For the past two weeks, our office has been busy finalizing the organizational details of the first IAU Symposium on Astronomy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Now, as we rapidly approach 12 November, our team at NAOJ is making sure we can welcome the nearly 130 participants coming to Mitaka Campus to the best of our abilities. But before the symposium, at the end of October the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal Edition #26 will launch. We are now working on the last edits on the content, and we are looking forward to sharing it with the community soon.
In this issue, we are highlighting the launch of the annual report by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development, the IAUS 367 on Education and Heritage in the Era of Big Data in Astronomy and naming of a new interstellar visitor.
Wishing you all clear skies,
Lina Canas & Izumi Hansen, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) Astronomers as Diplomats — an IAU@100 Conference in Paris
In the context of the IAU centenary celebrations, a conference was held in Paris on 4 October 2019, on the theme “Astronomers as Diplomats: When the IAU Builds Bridges between Nations”. Born in the aftermath of World War I, the IAU has had to cope with many crises and conflicts between nations throughout its history, and it played an important role in building bridges between their astronomers.
A new object from interstellar space has been found within the Solar System, only the second such discovery of its kind. Astronomers are turning their telescopes towards the visitor, which offers a tantalising glimpse beyond our Solar System and raises some puzzling questions. The object has been given the name 2I/Borisov by the IAU.
3) IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (IAU OAD) Annual Report
The IAU OAD has published its annual report for 2018-19, which summarises the activities of the IAU OAD and its Regional Offices over the last year. While previous annual publications such as the Yearbook (https://cloudcape.saao.ac.za/index.php/s/XyOZ1UwaZaWZH2i) focused exclusively on projects funded, this annual report provides a more holistic view of the IAU OAD. For the first time, it includes information on Flagship themes and projects, the impact of previously funded IAU OAD projects, special projects & activities etc
4) Registration for IAUS 367 on Education and Heritage in the Era of Big Data in Astronomy Is Open
The IAU will be hosting the IAUS 367 Education and Heritage in the Era of Big Data in Astronomy. This symposium is to define the global vision of Education and Heritage in the frame of the goals of the IAU and touch on subjects related to the meta-analysis of astronomy education research, literacy in astronomy, innovations in education methodologies, big data in astronomy education, and inclusive education among other topics. The symposium will be held in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina from 9-14 December 2020. Registration and abstract submission are currently open and will close on 31 July 2020. Travel grants are available.
5) IAU100 Launches the Astronomy Day in Schools Global Project
The Astronomy Day in Schools initiative is an IAU100 Global Project with the vision of mobilising the astronomical community to organise activities in schools. This is a special opportunity for students to directly interact and engage with astronomers in their communities, and to learn about the important role of astronomy in our lives.
6) Winners Announced for the Moon Landing 50 ‘Under One Moon’ Children’s Art Contest
Over 400 entries were received from around the world as part of the ‘Under One Moon’ children’s art contest for IAU100’s Moon Landing 50 global project. Three winners have been selected.
7) SpaceEU Launched at One of the World’s Largest Science Festivals
SpaceEU fosters a young, creative and inclusive European space community through a unique programme of education and public engagement to spark the interest of young people in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths), and to encourage them to consider space-related careers. It especially a special focuses on girls and underserved communities. On 5 September, spaceEU was launched at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, one of the world’s largest science, technology and media art festivals. This project is coordinated by Leiden Observatory.
8) Social Media Competition to Kickstart Hubble’s 30th Anniversary Celebrations
In April 2020 the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope will celebrate 30 years since its launch. Hubble has delved deeper into the early years of the Universe than was ever thought possible, played a critical part in the discovery that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating and probed the atmospheres of planets around distant stars. It has transformed the way the public sees the universe by presenting breathtaking and profound images of newborn stars to the oldest known galaxies. To celebrate these three decades of success in science, engineering and culture, ESA/Hubble will present a series of initiatives to involve the public in the celebrations.
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) 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/
c) 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.
