When was the last time you expanded your horizons? Perhaps you read something in a book or journal that allowed you to envision a new path. Maybe you had a conversation with someone who shared something that challenged your way of thinking. Or better yet, maybe you experienced something altogether new that opened your mind to new possibilities.
Our IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) do this kind of work every day. We are extremely grateful for their efforts to enrich the minds of their communities, as evidenced below.
We invite the world's planetariums to expand our horizons: with CAPjournal's Special Edition on planetariums, we hope to gather the research, best practices, learnings, and celebrations of planetariums from around the world.
With all this and more, we hope you find something within this Newsletter to pique your sense of awe and curiosity.
May your skies be dark and quiet,
Kelly Blumenthal, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
Image credit: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan / 4D2U
Call for Papers: CAPjournal Special Edition on Planetariums
In 1923 the first star projector was commissioned in Germany, but it did not make its public debut until a year later. The first projection planetarium opened its doors at the Deutsches Museum in Munich in 1925, ushering in a new era for the public understanding of astronomy. Today, planetariums serve as dark-sky oases where everyone can learn, explore, imagine, and grow.
CAPjournal is an open-access, peer-reviewed astronomy outreach periodical jointly sponsored by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). It features articles aimed at astronomy communicators and helps to bridge the scientific astronomical community with society. We invite all planetariums, big and small, to submit an article to this special edition of CAPjournal.
Articles for this issue might include, but are not limited to: your lessons learnt as a planetarium director; how to establish (or grow) a planetarium; how to provide a meaningful planetarium experience to blind or partially-sighted people; the role of the planetarium as a dark sky oasis; the role of the planetarium in the fight against light pollution; and much more.
Our schedule for this special edition is as follows:
Articles should be submitted by 31 March 2023
Article Review and Editorial Process will take place April–August 2023
Publication in September 2023
With this edition of CAPjournal, we hope to celebrate the myriad accomplishments of the planetarium community over the last 100 years. Please follow the Submission Guidelines listed on our website, and send your full articles to capjournal@oao.iau.org with the subject “CAPjournal #33 Abstract Submission”.
1)Call for Global Participation in Research about Science Education in Secondary Schools In Japan, the high school curriculum national guidelines that came into effect this year still require students to choose from physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. However, to solve the various problems facing modern society, including science, technology, and the global environment, it is not enough for students to pick and choose from an already siloed education. The path forward requires integrated science education.
Researchers at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) hope to design a new curriculum for science education in Japanese secondary schools that addresses the emerging need for interdisciplinary scientific comprehension. To do this, they will perform a comparison study to understand science communication in other countries, but they need your help! You can find their quick survey here.
2) Space Scoop: News from Across the Universe
Space Scoop produces articles on the latest in astronomy and space science in easy-to-understand language. Don’t miss their weekly updates that include stories from many of the world’s space agencies! This week, Space Scoop turns its attention to protoplanetary disks, featuring new methods developed by astronomers in Japan!
3) The Hitchhiker's Guide to Astronomy Education, Public Outreach and Communication
The Special Session SS36 “The hitchhiker's guide to astronomy education, public outreach and communication” will take place on Wednesday 12 July as part of the European Astronomical Society (EAS) annual meeting in Krakow (Poland). The session is dedicated to exploring the work of education, public outreach, and communication (EPOC) professionals in astronomy, sharing the ins and outs of our work, from best practices and structural issues to lessons learnt and challenges overcome.
We encourage EPOC professionals who wish to share their insight and experience to submit an abstract through the EAS website before 1 March 2023. Please feel free to circulate the message further to other colleagues and communities who might be interested to participate. We especially welcome and encourage contributions from colleagues coming from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in astronomy and in the astronomy and science outreach community.
More information can be found on the session’s webpage.
4) Global Sky Clubs
Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) is offering a new program exclusively for astronomy clubs in schools that want to perform research projects or investigations. LCO provides 10 hours of time on its 10 x 0.4m telescope network.
For more information about the program, eligibility and how to apply, please see this website.
5) Crosspost from the IDL Newsletter: Leiden turns off its lights for Seeing Stars
On 25 September 2022 for a brief period of 90 minutes, the city of Leiden was plunged into darkness in an attempt to see a night sky full of stars for the first time in decades. Ironically, while Leiden has a longstanding tradition for excellent research in astronomy, it is also one of the most light-polluted cities in the world. A collaboration between Leiden municipality, Leiden University, Studio Roosegaarde, and UNESCO set out to bring back the stars by turning off as many lights as possible. Thousands of people went outside into the streets to experience their city as they never had before. Although a partially cloudy sky prevented citizens from enjoying a completely unencumbered view of the cosmos, there were enough clear gaps to appreciate the darkness. The event left many wondering: "Why don’t we do this more often?" You can read more here.
6) Updates from the IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) a) Egypt
Earlier this month, during a series of tours at the Helwan Observatory Museum (NRIAG, in collaboration with the NOC Egypt team), experts explained the importance of astronomical devices and tools, including how to use the sundial to measure time. In addition, visitors saw the solar dome and learned about its use. Additionally, during the Cairo International Book Fair, NRIAG and the NOC Egypt Team presented many activities on various astronomy topics, including solar eclipses, sundials, the planets and our Solar System, and the phases of the Moon. Visitors could also observe the Sun and the Moon through an 8-inch telescope. The volunteers had the opportunity to interact with an incredible number of people of all ages, spreading appreciation for astronomy.
b) Greece
The NOC Greece, Kalliopi Dasyra, hosted a NameExoWorlds national-level results ceremony on 1 February. The event included several talks on exoplanets and was broadcasted live in Greek.
7) Opportunities a) Deadline Extended: Apply to Host PCST 2027
The deadline to apply to host the 2027 PCST conference has been extended to 28 February. For more information about what’s involved in hosting this conference, and how to submit your proposal, see this link.
b) First Announcement: European Society for Astronomy in Culture Conference
The 30th conference of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC) will take place from 6-9 September 2023, in Warsaw, Poland. The theme of this SEAC conference is: Between ancient and modern astronomy. Throughout this conference, the organisers hope to commemorate two significant anniversaries related to Nicolas Copernicus: the 550th anniversary of his birth and the 480th anniversary of his death. For more information about how to contribute to this conference, see this page.
c) The Art of Space Camp
The Proctor Foundation for Art and Science is a US-based nonprofit dedicated to bridging art and science through “experiential journeys around scientific research and exploration” for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color) students and educators. They are currently offering ten scholarships for community college students, and ten scholarships for community college faculty that identify as BIPOC to attend Space Camp in the United States. For more information on eligibility and how to apply, see their website.
d) Nobel Prize Summit on Countering Misinformation and Building Trust in Science
This May, Nobel Prize winners and other experts will convene to discuss the impact of misinformation on the public’s perception of and trust in science. For more information, see this link.
8) Cool Resources
a) Research Highlight: Mental Models for Science Communicators [Content in English]
In this article, the authors build a case for academic institutions to focus on evidence-based training for science communicators that focuses on finding the right content to approach the public’s way of thinking, rather that a delivery method. They stress that by focusing on and directly addressing people’s mental models, scientists will be better equipped to communicate their message. Read the article here.
b) The Intersection of Art and Science: Consilience Field Notes [Content in English]
The Consilience Journal explores science through art. In this issue, the Consilience Team has produced a collection around the idea of perception – in all of its forms. Download the journal for free at this link.
9) IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter in Non-English Languages
Our newsletter is being translated into the following languages:
Arabic
Translations are thanks to the members of the Bahrain Stargazers Astronomy Club.
Chinese (Simplified)
Translations are thanks to Dr Chen Cao, Shandong Astronomical Society (SDAS) of China.
Portuguese (European)
Translations are thanks to Catarina Leote and João Ferreira through the Astronomy Translation Network Portuguese Language Group.
Spanish
Translations are thanks to Andrea Ahumada of the Observatorio Astronómico, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, and Ileana Andruchow of the Instituto Astrofísica de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. For translations of previous Newsletters in Spanish, thanks to Emílio Zuniga of the Association of Amateur Astronomers in León, Nicaragua, click here.
If you are interested in translating the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter into your language, please email public@oao.iau.org.
10) Contribute to the IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter
We are always looking for material about astronomy outreach, communication and public engagement from around the world to include in our next IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Newsletter. 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.
Please send us your suggestions through the 4th for issue #1 and the 17th for issue #2 of each month. We look forward to hearing from you!
