1) Open Positions at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education

The recently created the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (IAU OAE) is currently seeking applicants for three positions:

• Five-year postdoctoral position in astronomy education research at the Office of Astronomy for Education, the holder of which will serve as the Astronomy Education Research Coordinator. Deadline: 21 February 2020.
• Organisational Assistant for the Office of Astronomy for Education, who will support the work of the OAE administratively. Deadline: 7 February 2020.
• One-year position for an Interim Coordinator for the Office of Astronomy for Education, who will support the work of the OAE during the first year. Deadline: 31 January 2020

2) IAU OAD Announces Results of the 2019 Annual Call for Proposals

The International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) has concluded its eighth annual call for proposals and 17 projects have been selected to receive funding in 2020 to address challenges around the globe using astronomy-based interventions to further sustainable development. Selected projects include an astronomy program coupled with counselling sessions to support children in internally displaced camps in Nigeria; various projects to inspire, stimulate, and educate children from low socio-economic backgrounds in Brazil, the Philippines, and South Africa; and an astro-tourism project in Italy.

Find more information here: https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann20001/

3) IAU Outreach Visitor Program Application Opens

The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (IAU OAO) is now accepting applications to the IAU Outreach Visitor Program, a program that allows motivated individuals to support outreach projects at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach. The program covers accommodation, flight and a small daily allowance for a period of 2-3 months in Tokyo, Japan. To apply, please send a 1-2 page CV and a motivation letter (max. 400 words) to Lina Canas (lina.canas@nao.ac.jp), with the subject line “IAU Outreach Visitor Program 2020 Application”. The motivation letter should include the dates of your suggested stay.

You can find more about the program and how to apply here: https://www.iau.org/public/oao/oao_visitors/

4) Bangladesh Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020

The Bangladesh Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (BDOAA) is the national chapter of International Olympiad for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). BDOAA’s organizing committee is comprised of past IOAA participants and academicians whose aim is to provide a rigorous selection procedure to send Bangladesh students to the IOAA and encourage astronomy and astrophysics education across the country.

Find more information here: https://bdoaa.org/

We want to thank Fahim Rajit Hossain, the academic coordinator of Bangladesh Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, for sharing the news.

5) Research Institute in Sri Lanka Host Public Observations for Annular Solar Eclipse

Astronomical Research Institute, Sri Lanka (ARIS) collaborated with the Anandian Astronomical Association, Star Party group and Mount K Adventure Resort to organise public observing of the annular solar eclipse which happened on December 26, 2019. The event was organised at the historical Fort of Jaffna in the northern part of Sri Lanka. The event was conducted in Sinhala, Tamil, and English.

Learn more about the ARIS and future events here: https://www.astronomers.lk/

We want to thank Eranga Jayashantha, President of ARIS, for sharing the news.

6) International Astronomical Youth Camp in Spain

The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a three-week long summer camp aiming to promote knowledge of astronomy and related sciences in a unique international atmosphere. The IAYC is an experience unlike any other; a place for unforgettable memories and lifelong friendships. During the camp, 65 young and enthusiastic participants from all corners of the world gather in a remote location in Spain to observe and learn about some of the most spectacular skies on this Earth. Applications for the 2020 camp are being accepted until 5 April 2020.

International Astronomical Youth Camp
Date: 12 July-1 August 2020
Location: Baños de Montemayor, Spain
More information and application are here: www.iayc.org

We thank Hannah Dalgleish for sharing the news.

7) Stars Shine For Everyone Project Sends Telescope to Cameroon

The Belgian Sterren Schitteren Voor Iedereen (Stars Shine for Everyone) project and Wereld Missie Hulp (Mission Aid Belgium) sent a Bresser 90/900 refractor telescope and a custom-made mount to Cameron. The telescope was signed by a number of prominent figures in astronomy, including IAU President Ewine van Dishoeck recently appointed IAU National Outreach Coordinator for Cameroon, Mbonteh Roland Ndunge. This is a legacy of the much successful collaboration during IAU 100 celebrations between the Belgian initiative Sterren Schitteren voor Iedereen (SSVI) and Universe Awareness (UNAWE) and IAU100.

Find out more information about the project here: http://www.ssvi.be/

8) “Full Spectrum” Documentary Available Online

This NASA-funded 20-minute short film is based on interviews conducted by Dr Bryan Mendez, from Space Sciences Laboratory University of California, Berkeley, with colleagues in the space science of underrepresented groups in the United States. The popular image of a is an older white male scientist wearing a white lab coat holding a flask of bubbling colored liquids holds true—about 80% of faculty are indeed white men. Someet some space scientists who are changing the social image of who does science and learn about their perspectives on the challenges of diversity in the physical sciences.

Watch the documentary here: http://multiverse.ssl.berkeley.edu/FullSpectrum

We want to thank Dr Bryan J. Mendez, Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley for sharing the news.

9) Meetings and Global Events 

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

a) Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM)
Date: 6-10 July 2020
Location: Perth, Australia
More information: https://aprim2020.org/

b) International Astronomical Youth Camp
Date: 12 Jul-1 Aug 2020
Location: Baños de Montemayor, Spain
More information: www.iayc.org

b) CAP Conference 2020
Date: 21-25 Sep 2020
Location: Sydney, Australia
More information: https://www.communicatingastronomy.org/cap2020/

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

Interested in translating our newsletter into your language? Please let us know via outreach@iau.org.

Our newsletter is being translated into the following languages:

Translations into Japanese are available, carried out by Akihiko Tomita through the Astronomy Translation Network: http://bit.ly/2xlNyCR. If you want to receive the Japanese newsletter translation, please subscribe 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/).

Translations into (European) Portuguese are available, carried out by Catarina Leote, João Ferreira & Jonas Souza through the Astronomy Translation Network (ATN) Portuguese Language Group (the previous issue can be found here).

Translations into Spanish are available by Emílio Zuniga, the Association of Amateur Astronomers from León, Nicaragua: http://asafile.blogspot.jp/p/blog-page_12.html;

Translations into Galician are available by Martin Pawley, Agrupación Astronómica Coruñesa Ío, in Spain here: http://agrupacionio.com/gl/tag/boletin-iau;    

Translations into Serbian are available by Dr Liliana Gracanin from Serbia: https://twitter.com/IAU_srpski;

Translations into Italian are available by Eleonora Piromalli, AstronomiAmo, from Italy here: https://www.astronomiamo.it/DivulgazioneAstronomica/Newsletter-IAU/last;

Translations into Russian are available by Artem Mokhnaktin, Central Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pulkovo. You can find the latest translations of the newsletter here.