In this issue, we want to highlight the 100 years celebrations of the 1919 Solar Eclipse; the Astronomy literacy booklet: Big Ideas in Astronomy; and the Memorandum of Understanding between IAU Commission C2 Communicating Astronomy with the Public, and our office the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO).
We would like to send a warm thank you to our colleague Pisit Nitiyanant, from the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), that worked with us in Japan, at the IAU OAO for six months. Pisit collaborated with the OAO as project and community manager, providing support to our team with the Astronomy Translation Network (ATN), Inspiring Stars, the IAU Programme of Inclusive Astronomy and other projects, as part of the first edition of the NARIT-NAOJ-IAU OAO Training Program.
Wishing you all clear skies and happy celebrations!
Lina Canas, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) Global Astronomical Community Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of 1919 Solar Eclipse
2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the paradigm-shifting solar eclipse observations that successfully tested Einstein’s general theory of relativity for the first time. The International Astronomical Union, within the framework of its own centenary celebrations, is supporting various initiatives on the theme of the 1919 Solar Eclipse, including conferences, celebratory events, educational activities, and more. This also includes a celebration in São Tomé and Príncipe with the participation of the President of São Tomé and Príncipe and the President of Portugal.
2) Big Ideas in Astronomy: Astronomy Literacy Booklet Released by IAU Commission C1
What does it mean for a citizen to be “literate” in astronomy? Those members of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) who are active in public outreach have practical experience of the kinds of astronomical knowledge commonly held by the general public. Until recently, however, there had not been a systematic evaluation and a clear definition of what astronomical literacy means. Now, the “Big Ideas in Astronomy: A Proposed Definition of Astronomy Literacy” booklet has been released with the aim of clarifying these ideas. It is intended for use by the astronomy education and outreach community and within a process of community consultation. The booklet is the culmination of years of debate and discussion over the essential things that an astronomically literate person should know.
3) Memorandum of Understanding Between OAO and Commission C2
For most of its first 100 years, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has accomplished its mission to promote and safeguard astronomy through international collaboration, via the work of its individual members organised into Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups. Recently the IAU created three (soon to be four) new satellite offices, greatly expanding its capabilities in support of astronomical education, public outreach, and the use of astronomy for development. In some cases, these offices share the same goals as other Union structures. To minimise duplication and maximise synergy, the IAU is working to clarify and enhance the relationships between its Offices and the Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups with which they overlap.
The IAU Symposia, the flagship scientific gatherings of the IAU, aim to significantly advance the field and explore the current key questions and/or emerging concepts through a program of invited reviews and a range of invited, contributed and poster papers, as well as ample time for discussion. After a rigorous selection process, the 2020 programme of IAU Symposia has been decided, including the IAUS 367: Education and Heritage in the Era of Big Data in Astronomy. The first steps on the IAU 2020–2030 Strategic Plan.
5) Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal -- news and updates
The CAPjournal is an IAU publication published twice a year and is a free peer-reviewed journal for astronomy communicators, available online and in print. The CAP Journal is now undergoing changes regarding the submission process, the timeline of publication, printing, editorial board and others.
The new extended IAU Strategic Plan 2020–2030 provides a comprehensive overview of the IAU, describing how the different IAU activities fit together and how they complement each other, and presents its long-term goals. The actions and activities required to meet these goals are described. Now you can find the Strategic Plan booklet translated into Japanese.
7) IAU Publishes Booklet on Broader Applications of Astronomy
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has published a new booklet From Medicine to Wi-Fi; Technical Applications of Astronomy to Society, detailing developments in astronomy that have permeated throughout modern-day life. The practical uses of astronomy are not always obvious, but the field has had an impact reaching well beyond observing the night sky.
8) Celebrate Diversity with Astronomy: the Year of Indigenous Languages
Help raise awareness of the alarming rate languages around the world are disappearing by highlighting the importance of astronomical knowledge of indigenous peoples and inspire other regions to take actions for the appreciation of our cultural diversity. Hear the "100 Years Under One Sky" recited by native speakers in Garífuna, Miskito and Tol, indigenous languages from Honduras in Central America. And also Northern Thai and Yong language, a Thai indigenous language with a different phonetic from Northern Thai language.
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) European Week of Astronomy and Space Science
Date: 24 – 28 June 2019
Location: Lyon, France
More information: https://eas.unige.ch//EWASS/
b) Starmus Festival V: A Giant Leap
Date: 24–29 June 2019
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
More information: https://www.starmus.com/
c) Asteroid Day
Date: 30 June 2019
Location: Around the world
More Information: http://asteroidday.org/
d) 3rd Workshop on Dissemination and Education of Astronomy (WDEA III)
Dates: 2 July (Solar Eclipse), 4- 5 July 2019
Location: San Juan, Argentina
More information at http://sion.frm.utn.edu.ar/WDEAIII/
f) Astronomy Education Conference: Bridging Research & Practice
Date: 16-18 September 2019.
Location: Garching, Munich, Germany,
More Information: http://iau-dc-c1.org/astroedu-conference/
g) IAUS358: Astronomy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion — a roadmap to action within the framework of IAU centennial anniversary
Date: 12-15 November 2019
Location: Tokyo, Japan
More information: https://iau-oao.nao.ac.jp/iaus358/
h) Art, Visualisation and the Cosmos in Education
Date 5-6 December 2019
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
i) Robotic Telescopes, Student Research and Education Conference
Date : 8-11 December 2019
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
More information: https://rtsre.net/
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
- Translations into Serbian are available, by Dr Liliana Gracanin from Serbia: https://twitter.com/IAU_srpski ;
- 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 to the Japanese Amateur Astronomers Association here: http://www.jaaa-astro.jp/jaaa-ml.html, or the Japanese Society for Education and Popularization of Astronomy here: http://www.tenkyo.net/;
- Translations into Galician are available, by Martin Pawley, Agrupación Astronómica Coruñesa Ío, in Spain here: http://agrupacionio.com/gl/tag/boletin-iau
- 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 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.
- 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).
If you are interested in translating our newsletter into your language, please let us know via outreach@iau.org.
11) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2019
Here at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, we’re always looking for news about astronomical education and outreach events around the world. Please continue to share your stories with us in 2019! If you are organising large-scale events at a regional or international level, offering astronomy education or communication job positions, have any innovative projects or inspiring stories, looking for professional-amateur collaboration in astronomy, or have created any educational resources, let us know by sending an email to outreach@iau.org.
You can send us your suggestions until the 4th (for issue #1) and the 17th (for issue #2) day of each month. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
