Letters of Intent received in 2024

LoI 2026-2220
Innovative Research and Techniques in Astronomy Outreach

Topics

- Successful Astronomy Outreach Projects and Innovative Communication Models
This session explores impactful astronomy outreach initiatives that have successfully engaged diverse audiences and promoted scientific literacy. It will also examine cutting-edge strategies for communicating astronomy to the public, focusing on fostering deeper engagement and understanding.

- Professionalizing Public Communication in Astronomy
This discussion highlights the importance of formal training and career development for science communicators in astronomy, aiming to elevate the quality and impact of outreach efforts.

- The Great Challenge: Overcoming Budget Constraints in Astronomy Outreach
This session identifies solutions and strategies for securing funding and resources for public communication projects in astronomy, despite budgetary limitations.

- Planetarium Shows: Immersive Experiences in Astronomy
An exploration of how planetariums engage audiences through immersive, educational experiences, captivating the public with innovative and engaging astronomy content.

- Astronomy and Society
A conversation on how science is perceived and trusted by society, focusing on the interaction between science and the public. It will address the importance of open dialogue between the scientific community and society to restore the value of science in government policies and funding decisions.

Rationale

There is a growing concern within the scientific community regarding a perceived wave of irrationality and anti-scientific sentiment, which has reached political leaders and the general public. Science currently faces a significant crisis of trust in its intellectual and cultural reputation, reflected in a lack of political and economic support. It is often suggested, perhaps hastily, that this situation could be resolved if the media, the education system, and researchers themselves made more efforts to disseminate knowledge. This perspective holds that science is not supported because it is not understood. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that this approach has led to a dead end. Now, the task is to reintegrate science into culture through a profound transformation of scientific activity and the training of its professionals. Simply disseminating knowledge will no longer suffice; it is necessary to foster the democratization of scientific knowledge.

Astronomy that reminds us of our place in the Universe, plays a key role in rebuilding the bridges between science and culture. However, the responsibility for this task cannot rest solely on the passive dissemination of knowledge. Astronomers must take an active role in defending and promoting scientific knowledge, using public communication tools that effectively engage the public and generating research that continually updates the ways in which we converse with non-scientific audiences while improving communication among peers.

In this context, research into public communication techniques becomes an essential tool for improving the effectiveness of this process. How do we speak about the vastness of the universe or phenomena like black holes to an audience that, in many cases, lacks basic scientific training? How do we foster constructive dialogue between sectors of society that have stood on opposite sides for centuries? The answer lies in the investigation and development of innovative methods that connect astronomy to people’s everyday lives and culture. The astronomical community must invest in studies that assess the impact of their outreach initiatives and adjust their strategies based on the results. Only through an evidence-based approach can we enhance the quality and reach of public science communication.

Finally, the scientific crisis we face today is deeply linked to a progressive separation of science from general culture. For centuries, scientific knowledge and cultural development advanced hand in hand; yet, today, they seem to walk separate paths. Science, often perceived as distant and inaccessible, has lost its place in the popular imagination, allowing irrational and anti-scientific discourses to gain ground. Astronomy, with its ability to inspire wonder and remind us of our place in the universe, can and must be a bridge between science and culture. To achieve this, the scientific community must actively engage in the task of rekindling public interest in its knowledge, demonstrating that science is not a cold and distant entity but a fundamental part of our understanding of the world and our culture.

In conclusion, public communication of astronomy is vital to addressing the growing distrust of science and fostering a culture of critical and rational thought. Astronomers must take an active role in this task, training themselves in communication and using research as a tool to improve their outreach strategies. Only then will it be possible to reverse the crisis of confidence in science and reconnect society with the knowledge that belongs to it. For these reasons, we consider it essential to organize symposia dedicated to the study, research and development of outreach in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology for the 21st century.