[AstroNet] IYA and indigenous astronomical knowledge

[Marina Joubert]

Dear Kevin
 
Please also remember about the storybook that I produced for SAASTA called
"The crocodile who swallows the Sun", based on astronomical folklore (it was
supported by DST at the time, but I am very keen to take the project further
by possibly translating it (and re-publishing) in other indigenous
languages).
 
Marina
 
Marina Joubert
SOUTHERN SCIENCE, South Africa
Science Communication Editor: SciDev.Net
Tel: +27 83 409 4254
 

  _____  

From: astronet-bounces at mail.saasta.ac.za
[mailto:astronet-bounces at mail.saasta.ac.za] On Behalf Of Kevin Govender
Sent: 18 September 2008 11:29
To: astronet
Subject: [AstroNet] IYA and indigenous astronomical knowledge


Greetings to the AstroNet list
Please see below regarding indigenous astronomy and contact me if you have
ideas to implement activities during IYA.
What is especially needed is someone who is willing to champion the
Indigenous Astronomy part of IYA (and possibly beyond).
Regards
Kevin


-------- Original Message -------- 
Subject: 	[Fwd: Fw: IYA and indigenous astronomical knowledge]	
Date: 	Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:36:57 +0200	
From: 	Kevin Govender  <mailto:kg at saao.ac.za> <kg at saao.ac.za>	
To: 	SNEDEGKE at uvu.edu	


Hi Keith

This email was forwarded to me by the AstroNet moderator so that we 

could discuss first before sending to the full list.

There are definitely plans - the key players at the moment are Iziko 

Planetarium (Themba), SAAO (Sivuyile and Thebe), and Unizul science 

centre (Mdumiseni).

For IYA we are looking to produce some additional materials to assist in 

outreach. As you say it's a very good tool to make the link with science 

amongst common people.



Your expertise in the field would be highly appreciated. Please send us 

ideas that you have.

Do you know about the African Cultural Astronomy Project? It is run by 

Johnson Urama in Nigeria. (http://www.africastronomy.org/)



Let's keep brainstorming - I will send this out to the AstroNet list for 

their information

Regards

Kevin











----- Original Message ----- 

From: "Keith Snedegar"  <mailto:SNEDEGKE at uvu.edu> <SNEDEGKE at uvu.edu>

To:  <mailto:astronet at mail.saasta.ac.za> <astronet at mail.saasta.ac.za>

Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 6:56 PM

Subject: IYA and indigenous astronomical knowledge





I wonder if there are any plans to incorporate presentations of indigenous 

African astronomical knowledge in the celebrations of IYA.  The touring 

exhibit of Timbuktu manuscripts might provide one opportunity.  Thebe Medupe


is leading a team of scholars studying the astronomical content of these 

medieval texts.  The film, Cosmic Africa, also is a healthy introduction to 

the practice of sky watching in African societies.  And the "African Nights"


sky show produced by the Iziko Museum Planetarium some years ago could 

possibly be revived.



It seems to me that the value of "cultural astronomy" presentations is in 

bridging the gap between the scientific profession and common people who 

might otherwise believe astronomy to be something altogether alien from 

mundane life.  I have some background in studying the astronomical practices


of African peoples and would be glad to support any indigenous knowledge 

aspect of IYA activities.



Keith Snedegar

Professor of History

Utah Valley University

800 W. University Parkway

Orem, UT  84058-5999

(801) 863-8847 voice

(801) 863-7013 fax

snedegke at uvu.edu







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