Award season is upon us, and astronomers are front and centre in recognition for major prizes this year, with 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics and Shaw Prize in Astronomy. We hope you are able to take the time to learn more about what these awardees and the impact and legacy their research have created.
In celebration of the IAU100, we want to highlight two campaigns currently undergoing, NameExoWorld and the Under One Sky video series, and the start of the second phase of the Amanar Project, bringing astronomy to people living in refugee camps.
Last but not least, our team and our NAOJ colleagues are working hard to welcome 130 participants from thirty different countries to the NAOJ Mitaka Campus in Tokyo for the first IAU symposium on equity, diversity and inclusion in astronomy. By supporting this symposium, our team aims to increase access to astronomy information for all astronomers and all the public, and to understand how outreach can effectively contribute to diversity and inclusion in science teams.
Wishing you all clear skies,
Lina Canas & Izumi Hansen, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) CAP2020 To Be Held in Sydney, Australia
The next CAP Conference will take place 21-25 Sep 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Macquarie University will host this edition of the conference, and we are excited to work with them to prepare another excellent meeting. The CAP Conference is the largest international event linking astronomy and science communication, is a platform for facilitating the exchange of ideas and best practices in science communication, outreach, and similar topics.
Please look out for registration to open in December 2019.
2) Amanar Project Begins Second Phase With Astronomy Outreach Activities in Tindouf Refugee Camps
The Amanar: Under the Same Sky project aims to inspire Saharawi youth of Algeria through astronomy, using it as a tool to promote peace, cultural exchange and mutual understanding. The project’s second phase has begun, and an international team of astronomers and educators are travelling to the refugee camps in Tindouf to conduct astronomy outreach activities.
3) IAU100 Launches the Under One Sky: Astronomy Around the World Video Series
IAU100 is pleased to announce the release of the Under One Sky: Astronomy Around the World video series that highlight and celebrate astronomy from countries across the globe.
4) IAU100 Name ExoWorlds Global Project Conducts Over 100 National Competitions
The NameExoWorlds global project has received international interest, participation and media coverage. Thousands of names have been submitted to respective national campaigns to name a designated exoplanet and its host star.
5) 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics Awarded to James Peebles, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) enthusiastically congratulates the three recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics 2019. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award this year’s prize to “contributions to our understanding of the evolution of the universe and Earth’s place in the cosmos,” with one half to James Peebles “for theoretical discoveries in physical cosmology” and the other half jointly to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz “for the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star.” We give a big congratulations to all the awardees, all of whom are members of the IAU.
6) Applications Open for Intake of New Junior Members, Individual Members
Applications are now open for new IAU Junior Members, a category of membership first introduced at the IAU XXX General Assembly in August of last year.
Eligible candidates are junior scientists who are in the initial phase of a research career with the prospect of becoming a professional researcher in astronomy. For this round of applications, candidates must have completed their PhD studies in any field of astronomy between 2014 and 2019. Admission by the Executive Committee as a Junior Member will be for a maximum period of six years
7) Edward C. Stone awarded Shaw Prize in Astronomy
Astronomer Edward C. Stone is one of three recipients of this year’s Shaw Prize in part for this contributions to the Voyager programme. The other recipients were Maria Jasin in life science and medicine and Michel Talagrand in mathematical sciences.
The Shaw Prize recognises and rewards active scientific researchers who have made significant breakthroughs that have positively impacted humanity. As a Shaw Laureate in astronomy, Stone is invited to give the plenary Shaw Prize Foundation lecture at the IAU General Assembly in Busan in 2021.
8) Winner of the Women & Girls in Astronomy Prize Announced
The Astro Molo Mhalaba project has been selected as the winner of the Women & Girls in Astronomy Prize by IAU100. This initiative engaged more than one hundred girls from underserved communities in Cape Town, South Africa through astronomy outreach activities in February 2019.
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.
