Our first big event of the year is a few days away: a celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Starting on 11 February, the IAU Office of Astronomy Outreach (OAO) will be focusing on the women and girls of astronomy by releasing a series of interviews with female figures in astronomy while many of our National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) will be hosting events to recognise contributions from women and girls. We’ve added a link below with more info so you can join in!
This newsletter also has a number of professional development opportunities for astronomy outreach practitioners, from a networking opportunity to an open call for an upcoming journal, as well as some general resources for the public, like an international art installation.
Wishing you the clearest skies and good health! Izumi Hansen and Lina Canas, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) IAU OAO and NOCs Celebrate Women and Girls in Astronomy
From 11 February to 8 March 2021, the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (IAU OAO) and IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) will be celebrating a month of women in astronomy. We’ll be sharing interviews with inspirational women in astronomy throughout the month and our NOCs will be hosting events around the world. This celebration coincides with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February and International Women’s Day on 8 March.
2) Nominate an Astronomy Communicator for the Klumpke-Roberts Award
Nominations are open for the Klumpke-Roberts Award, which recognises people with a lifetime of outstanding contributions to the public understanding and appreciation of astronomy. Awarded by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, this award welcomes nominations from anywhere in the world. Nominations must be submitted before 1 March 2021.
3) Royal Astronomical Society Education & Outreach Grants
The 15 February deadline for the Royal Astronomical Society Education & Outreach Grants is fast approaching. These one-time, 5000 GBP grants are designed to fund specific projects that bring astronomy to the public.
The African Network of Women in Astronomy (AfNWA) welcomes anybody identifying as a woman working in astronomy and related fields in Africa to join this new network. AfNWA aims to connect and raise visibility of all women working in and near astronomy on the continent. The network is housed under the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), but AfAS membership is not required to join AfNWA.
Thank you to the AfNWA team for sharing this news item with us.
5) Frontiers in Education — Learning Science in Out-of-School Settings Submission Request
The Frontiers in Education journal is accepting manuscripts for an upcoming issue related to learning science outside of formal education. Topics for this issue include informal education, science communication, science outreach, science engagement, and participatory science. Manuscripts must be submitted before 2 March 2021 and publishing fees are required (waivers are available).
Our colleagues at Leiden and NSF’s NOIRlab have released a new paper “Astronomers Engaging with the Education Ecosystem: A Best-Evidence Synthesis”. The paper covers the role of astronomers in different education systems, a review of best practices, and how astronomers can further contribute to developing a scientifically-literate and inclusive society.
Thank you to Pedro Russo for sharing this news item with us.
7) Space for Art Foundation Requesting Space Art from Children
The Space for Art Foundation invites children from anywhere in the world to contribute artwork to their next project: a space suit called BEYOND. Submissions can be emailed to the foundation or posted to the foundation’s Facebook page. Entries should be submitted by 1 May 2021.
Thank you to Miracle Chibuzor Marcel for sharing this news item.
8) An Evening Online with Astronomy and Art
Spanish Astronomer José Antonio Caballero and musician Antonio Arias recently produced an online show mixing astronomy, poetry, and music with a local news organisation on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. The Spanish-language event shows how well science and art complement each other.
Resources
“We Share the Same Moon”
Stories from around the world for kids to celebrate our cultural connection to the Moon
Link: https://www.wesharethesamemoon.org/
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) Contribute to the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter
We’re always looking to include news about astronomy outreach 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!
