.blogspot.jp/p/blog-page_12.html;
-     Translations into Japanese are available, carried out by Akihiko Tomita and Mikako Kuwamura through the Astronomy Translation Network: http://bit.ly/2xlNyCR. If you want to receive the Japanese newsletter translation, please subscribe to the Japanese Amateur Astronomers Association here: http://www.jaaa-astro.jp/jaaa-ml.html ;
-     Translations into Galician are available, by Agrupación Astronómica Coruñesa Ío, in Spain here: http://agrupacionio.com/gl/tag/boletin-iau    
-     You can find older issues of this newsletter in Spanish by the Astronomical Spanish Society here: http://www.sea-astronomia.es/drupal/content/newsletter-iau-noc.  

If you are interested in translating our newsletter to your language, please let us know via outreach@iau.org.