[AstroNet] Fwd: IAU: Agreement Signed for Office for Astronomy Development

[Auke]

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

THE FOLLOWING RELEASE WAS RECEIVED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL
UNION’S PRESS OFFICE IN GARCHING, GERMANY, AND IS FORWARDED FOR YOUR
INFORMATION. (FORWARDING DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY THE AMERICAN
ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.) Rick Fienberg, AAS Press Officer:
rick.fienberg at aas.org, +1 202-328-2010 x116.

30 July 2010

PIO Source:
Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Press Officer
ESO ePOD, Garching, Germany
+49 89 3200 6761; cell: +49 173 3872 621
lars at eso.org

** Additional contacts appear below. **

Text  & Image:
http://www.iau.org/public_press/news/detail/iau1005/

AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR THE IAU
OFFICE FOR ASTRONOMY DEVELOPMENT

The President of the South African National Research Foundation, Dr.
Albert van Jaarsveld, and the General Secretary of the IAU, Dr. Ian
Corbett, signed a landmark agreement in Pretoria today with the
International Astronomical Union (IAU) which will foster and promote
astronomy in the developing world.

Under the agreement the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
at Tshwane/Pretoria will house the new IAU Office for Astronomy
Development (OAD). The OAD will coordinate a wide range of activities
designed to stimulate astronomy throughout the world. This is part of
a pioneering ten-year plan initiated by the IAU to exploit astronomy
in the service of education and capacity building in the developing
world. The plan, “Astronomy for the developing world”, builds on the
enormously successful IAU-UNESCO International Year of Astronomy in
2009 whose activities in 148 countries reached millions of people

According to Ian Corbett, “This is a momentous occasion and the start
of something really new, which should have profound, far-reaching long
term consequences for us all and not just for the developing
countries.  It is wonderful that South Africa has joined with the IAU
in this endeavor, and has demonstrated the determination and
commitment necessary to make this a success”.

In answering, the NRF President and CEO, Dr. Albert van Jaarsveld
said: “The National Research Foundation is pleased to host this
office, which is significant not only for South Africa and Africa but
for the entire developing world. We are pleased to be associated with
this effort to use astronomy to foster education and capacity building
globally over the next decade at least. Astronomy remains one of the
sources of inspiration for young people who take up careers in science
and technology and go on to contribute positively in society. We are
looking forward to working with the astronomy community in developing
interest in astronomy and science and technology in general”.

The agreement formalizes a decision taken in May 2010 when the IAU
selected South Africa as the host for the OAD. The South African bid
beat stiff competition from a field of 20 competing proposals.

George Miley, IAU Vice-President for Development and Education who
also talked at the ceremony said: “From the earliest times astronomy
has had a profound effect on human development, and the OAD activities
will continue the role of astronomy as a highly practical discipline
for society. Astronomy is a unique tool for capacity building because
it combines cutting-edge technology with fundamental science and has
deep cultural roots. Like the new South Africa, astronomy since its
inception has been all about inspiration.”

The OAD will be operated as a partnership between the IAU and South
Africa. The South African partners include the SAAO, its parent
organization the National Research Foundation (NRF), and the
Department of Science and Technology, all of which have committed
strong support to the IAU initiative. The agreement is for an initial
period of five years.

The OAD will mobilize talented professional and amateur astronomers,
engineers and teachers around the world in the service of developing
countries. The wide range of activities that will be coordinated by
the OAD include the education of young disadvantaged children, science
education at all levels, the training of school teachers and building
up research capacity in university departments throughout the
developing world.

Contacts:
George Miley
IAU Vice-President responsible for development and education
+31 71 5275 849
miley at strw.leidenuniv.nl

Robert Williams
President, International Astronomical Union
STScI, Baltimore, USA
+1 410 338 4963
wms at stsci.edu

Ian Corbett
General Secretary, International Astronomical Union
Paris, France
+33 1 43 25 83 58
icorbett at eso.org

Kevin Govender
SAAO / Chair: Developing Astronomy Globally
+27 824 878 466
kg at saao.ac.za

                            # # #

The IAU is the international astronomical organization that brings
together almost 10,000 distinguished astronomers from all nations of
the world. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of
astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The
IAU also serves as the internationally recognized authority for
assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on
them.
Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world’s largest professional body for
astronomers.

Original press releases announcing South Africa as the OAD host:
IAU:
http://www.iau.org/public_press/news/detail/iau1003/
SAAO:
http://www.saao.ac.za/no_cache/public-info/news/news/article/181/16/
South Africa National Research Foundation:
http://www.nrf.ac.za/news_articles.php?nid=67
South African Government:
http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2010/10052609551003.htm

Announcement of Opportunity:
http://iau.org/static/education/announcement_opportunity_oad.pdf

Strategic Plan: Astronomy for the Developing World:
http://iau.org/static/education/strategicplan_091001.pdf

UN Millennium Development Goals:
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals

IAU website:
http://www.iau.org

Additional images from SAAO:
http://www.saao.ac.za/iau-press-release-may-2010-images/

SAAO website:
http://www.saao.ac.za

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