iau1801 — Press Release

IAU European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development signing ceremony
27 February 2018
Inauguration of European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development

The European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development was officially established on 26 February 2018 at a signing ceremony in Leiden, the Netherlands. The event was attended by the South African Minister of Science and Technology and marked the formation of the tenth Regional Office of Astronomy for Development.

On 26 February 2018, the European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (ROAD) was brought into existence at a signing ceremony at Leiden University in the Netherlands. It was preceded by a ceremonial address by Grace Naledi Pandor, South African Minister of Science and Technology. The occasion also marked the appointment of the Minister as honorary visiting Oort Professor of 'Astronomy for Development'.

The ceremony signified the creation of the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU’s) tenth Regional Office, coordinated by the IAU’s global Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD). The European ROAD will be operated jointly by the European Astronomical Society and Leiden University.

Piero Benvenuti, General Secretary of the IAU was present to sign the agreement on behalf of the IAU: “Given their backgrounds, we expect a very fruitful partnership between the University of Leiden and the European Astronomical Society in hosting this 10th regional office.

The global OAD was represented by Acting OAD Director, Vanessa McBride, who said “We are delighted to welcome the European Office to our family of regional offices of astronomy for development, and are excited about the opportunity this will present for a fresh perspective on the role of fundamental sciences in sustainable development.”

Regional offices work closely with the OAD to execute the vision of Astronomy for a better world, with a focus on a geographic or cultural region. The other regional offices are located in: Colombia, Jordan, Ethiopia, China, Portugal, Thailand, Armenia, Zambia and Nigeria. The newest regional office in Europe will carry out and coordinate relevant astronomy-for-development activities in all three Task Force areas defined in the IAU Strategic Plan — Universities and Research, Children and Schools and Public Outreach, focusing on accomplishing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Europe. These tasks will be carried out in cooperation with existing activities of pan-European and national astronomical organisations.

Europe has its own unique development challenges. We look forward to working with the other regional offices in using astronomy and its related tools and skills to impact socioeconomic development” said Prof Roger Davies, President of the European Astronomical Society.

The signing ceremony will be followed by a symposium on Science Diplomacy and International Development on 27 February, organised jointly by the European Commission Space Awareness project, Leiden Observatory, the Leiden African Studies Centre, the Leiden University Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs and the Leiden University Hague Campus. Minister Pandor will give a lecture on Science Diplomacy and the Square Kilometre Array.

More information

International Astronomical Union (IAU):
The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together about 11 000 distinguished astronomers from around the world. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for astronomers.

Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD):
The IAU established the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in partnership with the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). The OAD was officially opened on 16 April 2011 at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town, South Africa. It is tasked with the implementation of the IAU Strategic Plan including the establishment of regional offices and three astronomy-for-development “Task Forces”. The OAD coordinates an annual open Call for Proposals seeking innovative projects for each of the Task Forces: Universities and Research (TF1); Children and Schools (TF2); and Public Outreach (TF3).

European Astronomical Society (EAS):
Founded in 1990, the European Astronomical Society (EAS) promotes and advances astronomy in Europe. As an independent body, the EAS is able to act on matters that need to be handled at a European level on behalf of the European astronomical community. In its endeavours the EAS collaborates with affiliated national astronomical societies and also with pan-european research organisations and networks.

Leiden University:
Leiden University, founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It is one of Europe's leading international research universities and has seven faculties in the arts, sciences and social sciences, spread over locations in Leiden and The Hague. Leiden Observatory is the astronomical institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. Established in 1633, it is the oldest university observatory in operation today.

Links

Contacts

Vanessa McBride
Director, IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD)
Tel: +27 21 460 6297
Cell: +27 73 835 6243
Email: vanessa@astro4dev.org

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer / ESO ePOD
Garching, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6761
Cell: +49 173 3872 621
Email: lars@eso.org

Roger Davies
Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics & Director of the Hintze Centre for Astrophysical Surveys, University of Oxford
Tel: +44 1865 273305
Email: roger.davies@physics.ox.ac.uk

Pedro Russo
Leiden Observatory
Tel: +31 6 54 37 26 58
Email: russo@strw.leidenuniv.nl

Images

IAU European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development signing ceremony