This is quite an exciting month for many of the IAU offices as application deadlines for many of our programmes are between this week and the beginning of June. Here at the Office for Astronomy Outreach, we have two programmes, the Telescopes for All programme and Astronomy Outreach Visitors programme, with deadlines fast approaching, while our sister office, Office of Astronomy for Development, has two Calls for Proposals, their general one and one related to COVID-19. See all of these entries, with further information, listed in this newsletter.
In this newsletter as well, we also highlight a programme from Las Cumbres Observatory with a deadline this week (!) and an exciting development from our National Outreach coordinator in Italy.
Lastly, but listed first in this newsletter, is the IAU celebrations of dark and quiet skies for the International Day of Light. The Office for Astronomy Outreach will be going online the day of to discuss the preservation of dark and quiet skies. Please join us in this celebration on 16 May 2020.
Wishing you clear skies and good health! Lina Canas & Izumi Hansen, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) IAU Dark and Quiet Skies Awareness for the International Day of Light 2020
The IAU OAO will be celebrating the International Day of Light this Saturday 16 May 2020 through promoting awareness of dark and quiet skies. This entirely online event will focus on how people can participate in preserving dark and quiet skies, which all people have a right to access. Some ways to get involved in preserving dark and quiet skies supported by the IAU OAO include:
If you share how you preserve dark and quiet skies on social media, please use the hashtags #DarkSkies4All #IAUoutreach #IDL2020
Additionally, the International Day of Light is hosting a video contest through 15 May 2020. Please share with them your astrophotography or why dark and quiet skies are important to you for their contest.
2) IAU OAD Extraordinary Call for COVID-19-related Proposals
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) welcomes proposals for projects or partnerships that use astronomy, in any of its aspects (including skills, methodologies, tools, infrastructure, inspiration or even just networks of astronomers/enthusiasts), to help mitigate some of the impacts of COVID-19. The process will mirror their regular call for proposals, but with an accelerated timeline. Deadline for proposals is 15 May 2020.
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) has opened their annual call for proposals for projects that use astronomy as a tool to address an issue or issues related to sustainable development. Applications for the two-stage process are due 31 May 2020.
The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) is accepting applications for the second edition of the IAU OAO Astronomy Outreach Visitors Programme. This edition will be a hybrid programme wherein the visitor will support IAU outreach programmes both virtually and in-person, The deadline to submit an application is 1 June 2020.
The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO), Stars Shine for Everyone (SSVI) and Universe Awareness are accepting proposals for projects that would use one of the 15 telescopes to be distributed through the Telescopes for All programme. Priority will be given to activities that tackle gender equality and take underrepresented and underserved groups into account. Proposals require the endorsement of the IAU National Outreach Coordinator (NOC) for your country and are due 1 June 2020.
6) IAU Global Outreach Events 2020 | Event Calendar
The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) welcomes astronomy enthusiasts from around the world to submit their events to the IAU Global Outreach Events 2020 Event Calendar. Applicants to the calendar qualify for consideration for the Online Astronomy@Home Awards organised by the IAU OAO if they are take place online.
7) INAF and Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy Collaboration
The Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF) and the Islamic Cultural Centre of Italy (CICI) have established a collaboration to promote inclusion and intercultural dialogue between the two disciplines through outreach events.
From Italy National Outreach Coordinator (NOC) Stefano Sandrelli: “The aim is to promote the diffusion of scientific culture, which is a fundamental objective of INAF, through projects for the teaching and dissemination of astronomy, with contents and languages targeted to the Italian Islamic community.”
Currently planned is an annual event will be held before Ramadan to provide scientific information for monitoring the movements of the Moon, upon which the Islamic calendar is based. More events coinciding with other Islamic holidays are being considered.
Thank you to Stefano Sandrelli for sending in the news!
8) LCO Global Sky Partners
Las Cumbres Observatory is accepting proposals for their LCO Global Sky Partners programme through 15 May 2020. LCO welcomes proposals from people and groups with interesting, engaging, and innovative ideas for educational projects in astronomy. Applications are due 15 May 2020 at 23:00 UTC.
9) Featured Activities Event & Online Resources Repository
Events Making Space for All Webinar with Ohio State University
What: Webinar with underrepresented scientists.
When: Thursday 14 May 2020 at 1500 EST (-4 UTC).
Link: https://astronomy.osu.edu/outreach/making-space
10) IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter in Other Languages
Interested in translating our newsletter into your language? Please let us know via outreach@iau.org.
Our newsletter is being translated into the following languages:
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 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/).
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).
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.
11) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2020
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 2020! 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.
