We are most glad to announce the release of the CAPJournal 30th issue, where we have the opportunity to highlight the fantastic work of practitioners who were able to continue to connect with their communities and organise astronomy events even at the height of the pandemic. We also celebrate the passage of Leonard's comet, and we invite you to share your images and public activities with us for distribution on OAO’s social media channels.
In this issue, we want to help you prepare for 2022 by highlighting upcoming events and opportunities. We hope it can help you plan an event, an initiative or a programme for the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development 2022 or start working in abstracts for ESO’s The Present and Future of Astronomy conference or other events. Your calendar for sure will be full.
Wishing you the clearest skies and good health!
Suzana Filipecki Martins and Lina Canas, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) CAP Journal #30 is out
The 30th issue of Communicating Astronomy with the Public journal is out now! The special edition with the theme “Astronomy Communication in a Time of Confinement”, features public outreach initiatives by several groups that have risen to the challenge of organising astronomy events to stay connected with their communities even at the height of the pandemic. Articles include “What to do in extreme times? An analysis of the astronomy communication actions in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic”; “Embracing virtual communication induced by the COVID-19 pandemic to help tackle the climate crisis”; and “Getting started in fundraising for astronomy outreach”.
2) UN Proclaims 2022 as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development
The resolution about the promulgation of 2022 as the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development has been approved by consensus by the United Nations General Assembly on 2 December. With the International Astronomical Union as a founding partner and serving on the steering committee, the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD202) will mobilize stakeholders at all levels for a better integration of scientific results into public decision-making processes and for the inclusive development of basic sciences. The opening conference is scheduled for 1 July 2022 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
a) Astronomy and Public
On 19 November, NOC Iraq presented "Astronomy and Public", a public event to introduce astronomy, and the basics of astronomical observation. The event aimed to help popularize astronomical culture in communities in Basra, Iraq.
b) An Arab Woman in Space — How to Land a STEM Career in the Space Industry? NOC Iraq also organised an online lecture on 27 November on the gender gap in the space industry, especially as it affects Arab women. Diana Alsindy, Propulsion Engineer at Boeing, shared her experience as an Iraqi-American space professional and the strategies she used to assure her voice is heard in this industry.
c) Astronomy is Amazing Class
On 2 December, Sundanese NOC Mohammed Yahya and Deputy NOC Sudan Abubakr Yagob presented the talk Astronomy is Amazing Class to students of the Ujuzi Academy in Kenya.
4) Ecsite Workroom Sharing Space
The final session of Ecsite Workroom Sharing Space will take place on 15 December with a presentation by Jen Wong (Guerilla Science) and final remarks by Ewine van Dishoeck (Leiden Observatory). Co-organised by Leiden Observatory, International Astronomical Union and Trinity College Dublin and funded by The Kavli Prize, Sharing Space brings together researchers and public engagement professionals to co-develop public engagement activities during four sessions. Recordings of keynote addresses, including by Dr Gaitee Hussain of the European Space Agency, Dr Kelly Blumenthal (Leiden University/International Astronomical Union), Professor Henk Hoekstra (Leiden University) and Professor Travis Rector (University of Alaska) are available on Ecsite’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/EcsiteNetwork).
5) Looking forward to 2022: upcoming conferences and events
a) The present and future of astronomy: A critical look at hiring, evaluation processes, the way we do science, and our role in society
The present and future of astronomy: A critical look at hiring, evaluation processes, the way we do science, and our role in society will take place online from 14 to 18 February 2022. Organised by ESO, the conference will bring together the astronomical community and professionals from different scientific and social disciplines to discuss the way we do science and our role in society. The conference is scheduled to take place online and the registration is free of charge. https://www.eso.org/sci/meetings/2022/ASTRO2022.html
b) African Astronomical Society (AfAS) Annual Conference and General Assembly The African Astronomical Society (AfAS) Annual Conference and General Assembly will be held as a hybrid event from 14 to 18 March 2022. The in-person meeting will take place at the South African Astronomical Observatory in Cape Town, South Africa. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 10 January 2022. https://www.africanastronomicalsociety.org/afas2022-ga/
c) The 29th Conference of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC) The 29th Conference of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC) will be hosted in Timisoara, Romania, from 5 to 9 September 2022, focusing on research topics such as archaeoastronomy, ethnoastronomy, and the history of astronomy. Deadline for abstract submissions: 14 March 2022. http://www.seac2022.org/
6) Opportunities
a) World Space Week Association (WSWA) seeks a Theme and Program Manager
World Space Week Association (WSWA) seeks a Theme and Program Manager to help support the Executive Director and the Global Team in their endeavours in leading the largest space event on Earth. This will be a paid, part-time position, for a period of 1 year. Theme and Program Manager is expected to work approximately 10 – 15 hours a week, with the support of the Executive Team. The Theme Manager should have experience with working in the space sector, especially in the field of space sustainability.
More information: https://www.worldspaceweek.org/news/wswa-seeks-theme-and-program-manager/
b) The International Worldwide Telescope Tour Contest calls for local organisers The International WWT Tour Contest (IWTC) aims to encourage students, amateur astronomers, and the general public to use astronomical data and the platform provided by WorldWide Telescope (WWT) to create a “guided tour” - a scripted, multimedia experience that guides the viewer through WWT’s simulated universe. The International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD), the American Astronomical Society (AAS), and the Chinese Astronomical Society (CAS), organizers of the IWTC, are inviting practitioners to oversee contests in their country or region. If you are keen to organise a local competition please get in touch with Shanshan Li (lishanshan@nao.cas.cn).
More information: https://contest.worldwidetelescope.org/
c) The 7th round of KiboCUBE is currently open for applications until 31 December 2021
KiboCUBE is the long-standing cooperation between the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) that offers developing countries the opportunity to deploy a Cube Satellite (CubeSat) from the International Space Station Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo”. The selected teams are required to develop, operate and utilize their CubeSats. The 7th round of KiboCUBE is currently open for applications until 31 December 2021.
More information: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/access2space4all/KiboCUBE/KiboCUBE_Rounds.html
c) The GlobalSCAPE research project invites Science Communicators to join a year-long diary survey
The EU-funded GlobalSCAPE research project invites science communicators across the globe to share their experiences in a year-long diary survey. Responses will be used both for academic research and to inform the development of global initiatives to improve conditions for science communication practice. Participants in this study are given the opportunity to join a global community of science communicators, with special access to cutting-edge professional resources developed by the project and its partners. Survey participants may be eligible to win electronic vouchers worth up to a maximum of €500 (approx. $560 USD) per person.
More information: https://global-scape.eu/
7) Good Reads & Online Resources
a) Astro2020 Decadal Survey Report and Report Resources
What are the key scientific challenges for astronomy and astrophysics in the next decade? Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s, the National Academies' latest decadal survey, identify the most compelling science goals and presents an ambitious program of ground- and space-based activities for future investment. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/26141/pathways-to-discovery-in-astronomy-and-astrophysics-for-the-2020s
b) African Citizen Science Seminar
Citizen science projects can be a great way for any astronomy enthusiast to acquire valuable skills and network with others while contributing to scientific research using actual science data. For those who couldn’t attend the African Citizen Science Seminar, held on 20 November, the African Astronomical Society (AfAS) made the recording of the event available online. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78VEGkDOMm8
c) African Science Stars, Issue 2
In November 2021, Science Stars published the second issue of its quarterly African Science Stars magazine. This latest issue delves deep into African Science trends, the team visit Sutherland and Botswana, three key leading female-identified scientists are profiled, Africa’s Top 10 Astronomy Universities are profiled, Egypt’s Dr Somaya Saad gives us the history of Astronomy in Egypt, upcoming Astronomy events are listed and this issue further carries more stories that give the young prospective reader insights on funding, trends and science factsheets. https://assap.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ASSIssue2.pdf
8) IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter in Other Languages
Our newsletter is being translated into the following languages:
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.
9) 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!
