Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage

Description

Members of Division C are involved in all aspects of astronomy Education, Outreach, History and Heritage. Individuals from other divisions whose work straddles the boundaries between their scientific interest and Division C may propose Working Groups within Division C.

Education ranges from primary to tertiary level including both formal and informal education, and is informed by astronomy education research. The Division also promotes astronomy in developing countries.

Outreach communicates with the public through a wide range of media and formats.

Heritage includes the legacy of astronomical artefacts and structures as well as the astronomical attributes of mankind's cultural history.

The history of astronomy is an active area within the Division. So too is the promotion of astronomy in developing countries.

Division C has an interest in maintaining dark skies (through the inter-division Commission B7), as this has an impact on education and outreach as well as research.

Division C activities are closely coordinated with the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in Cape Town, the Office for Astronomical Outreach (OAO) in Tokyo and the Office for Young Astronomers (OYA) which is in part funded through the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters in Oslo. OYA organizes the International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA), which usually take place in developing countries once or twice a year.

Public outreach in astronomy at Mt John Observatory, New Zealand. Credit: Maki Yanagimachi

Division Web Page

Division Members

• Total number of active members: 2682
• Number of junior members: 321

Participating Commissions

Inter-Division B-C Commission Protection of Existing and Potential Observatory Sites
Commission C1 Astronomy Education and Development
Commission C2 Communicating Astronomy with the Public
Commission C3 History of Astronomy
Commission C4 World Heritage and Astronomy

Division Working Groups

Division C WG Key Initiatives in Education, Outreach and Development
Division C WG Star Names

Inter-Division Working Groups

Inter-Division C-E WG Solar Eclipses

President

Richard de Grijs

Macquarie University
School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Balaclava Road
Sydney 2109
New South Wales (NSW)
Australia

NCA adherence: Australia

Last updated:
July 5, 2022

Vice-President

Edward Leocadio Gomez

Las Cumbres Observatory
School of Physics and Astronomy
Cardiff CF24 3AA
South Glamorgan
United Kingdom

NCA adherence: United Kingdom

Last updated:
February 16, 2021

Secretary

Mirjana Povic

Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI)
Astronomy and Astrophysics Research and Development Department
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia

NCA adherence: Spain

Additional affiliation: Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (IAA-CSIC) Department of Extragalactic Astronomy Granada, Spain

Last updated:
December 18, 2021

Advisor

Susana E. Deustua

National Institute of Standards and Technology
Sensor Science Division
100 Bureau Drive
MS 8444
Gaithersburg
Maryland (MD)
United States

NCA adherence: United States

Last updated:
April 3, 2023

Steering Committee