IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter

2016 #1 January #1

In this newsletter:

  1. From the Editors
  2. IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Newsletter #11
  3. IAU National Outreach Contact Corner: News from Belgium
  4. Astronomy Outreach Volunteer Program for the 2016 Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia
  5. Space Scoop website
  6. Participate in the Space Awareness MOOCs
  7. Big Impact Giving (BIG) by Astronomers Without Borders
  8. SETI Summer Programme
  9. Crash Course Astronomy with Phil Plait
  10. Meetings & global events around the world for 2016
  11. Contributions to IAU Outreach Newsletter for 2016

 

0) From the Editors

In this issue, you can learn about some exciting news from our friends at Leiden University and enjoy the latest issue of the Office of Astronomy for Development newsletter. If you’re planning on going to see the total eclipse on 9 March in Indonesia, join our eclipse volunteer programme and take astronomy to remote local teaching communities.

During 2016, we are continuing to accept submissions for this IAU Outreach Newsletter, where the world astronomy outreach community can share their outreach and educational activities. Please continue to share your exciting stories with us and let us know about your inspiring ways of reaching the global community.

Subscribe your organisation to the IAU Directory for World Astronomy and take the chance to participate in IAU projects, connect to the public worldwide, promote your events, etc. The IAU is preparing exciting new projects, and your organisation can participate in them first hand.

We wish you great clear skies for 2016!
Lina Canas & Sze-leung Cheung
IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach

 

1) IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Newsletter #11

The IAU OAD Newsletter #11 is now online. It is issued quarterly by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) and here you can learn about the latest activities of the OAD. Highlights of this issue include funded projects for 2016 and the inauguration of regional offices

Learn more: https://www.iau.org/news/announcements/detail/ann16002/

 

2) IAU National Outreach Contact Corner: News from Belgium

The small MARSrovers workshop is offered by European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) to schoolchildren aged 10 to 14 years in collaboration with the Belgian Observatory of Ghent and Bernardusschool Oudenaarde. The activities centre on a visit by students and their teachers to the observatory.

Learn more about this activity: http://www.esero.be/_WP/?page_id=354

 

3) Astronomy Outreach Volunteer Program for the 2016 Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia

On 9 March a total solar eclipse will be visible from Indonesia, and even though the path of totality is only 155 kilometres wide, Indonesia is very lucky to be the only country from which you can see the totality. Don’t miss the chance to watch the eclipse from this beautiful country, and also to learn more about the educational activities related to astronomy that will take place throughout Indonesia.

We understand that many people have already planned their visit to Indonesia to observe the eclipse, so why not spend some of your spare time volunteering to visit a local school to conduct an astronomy workshop? Our office is helping to make this happen and we are organising the Astronomy Outreach Volunteer Program for the 2016 Total Solar Eclipse in Indonesia in conjunction with local organisations, so please stay tuned for more news in the upcoming days.

Learn more about the events that will happen in Indonesia here: http://gerhana.info/en. Details will be announced soon on this page.

 

4) Space Scoop website

A brand-new Space Scoop astronomy website for children has been launched in 22 different languages. Space Scoop provides exciting news about the latest astronomical discoveries in child-friendly language and is accompanied by a stunning astronomical image. The articles are delivered directly by major space agencies and institutes around the world, allowing children across the globe to read them concurrently.

Check out the new website here: http://www.spacescoop.org/

 

5) Participate in Space Awareness MOOCs

Space Awareness is an international project that aims to use the excitement of space exploration to raise students’ interest in science and technology. Teachers play the most significant role when it comes to inspiring students and increasing their excitement on any given subject taught at school. Teachers are invited to use their creativity and imagination and build activities for their students in collaboration with the projects’ experts

Learn more here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RSia55C2XWWT5FZQz-FPWCC9YJ2lka0F5uynZuqDqEU/viewform

 

6) Big Impact Giving (BIG) by Astronomers Without Borders

The BIG Project is a fundraising project run by Astronomers Without Borders. The aim of the project is to help astronomy clubs and other organisations raise funds to improve outreach, education, observing activities, and other astronomy-related projects. Sometimes small donations can make a big difference.

Learn more about the programme here: http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/awb-programs/resource-sharing-programs/the-big-project.html

 

7) SETI summer programme

The SETI Institute, a non-profit private scientific research institution located in California’s Silicon Valley, is inviting undergraduate students in the United States to apply for a summer research experience for undergraduates programme for highly motivated students interested in astrobiology research. The students will work with scientists at the SETI Institute and the nearby NASA Ames Research Center on projects spanning the field of astrobiology from microbiology to observational astronomy.

Learn more: http://www.seti.org/seti-educators/reu

 

8) Crash Course Astronomy with Phil Plait

Renowned astronomer Phil Plait and Crash Course have teamed up to produce Crash Course Astronomy. These are a series of webisodes on astronomy ranging from naked-eye astronomy, through the Solar System, out to the stars, to the galaxies and the Universe itself.

If you haven’t watched it, give the first episode a try here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rHUDWjR5gg

 

9) Meetings & global events around the world for 2016

As we move into 2016 here is the list of the most awaited astronomy outreach & education conferences and events for 2016. Plan ahead for a year full of exciting events. Have we missed something? Share with us your astronomy outreach and education international meetings or events via outreach@iau.org

a) Global Astronomy Month
Date: April 2016
Location: All around the world
More information: http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/

b) 9th International Meeting of Astronomy and Astronautics
Date: 14—16 April 2016
Location: Campos de Goytacazes, Brazil
More Information: http://9imaa.eventbrite.com/

c) Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2016 conference
Date: 16—20 May 2016
Location: Medellín, Colombia
More Information: https://www.facebook.com/CAPconference

d) International Meteor Conference (IMC) 2016
Date: 2—5 June 2016
Location: Egmond, Netherlands
More Information: http://imc2016.imo.net/

e) International Planetarium Society Conference
Date: 19—25 June 2016
Location: Warsaw, Poland
More Information: http://www.ips2016.org/

f) IX International Conference on Oriental Astronomy
Date: 15—18 November 2016
Location: Pune, India
More Information: http://icoa2016.tifr.res.in

g) .Astronomy 8
Date: 21—23 June 2016
Location: Oxford, United Kingdom
More Information: http://dotastronomy.com/events/eight/

h) Royal Astronomical Society National Astronomy Meeting 2016
Date: 27 June to 1 July 2016
Location: Nottingham, United Kingdom
More Information: https://www.ras.org.uk/news-and-press/2730-national-astronomy-meeting-2016

i) European Week of Astronomy and Space Science (EWASS)
Date: 4—8 July 2016
Location: Athens, Greece
More Information: http://eas.unige.ch/EWASS2016/

j) 41st COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Date: 30 July — 7 August 2016
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
More Information: https://cosparhq.cnes.fr/content/cospar-2016-0

k) International Conference on Artificial Light at Night (ALAN 2016)
Date: 26—28 September 2016
Location: Cluj, Napoca, Romania
More Information: http://www.artificiallightatnight.org/

l) LARIM 2016: XV Latin American Regional IAU Meeting
Date: 3—7 October, 2016
Location: Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
More Information: http://larim.unal.edu.co/

m) IAU Symposia IAUS 326: Research in Astronomy Education: Far-reaching Impacts and Future Directions
Date: 4–7 October 2016
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
More Information: https://www.iau.org/science/meetings/future/symposia/1159/

n) International Observe the Moon Night
Date: 8 October 2016
Location: All around the world
More Information: http://observethemoonnight.org/

o) DPS-EPSC Joint Meeting 2016
Date: 16—21 October 2016
Location: Pasadena, CA, United States
More Information: http://www.epsc2015.eu/

 

10) Contributions to IAU Outreach Newsletter for 2016

Here at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, we are always looking for more news about astronomical education and outreach events around the world. In 2016 please continue to share your stories with us! If you are organizing any 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.