Message to the community from the IAU President and General Secretary
Dear Colleague,
This is the traditional moment of the season’s wishes for a new year (at least in Western culture...), and we wish you all a productive year in astronomy and happiness in your personal life.
The new year, 2015, is definitely special for the IAU.
First and foremost, like every three years, this is the year of the General Assembly, which is expected to be the largest ever. It features an exciting scientific program and the introduction of new meeting formats (Focus Meetings and Division Meetings) in one of the world’s capital sites for astronomy, Hawaii, and its wonderful city of Honolulu.
Until then, and like a caterpillar morphing into a butterfly, the IAU will progressively prepare for major structural changes at the General Assembly, with an entirely new set of Commissions being established, and soon later, Working Groups.
In terms of interactions of the IAU with the public, the General Assembly will see the final stages of the NameExoWorlds contest for public naming of exoplanets (see the recent Press Release), and a spectacular initiative in the framework of the UNESCO’s International Year of Light and Light Technologies.
While all these activities will be concentrated at the General Assembly, astronomical discoveries will continue throughout the year to fascinate us, as astronomers and colleagues in other disciplines, but also the public at large.
Best wishes to all,
Norio Kaifu & Thierry Montmerle
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9 January 2015: Electronic voting for the expression of interest for new commissions, based on the letters of intent submitted on 15 October 2014, closed on 31 December 2014, following the posting of ...
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19 December 2014: As indicated in the mass email from the General Secretary calling for an Expression of Interest for new Commissions by means of electronic voting (sent on 5 November), and in ...
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13 January 2015: The first ever contest allowing members of the public to name ExoWorlds begins its first round today, offering the registered clubs and non-profit organisations the chance to nominate their favourite ...
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7 January 2015: Anyone who is interested in a refreshing, inspirational, and dynamic exchange of ideas on how to bring astronomy and space closer to people is invited to save the date for ...
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24 December 2014: The Astronomy Outreach Newsletter #16 is now online. It is produced by the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach and brings the general public the latest information about events and other ...
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