Sent electronically to Individual Members on July 13, 2011
by Ian Corbett, General Secretary
IB 108, giving preliminary details of the scientific programme at the August 2012 General Assembly, is now available on the IAU web site at https://www.iau.org/static/publications/IB108.pdf
Preparations for the XXVIII General Assembly, 20 – 31 August 2012, in Beijing are advancing rapidly. The web site http://www.astronomy2012.org is operational and early registration, at a substantial discount, will be open from 1 September 2011. Early registration closes on 31 January 2012. Full details of the programme for the 2012 General Assembly will be published in IB 109, due to appear in January 2012.
After a series of most regrettable delays, the Proceedings of IAUS 260 “The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture” has been published by Cambridge University Press and can be seen at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=IAU&volumeId=5&seriesId=0&issueId=S260.
The Global Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) is now established under its Director Kevin Govender, who sends the following message to IAU members:
Dear IAU members
As a significant milestone towards the realisation of the decadal strategic plan "Astronomy for the Developing World, Building from the IYA2009," the IAU has established the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in Cape Town, South Africa. The vision for the OAD is simply "Astronomy for a better world." It aims to use astronomy as a tool to stimulate development at all levels including primary, secondary and tertiary education, science research and the public understanding of science.
In order to achieve this, the OAD needs your help! We hereby call on you to visit the OAD website www.astronomyfordevelopment.org and get in touch with us. You can log your area of interest and proposed involvement on the online form or else contact us directly. We have also set up an email list for the OAD and encourage you to join in order to stay informed of the activities and progress.
The OAD currently has two staff members and the search is underway for the third. We have issued a call for expressions of interest for institutions to host regional nodes, as well as a call for contributions of volunteer time in any form. Besides regional nodes we intend to set up three task forces for university education and research; young children and school education; and public outreach. At the end of 2011 a workshop will be held with major stakeholders, and at the IAU General Assembly in 2012, the OAD will present its activities and progress.
Right now we appeal to you to get involved! Please visit www.astronomyfordevelopment.org or send an email to info@astro4dev.org. We also ask that you spread this message to relevant people who may not be IAU members: post-docs, students and amateur astronomers.
Regards
Kevin Govender
Director: IAU Office of Astronomy for Development
A reminder of certain key dates in 2011:
15 Sept: Deadline for submitting Letters of Intent for Symposia in 2013
1 Nov: Deadline for submitting Letter of Intent to host the XXXth GA in 2018
1 Nov: Deadline for contributions to IB 109
26 Nov: Deadline for submitting financial Resolution or motions to amend Statutes or Bye-Laws to General Secretary
30 Nov: Due date for applications for the Gruber Foundation Fellowships 2012
1 Dec: Deadline for Proposals for Symposia in 2013
15 Dec: Deadline for nominations for the Gruber Foundation Cosmology Prize 2012
Remember that the IAU web site https://www.iau.org is an up-to-date source of information concerning the IAU and its programmes.
Ian Corbett
IAU General Secretary
13 July 2011