[AstroNet] Fwd: IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter - July 2014
Kevin Govender
kg at astro4dev.org
Mon Jul 28 10:24:42 SAST 2014
fyi...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sze-leung Cheung <cheungszeleung at iau.org>
Date: 28 July 2014 10:03
Subject: IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter - July 2014
To: iya2009 at list.astro4dev.org
[ Online version -
http://www.iau.org/public/publications/newsletter/2014_07/ ]
In this newsletter:
1. *From the Editor*
2. *IAU launches the NameExoWorlds worldwide contest*
3. *International Year of Light 2015 website*
4. *SPIE International Year of Light photo contest*
5. *IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Annual Call for Proposals
2014*
6. *The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development newsletter #6 available
online*
7. *Open Review of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development*
8. *IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Visiting Fellowship*
9. *Programme update: Astronomy Education Alliance Meeting*
10. *Call for support: Crowdfunding for improving science education in
Tanzania*
11. *Sharing Stories: The BraBo (Brazil-Bolivia) Expedition of
GalileoMobile*
12. *Sharing Stories: StarDisc as Community Space*
13. *Upcoming events*
14. *Contributions to this newsletter*
*0) From the Editor*
There’s a great deal of exciting news to share in this month’s newsletter,
including the IAU flagship programme NameExoWorlds. Don’t miss the chance
to join in with this historical event! If you are an astronomy educator or
communicator, I would encourage you to promote this naming contest within
your community and encourage everyone to propose names. More news from our
sister IAU Office for Astronomy Development (OAD) office on their annual
call for proposals, newsletter, open review and visiting fellowship
programme. If you click on the links to the crowdsourcing efforts and read
their stories, you will see the many happy faces of the kids and students
as they get in touch with astronomy, so do please consider supporting these
projects.
Last but not least, starting from the next issue, this newsletter will come
twice every month, so that you can receive our updates in a timely manner.
Clear skies,
Sze-leung Cheung
IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach
*1) IAU launches the NameExoWorlds worldwide contest*
For the first time, in response to the public’s increased interest in being
part of discoveries in astronomy, the International Astronomical Union
(IAU) is organising a worldwide contest to give popular names to selected
exoplanets along with their host stars. The proposed names will be
submitted by astronomy clubs and non-profit organisations interested in
astronomy, and votes will be cast by the public from across the world
through the web platform NameExoWorlds. This platform is under development
by the IAU in association with Zooniverse. The intention is that millions
of people worldwide will be able to take part in the vote. Once the votes
are counted, the winning names will be officially sanctioned by the IAU,
allowing them to be used freely in parallel with the existing scientific
nomenclature, with due credit to the clubs or organisations that proposed
them.
Read more from IAU Press Release
http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1404/
and the rules at http://nameexoworlds.org/
*2) International Year of Light 2015 website*
The International Year of Light 2015 (IYL2015) website is available at
http://www.light2015.org . The IAU is one of the supporting organisations
for IYL2015 and we are actively organising the Cosmic Light projects for
IYL2015 — you can read more on IYL2015 website. More information will be
soon available on http://www.light2015.org/Home/CosmicLight.html and the
IAU website as well.
*3) SPIE International Year of Light photo contest*
SPIE has organised the International Year of Light photo contest. Submit
your work by 30 September and show how light and light-based technologies
play a vital role in our everyday lives.
Read more at http://spie.org/x108047.xml .
*4) IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Annual Call for Proposals 2014*
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) successfully launched its
third annual Call for Proposals on Monday 30 June 2014. This is an open
call for projects relating to any of the three focus areas of the OAD: (i)
universities and research; (ii) children and schools; and (iii) public
outreach. Projects that are not successful in being awarded a grant may
still be selected for the OAD's Recommended List, for which the OAD will
continue to seek additional funds and support.
The call is live on the OAD website (http://www.astro4dev.org/cfp/) with a
deadline for submission of 23:59 UTC on 31 August 2014.
*5) The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development newsletter #6 available
online*
The sixth edition of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD)'s
quarterly newsletter is available on the OAD website. Read about all the
exciting activities that have been taking place in the world of astronomy
for development:
http://www.astro4dev.org/newsletters/
*6) Open Review of the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development*
One of the guiding principles upon which the IAU Office of Astronomy for
Development (OAD) is built is that of humility. As such OAD is constantly
exploring ways in which it can improve its activities and learn from the
people it interacts with. The OAD is therefore pleased to announce the OAD
Open Review — an open opportunity for people to reflect on their
experiences with the OAD and provide input into their operations and future
planning.
Read more on www.astro4dev.org/oad-open-review/
*7) IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Visiting Fellowship*
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) has launched the Visiting
fellowship Scheme for their volunteers working on the OAD Ideas List to
contribute to the vision of OAD. The Fellowship will cover flights to Cape
Town, accommodation near the OAD and a modest daily subsistence allowance
for a negotiated period.
Read more on
http://www.astro4dev.org/work-with-the-oad/opportunities-oad/oad-visiting-fellowships/
*8) Programme Update: Astronomy Education Alliance Meeting*
The Astronomy Education Alliance Meeting will take place in Cascais,
Portugal between 8 and 12 September 2014, co-hosted by the European
Planetary Science Congress and Global Hands-on Universe. The meeting
programme is now available with invited talks with topics ranging from
innovative approaches in astronomy, enquiry-based teaching, to a five-year
vision on astronomy education.
More info: http://handsonuniverse.org/astroeducation/program/
*9) Call for support: Crowdfunding for improving science education in
Tanzania*
Astronomers Without Borders launched a fundraising campaign dedicated to
building the Center for Science Education and Observatory in Tanzania. The
new science centre aims to bring quality science education to Tanzanian
children.
To support and read more at
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/telescopes-to-tanzania
*10) Sharing Stories : The BraBo (Brazil-Bolivia) Expedition of
GalileoMobile*
GalileoMobile is a multicultural itinerant educational programme that
shares astronomy with schools across the world to inspire the will to
learn, critical thinking, and open-mindedness in a spirit of sustainable
development and cultural exchange "under the same sky". They have recently
successfully acquired crowdsourcing funds to purchase materials for their
expedition to Bolivia and Brazil. From 21 July to 25 August they will
travel 1600 kilometres to visit 12 schools, and to reach over 1500 students
and 100 teachers. To follow their journey, you can visit their blog at
http://galileomobile.wordpress.com/
*11) Sharing Stories: StarDisc as Community Space*
The StarDisc is a visionary new art installation set high above the
rooftops of Wirksworth, United Kingdom. Created by local artist Aidan
Shingler to bring the wonders of the night sky to all, the StarDisc is
located at the top of Stoney Wood, part of a former limestone quarry which
has now been transformed into community woodland. The StarDisc is used by
regional astronomical societies to educate, engage and inspire the local
community and regional schools. In addition StarDisc is an open-air theatre
that stages astronomically themed performances for the general public.
To learn more: http://www.stardiscenterprise.co.uk/
*12) Upcoming events*
a) The Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2014 Annual Meeting –
Celebrating Science: Putting Education Best Practices to Work
Date: 2–6 August 2014
Location: Burlingame, USA
More information: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/asp-annual-meeting/
b) The 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
Date: 2–10 August 2014
Location: Moscow, Russia
More information: http://www.galileoteachers.org/teacher-training-at-cospar/
c) The 12th Asia–Pacific IAU Regional Meeting
Date: 19-22 August 2014
Location: Daejeon, South Korea
More Information: http://www.aprim2014.org/
d) The 3rd Middle-East and Africa IAU Regional Meeting (Early registration
by 30 June 2014)
Date: 1–6 September 2014
Location: Beirut, Lebanon
More Information: http://www.mearim3.org/
e) 44th Young European Radio Astronomers Conference (Registration by 30
June 2014)
Date: 8–12 September 2014
Location: Toruń Centre for Astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland
More Information: http://yerac2014.astro.uni.torun.pl/
f) Astronomy Education Alliance Meeting (Late registration by 15 August
2014)
Date: 8–12 September 2014
Location: Cascais, Portugal
More Information: http://handsonuniverse.org/astroeducation/
*13) Contributions to this newsletter*
We are looking for news about astronomical education and outreach events,
so if you are organising any large-scale events at regional or
international levels, have any special innovative projects or inspiring
stories to share, or created any educational resources, please send us an
email at outreach at iau.org.
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--
Kevin Govender
IAU Office of Astronomy for Development
www.astro4dev.org
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