The IAU offices have been particularly busy these past few weeks, and we’re excited to share these new developments with you, including the results of the Extraordinary Call for Proposals from the Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) and the new job opening at the Office of Astronomy for Education (IAU OAE). Our office, in particular, has numerous opportunities related to our National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs), including this year’s edition of the NOCs Funding Scheme. Additionally, we also include a few international contests that may be of interest you and the people in your network.
Lastly, we’d like to include a correction in item #6 in the #2 July edition of the newsletter. Unlike what was stated, the IAU OAD is not involved in the ventilator efforts in South Africa. IAU OAD’s host institution, the South African Astronomical Observatory, is involved in the project.
Wishing you clear skies and good health! Lina Canas & Izumi Hansen, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) Team
1) Online Astronomy@Home Awards Deadline Extended
The deadlines for consideration in the Online Astronomy@Home Awards has been extended by a month. The first application for the awards is due on 31 August 2020. These awards have been created in response to the sudden shift to online astronomy outreach amid societal lockdowns due to COVID-19. Currently, 250 activities have been submitted for consideration for the awards and we are looking forward to what more activities will be submitted for consideration.
2) COVID-19 Extraordinary Call for Proposals Results Announced
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development has announced the results of the Extraordinary Call for Proposals. This call was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and supports 43 projects that respond to the negative impacts of COVID-19 on communities worldwide.
3) Post-doc Position at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) has opened a 5-year postdoctoral position in astronomy education research. Applications are due 26 August 2020.
Since the beginning of 2020, the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach has welcomed the following IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) to the IAU NOCs network.
5) National Outreach Coordinators Funding Scheme Opens
The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach supports the National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) through the NOCs Funding Scheme. These grants support projects that promote international cooperation between some of the 130+ IAU national points-of-contact for astronomy outreach.
Globe at Night is a monthly citizen science campaign to track the effects of light pollution on our night skies. This month’s observation session is currently taking place and will end on 19 August 2020.
SPIE, a professional society for optics and photonics technology, is holding a photo contest for the general public in honour of the International Day of Light. The contest is open internationally, and there are separate categories for youth and adults. It closes on 16 September 2020.
8) Art Contest in Partnership with International Observe the Moon Night
Submissions are welcome to the international art competition “The Art of Planetary Science 2020: A Virtual Odyssey”, a showing hosted by the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory of the University of Arizona in the United States in partnership with the International Observe the Moon Night. Submissions are due 31 August 2020 MST.
Japanese:http://bit.ly/2xlNyCR
Translations are thanks to Akihiko Tomita, through the Astronomy Translation Network.
You can subscribe to the Japanese newsletter through the Japanese Amateur Astronomers Association (http://www.jaaa-astro.jp/jaaa-ml.html) or the Japanese Society for Education and Popularization of Astronomy (http://www.tenkyo.net/).
If you are interested in translating the IAU Outreach Newsletter into your language, please email public@oao.iau.org.
11) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2020
Here at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, we’re always looking for news about astronomical education and outreach events around the world. Please continue to share your stories with us in 2020! If you are organising large-scale events at a regional or international level, offering astronomy education or communication job positions, have any innovative projects or inspiring stories, looking for professional-amateur collaboration in astronomy, or have created any educational resources, let us know by sending an email to public@oao.iau.org.
You can send us your suggestions until the 4th (for issue #1) and the 17th (for issue #2) day of each month. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
