The IAU has admitted 15 new Honorary Members, announced during the second IAU Business Sessions, held on 14 August during the XXXII IAU General Assembly in Cape Town.

This membership category, introduced at the XXX General Assembly, held in August 2018 in Vienna, gives official recognition to individuals who have significantly contributed to the progress of astronomical research and culture in their country, but who do not qualify as Individual Members.

Such individuals may be admitted by the IAU Executive Committee after a nomination by their National Committee for Astronomy (NCA) or the President of a Division. At the triennium Business Sessions held this month, the IAU was proud to admit the following 15 individuals as Honorary Members:

Ghillar Michael Anderson, Australia – an Euahlayi elder and activist who has made extensive contributions to Indigenous astronomy, preserving and promoting celestial traditions in Aboriginal culture

Pavel Suchan, Czech Republic – Press spokesman at the Czech Academy of Sciences who is the leading Czech populariser of astronomy

Prof. Dr. Gad M. El-Qady, Egypt – geophysicist, President of the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, who supports and develops astronomical culture and activities in Egypt and Arab countries

Dr. Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi, Ethiopia – a businessman who provided funding for Ethiopian space and astronomy initiatives including the Entoto Observatory for training and research

Thierry Midavaine, France – an amateur astronomer who promotes astronomy and dark skies, develops instruments, and promotes amateur astronomy

Krisztián Sárneczky, Hungary – amateur astronomer who discovered and made astrometric observations of asteroids and Near-Earth Objects

Snævarr Guðmundsson, Iceland – a geologist, amateur astronomer and philanthropist who does photometry of variables, eclipsing binaries and transiting exoplanets, and is a populariser of astronomy 

Roberto Biasi, Italy – an engineer who made technical innovations for instruments and telescopes, including E-ELT and ALMA and trained young people

Seki Tsutomu, Japan – amateur astronomer, Director of the Geisei Observatory who discovered comets and asteroids and is an inspiration to amateur astronomers 

Pavol Rapavý, Slovak Republic – nuclear physicist and professional advisor to Observatory Rimavská Sobota who is one of the leading popularisers of astronomy in Slovakia

Andrej Guštin, Slovenia – a teacher and NAEC who started national astronomy competition in Slovenia and popularised astronomy for decades through books, lectures, and observing nights

Immaculada Figueroa, Spain – Vice Director General for internationalisation of Science and Innovation in the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, who coordinates Spanish participation in large research infrastructures

Serhiy Verbytskyy, Ukraine – an engineer who has developed dozens of small telescopes and made automated observations in Ukraine

Barbara A. Mikulski, USA – U.S. Senator who advocated strongly over 30 years for Hubble Space Telescope, JWST, and astronomical infrastructure

Claudio Costa, Vatican City – Technical Assistant of the Director at Specola Vaticana who restores historical instruments for education and the public

Debra Elmegreen, outgoing IAU President, remarks: “We are delighted to welcome these new Honorary Members to our IAU family. We thank them for their dedication to promoting and sharing astronomy with the world.”

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 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.

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Guido Schwartz
IAU Press Officer
Email: iaupressoffice@iau.org