IAU100 Celebrations Awarded with Dutch Science Communication Award

ann20043 — Announcement

4 December 2020

The IAU100 has been awarded the Dutch Research Council (NWO) Communication Award for its reach and international impact in promoting astronomy.

Throughout 2019, millions of people around the world celebrated the astronomical breakthroughs that have shaped science, technology and culture over the last century. The IAU100 initiative saw over 5000 registered activities in 143 countries and facilitated the direct involvement of an estimated five to ten million people along with an estimated further reach of 100 million people through communication activities.

The Dutch Research Council, under the responsibility of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science encourages quality and innovation in the sciences. The jury highlighted the broad scope and inclusiveness of the outreach initiatives carried out, focusing on countries where scientific knowledge is more difficult to reach. The project received €10 000 for the purposes of science communication, and it will be used to support the legacy of the celebrations.

"The IAU views this award as a fitting tribute to the tremendous efforts of the IAU100 leaders, along with the professional and amateur astronomy community, who communicated the positive messages of astronomy through inclusive and comprehensive global engagement," said Debra Elmegreen, IAU President-elect.

The IAU100 legacy carries on through annual IAU-driven outreach Global Projects implemented by the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, and the establishment of a central platform for event organisers around the world to showcase their astronomy activities.

“The success of the IAU100 celebrations could not have been possible without the IAU National Outreach Coordinators (NOCs) who were fundamental for the national implementation and dissemination of the initiative in over 100 countries.“ said Jorge Rivero González, the IAU100 International Coordinator. The celebrations were centrally coordinated by Jorge Rivero González, Pedro Russo, Bethany Downer, Lina Canas and Marieke Baan, the IAU100 Secretariat based at the Astronomy & Society group of Leiden University in the Netherlands and the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach based in Japan at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ).

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The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together almost 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, 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.