[AstroNet] IAU Office for Astronomy Development

[Kevin Govender]

Greetings all
In the spirit of keeping everyone up to speed on the latest exciting 
things in astronomy, I'd like to bring everyone's attention, once again, 
to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Office for Astronomy 
Development. The specific reason for this email is to inform you that 
South Africa, along with many other deserving countries (including 
Nigeria and India that I know of), intends to submit a bid to host this 
office.

Towards the end of last year we brought your attention to the news 
surrounding the IAU's strategic plan, a bold and visionary framework to 
boost astronomy in the developing world (pdf version of the plan 
available at www.iau.org). This Office for Astronomy Development now 
represents a major step in the realisation of that strategic plan. South 
Africa's bid is not simply about bringing this office to the country but 
about bringing it to the continent. Having such a bold international 
programme coordinated from Africa will not only stimulate the continent 
itself but also make a statement to the rest of the world about our 
amazing capacity to contribute to global development.

We see this office being not simply about developing astronomy across 
the world but also, very importantly, about using astronomy as a tool 
for development - as highlighted in the IAU strategic plan.

I therefore feel very positive about the fact that this office is going 
to happen. And wherever it is located in the world, I believe the 
fulfilment of the vision and purpose will bring great things to us all.

So if you would like to contribute to or support South Africa's 
proposal, or if you would like to know more, please feel free to contact 
me. I will be submitting a proposal by this weekend. If you hear of 
other proposals which you would like to support, I would encourage you 
to do so also - wherever the office goes, it will be a great thing for 
astronomy and development. The greater the support for the office 
itself, the greater the final impact would be.

As I've said, the other proposers that I know about in Africa are our 
colleagues in Nigeria, and wherever it goes I can see us working closely 
together for the benefit of Africa.

Good luck to all other proposers. May the spirit of the Office far 
exceed the competition to host it.
Regards
Kevin