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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dear SA Astronomy Community - FYI.</FONT></DIV>
<H1>New journal for astronomy communicators goes live!</H1><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></SPAN>
<P class=bodytext><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">26 October 2007,
Munich:</SPAN> <B>In response to an increasing need among the growing community
of astronomy communicators, the International Astronomical Union is today
announcing the advent of a new journal called "Communicating Astronomy with the
Public Journal". Subscriptions to print and online versions are free of charge
to communicators.</B> </P>
<P class=bodytext> </P>
<P class=bodytext>A new peer-reviewed journal released today by the IAU will
provide astronomy communicators with important tools and innovative resources to
communicate more effectively the workings of the Universe to the public.
<BR><BR>IAU President Catherine Cesarsky says "<I>We are pleased to announce the
first issue of the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Journal. The IAU is
strongly dedicated to improving the global level of astronomy education and
outreach.</I>" <BR><BR>The journal provides astronomy communicators with a mix
of resources, opinion and information on how to communicate more effectively to
the general public the workings of the Universe. As Pedro Russo, Editor-In-Chief
of the journal, explains, the CAP journal has an important aim: "<I>As the
astronomy education and public outreach community expands globally, it becomes
increasingly important to establish a community of science communication
experts</I>." <BR><BR>President of IAU Commission 55 Communicating Astronomy
with the Public, Ian Robson: "<I>Astronomy has an innate appeal to people of all
ages, partly because it concerns the fascinating great questions 'of life, the
Universe and everything' and partly because many of the data obtained with
telescopes can be presented as objects of stunning beauty. Astronomy is a great
example of how fascinating physics can be.</I>" <BR><BR>Science communicators
are encouraged to submit their own articles for publication explains Russo.
"<I>Public communication of astronomy is a burgeoning field of science
communication. We would like to see the astronomy outreach community deeply
involved in this journal's evolution and production</I>." <BR><BR>The journal
will be published quarterly for free in print and online. It will act as a
repository of ideas for astronomy communicators; for example in use with
activities as part of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 which will be a
global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture.
Pedro Russo, also IAU Coordinator for the International Year of Astronomy 2009,
explains "<I>The next few years will be extremely important for astronomy
communication and education. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 will serve
as a unique platform to inform the public about the latest discoveries in
astronomy.</I>" <BR><BR>The first two issues are sponsored by the European Space
Agency, the International Astronomical Union, Instituto de Astrofísica de
Canarias (Spain) and ESO. <BR><BR>Free subscription forms and the online version
of the journal can be found at <A href="http://www.capjournal.org/"
target=_blank>www.capjournal.org</A> </P>
<P class=bodytext> </P>
<P class=bodytext align=center>###</P>
<P class=bodytext align=center> </P>
<P class=bodytext><B>Notes for editors </B><BR>The CAP Journal is published by
the IAU DIVISION XII Commission 55 Communicating Astronomy with the Public (<A
href="http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/" target=_blank>
http://www.communicatingastronomy.org</A>). The journal is divided into nine
main sections. The "Research & Applications" section contains peer-reviewed
science communication 'research' articles. "News" and "Announcements" present
information and updates, such as conference reports from the astronomy outreach
community. "Resources" and "Innovation" provide a repository of outreach ideas
and cutting-edge astronomy communication methods respectively. "Best Practices"
aims to be a guide, containing case studies, to the techniques that work best in
communicating astronomy. "Opinion" provides space for subjective discussions of
topics related to astronomy communication. <BR><BR>The IAU is the international
astronomical organisation 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 any surface features on them.
Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for
astronomers. <BR><BR>The International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) will be
a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture.
It will stimulate worldwide interest not only in astronomy, but in science in
general, with a particular appeal for young people. IYA2009 will portray
astronomy as a peaceful global scientific endeavour that unites astronomers in
an international, multicultural family of scientists working together to find
answers to some of the most fundamental questions that humankind has ever asked.
<BR><BR><B>For more information, please contact</B>:
<BR><BR><B>Editor-In-Chief/IAU IYA2009 Coordinator</B> <BR>Pedro Russo
<BR>ESO/ESA/ST-ECF <BR>Karl-Schwarzschild-Strasse 2 <BR>D-85748 Garching bei
München <BR>Germany <BR>Tel: +49 89 320 06 195 <BR>Fax: +49 89 320 23 62
<BR>E-mail: <A
href="javascript:linkTo_UnCryptMailto('nbjmup;qsvttpAftp/psh');">prusso(@)eso.org</A>
<BR><BR><B>IAU Press Officer/Secretary of IAU Commission 55 </B><BR>Lars
Lindberg Christensen <BR>ESA/Hubble, Garching, Germany <BR>Tel:
+49-89-32-00-63-06 <BR>Cellular: +49-173-3872-621 <BR>E-mail: <A
href="javascript:linkTo_UnCryptMailto('nbjmup;mbstAftp/psh');">lars(@)eso.org
</A></P>**********************************************************************
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