We’re delighted to announce our new national outreach representatives for the next triennium. Every three years our network of IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) is reappointed. Our focus for the 2021 nominations (for the period of 2021-2024) has been on expanding our representation within the astronomical community of NOCs Committees in countries already present in our outreach networks with an emphasis on gender and geographical balance and of underrepresented groups. We want to take this opportunity to thank our previous NOCs for their dedication and numerous contributions to outreach, communication and public engagement in their national communities.
In this issue of our newsletter, we highlight the fast approaching registration deadlines for the Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society II Conference; encourage you to read the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development latest newsletter; join our IAU Inclusive Outreach Community and discover many other news items shared with us by the community.
Last, but not least, we want to send out a warm thank you and farewell to our colleague Izumi Hansen, who has led this newsletter since 2020, our best wishes to her future endeavors.
Wishing you the clearest skies and good health!
Lina Canas, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) Welcome to our new IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs)
Since early 2021 we have been in the process of nominating our new NOCs for the period of 2021-2024. As we start a new triennium, it is always sad to part with many of our colleagues and friends. We want to thank them, warmly wish them all our best for their journey ahead, and assure them that we will always be one email away.
At the same time, we are also most looking forward to strengthening our collaboration with the new NOCs, supporting them and the inspiring outreach, communication and public engagement actions they carry with their communities.
In the upcoming weeks leading up to the IAU General Assembly 2021 (this year hosting business sessions only), we will introduce all the NOC representatives - new and household names - that will join us in the next triennium. Follow all our updates on our Facebook and Twitter and take this opportunity to meet our NOCs through their official pages here.
2) Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society II Conference
The UN Office of Outer Space Affairs, IAC, and the IAU are pleased to host the second conference on Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society, which will take place from 3–7 October 2021 in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain). The free meeting will be held both online and face-to-face.
The Registration deadline for those attending in person at La Palma is15 August 2021 and the Registration deadline for those attending online is 15 September 2021
3) The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) Newsletter
The latest OAD newsletter for the period of January to June 2021 has been published!
You can find an (1) article on the threat posed by COVID-19 to basic science funding; (2) the 10 years of Astronomy for Development; (3) new partnerships, meeting highlights (with links to recordings), and upcoming events and other (4) updates from the IAU and Offices, OAD Regional Offices, and OAD projects (with links to resources and events)
Mohakash Khelaghor - Astronomy Workshop for kids
The workshop was hosted by the National Outreach Coordinator (NOC) Bangladesh, and jointly organized by the Bangladesh Astronomical Society (BAS), Science Popularization Society Bangladesh (SPSB), National Museum of Science and Technology, and the Universe Awareness program.
A new introductory online course on astronomy and astrotourism has been developed by researchers at the University of Namibia and the University of Oxford. The program has been designed with tour guides as the main target audience, but anyone is welcome to register. No prior knowledge is needed to take part.
The course will consist of five 1.5-hour sessions, and will be delivered on Tuesdays at 4 pm CAT (UTC+2) via Zoom and free of charge. The deadline to register is August 18, 2021. To find out more and to register your interest, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/c6okSDfttXCvLmTo8
We want to thank Hannah Dalgleish and Meghan Hughes for sharing the news.
6) IAU Inclusive Outreach Community
The IAU Executive Working Group Astronomy for Equity and Inclusion subgroup on Inclusive Outreach welcomes everyone to join their "IAU Inclusive Outreach Community" on Facebook. This group objective is to facilitate the development and spread of inclusive practices in astronomy outreach activities around the world. Join the group, share your experiences and learn from others!
Europlanet is looking for members of the community willing to support their communication team during the EPSC 2021 through the following internship programmes: - Social Media Internships
Successful applicants for the social media internship will support the social media team in covering live sessions during the meeting. - Media Internships
Successful applicants for the media internship will support the press office team in preparing materials for the media.
Applications are due 16 August 2021.
8) Simulating Ancient Astronomical Measurements with Stellarium
This set of online activities, using a combination of Google Earth and the Stellarium software, takes the user on a journey around the world and also back in time, with ancient civilizations revealing their methods for using the Sun and other stars and the Moon to find directions. Overall, users are provided with an experience that motivates them to connect further to the wonders of the sky. Suitable for anyone with a basic understanding of science (for children above the age of 14).
b) STEM XR: Collaborative Interdisciplinary Workshop on Science Communication in Virtual Worlds
Location: Virtual
Date: 1 October 2021 - 1 January 2022
Website: https://stemxr.org
Japanese:https://bit.ly/36XeKZr
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 Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter into your language, please email public@oao.iau.org.
11) Contribute to the IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter
We’re always looking to include news about astronomy outreach, communication and public engagement from around the world in the next newsletter from the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach. If you have an astronomical event, job, opportunity, educational resource, or anything else that would be of interest to the astronomy outreach community, send us an email at public@oao.iau.org with more information.
You can send us your suggestions through the 4th for issue #1 and the 17th for issue #2 of each month. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
