[AstroNet] IYA2009 National Steering Committee

[Astronomy education in SA - email discussion group]

Greetings 

 

The National Steering Committee for the South African celebrations of the
International Year of Astronomy 2009 has been finalized following input from
the astronomy stakeholder community. 

 

This steering committee is made up of the following people: 

-                      Byren Archary (DST)

-                      Kim de Boer (SKA SA / MeerKAT) 

-                      Marion West (HartRAO) 

-                      Shadrack Mahapa (SAASTA) 

-                      Peter Martinez (SAAO / ASSA / Space Science
Community) 

-                      Kevin Govender (SAAO / SALT)

Acronyms:

-                      DST: Department of Science and Technology 

-                      SKA SA: Square Kilometre Array South Africa 

-                      MeerKAT: Karoo Array Telescope 

-                      HartRAO: Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory 

-                      SAASTA: South African Agency for Science and
Technology Advancement 

-                      SAAO: South African Astronomical Observatory 

-                      ASSA: Astronomical Society of Southern Africa 

-                      SALT: Southern African Large Telescope

 

We believe that this steering committee is now well equipped for their task
with adequate representation from a wide variety of stakeholder communities.


 

Current activity status: 

The draft business plan for the SA IYA2009 celebrations is being prepared
following input from stakeholders in the astronomy field. Once it has been
bounced around the steering committee it will be made public on the South
African IYA website www.astronomy2009.org.za
<http://www.astronomy2009.org.za/> . The steering committee will meet on
Monday 2nd July at the KAT/SKA offices in Johannesburg. All activities of
the steering committee will remain as transparent as possible with regular
feedback to the astronomy community.

 

 

ASTRONOMICAL REMINDERS:

-                      The closing dates for the Communicating Astronomy
with the Public 2007 conference are imminent
(http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/cap2007/)

-                      Please keep those astronomy resources coming for our
national consolidation process
(http://astronomy2009.saao.ac.za/projects/resources/)

-                      Don't forget to look up - especially around 1st July
when Venus and Saturn will be really close together in the evening sky
(http://www.saao.ac.za/public-info/sun-moon-stars/july/)

-                      Please continue to spread the word about this email
list (http://mail.saasta.ac.za/mailman/listinfo/astronet)

 

Regards

Kevin Govender

0824878466

 

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