<div dir="ltr">fyi...<div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Sze-leung Cheung</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:cheungszeleung@iau.org">cheungszeleung@iau.org</a>></span><br>
Date: 28 July 2014 10:03<br>Subject: IAU Astronomy Outreach Newsletter - July 2014<br>To: <a href="mailto:iya2009@list.astro4dev.org">iya2009@list.astro4dev.org</a><br><br><br>
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[ Online version - <a href="http://www.iau.org/public/publications/newsletter/2014_07/" target="_blank">http://www.iau.org/public/publications/newsletter/2014_07/</a>
]<br>
<br>
<p>In this newsletter:</p>
<ol start="0">
<li><strong>From the Editor</strong></li>
<li><strong>IAU launches the NameExoWorlds worldwide contest</strong></li>
<li><strong>International Year of Light 2015 website</strong></li>
<li><strong>SPIE International Year of Light photo contest</strong></li>
<li><strong>IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Annual Call
for Proposals 2014</strong></li>
<li><strong>The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development newsletter
#6 available online</strong></li>
<li><strong>Open Review of the IAU Office of Astronomy for
Development</strong></li>
<li><strong>IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Visiting
Fellowship</strong></li>
<li><strong>Programme update: Astronomy Education Alliance Meeting</strong></li>
<li><strong>Call for support: Crowdfunding for improving science
education in Tanzania</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sharing Stories: The BraBo (Brazil-Bolivia) Expedition
of GalileoMobile</strong></li>
<li><strong>Sharing Stories: StarDisc as Community Space</strong></li>
<li><strong>Upcoming events</strong></li>
<li><strong>Contributions to this newsletter</strong></li>
</ol>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>0) From the Editor</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Clear skies,<br>
Sze-leung Cheung<br>
IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1) IAU launches the NameExoWorlds worldwide contest</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Read more from IAU Press Release<a href="http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1404/" target="_blank">
http://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau1404/<br>
</a>and the rules at<a href="http://nameexoworlds.org/" target="_blank">
http://nameexoworlds.org/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>2) International Year of Light 2015 website</strong></p>
<p>The International Year of Light 2015 (IYL2015) website is
available at<a href="http://www.light2015.org" target="_blank">
http://www.light2015.org</a> . 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<a href="http://www.light2015.org/Home/CosmicLight.html" target="_blank">
http://www.light2015.org/Home/CosmicLight.html</a> and the IAU
website as well.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>3) SPIE International Year of Light photo contest</strong></p>
<p>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.<br>
Read more at<a href="http://spie.org/x108047.xml" target="_blank">
http://spie.org/x108047.xml</a> .</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>4) IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Annual Call
for Proposals 2014</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>The call is live on the OAD website (<a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/cfp/" target="_blank">http://www.astro4dev.org/cfp/</a>)
with a deadline for submission of 23:59 UTC on 31 August 2014.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>5) The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development newsletter
#6 available online</strong></p>
<p>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:<br>
<a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/newsletters/" target="_blank">http://www.astro4dev.org/newsletters/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>6) Open Review of the IAU Office of Astronomy for
Development</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Read more on <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/oad-open-review/" target="_blank">www.astro4dev.org/oad-open-review/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>7) IAU Office of Astronomy for Development Visiting
Fellowship</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Read more on <a href="http://www.astro4dev.org/work-with-the-oad/opportunities-oad/oad-visiting-fellowships/" target="_blank">http://www.astro4dev.org/work-with-the-oad/opportunities-oad/oad-visiting-fellowships/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>8) Programme Update: Astronomy Education Alliance Meeting</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>More info: <a href="http://handsonuniverse.org/astroeducation/program/" target="_blank">http://handsonuniverse.org/astroeducation/program/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>9) Call for support: Crowdfunding for improving science
education in Tanzania</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>To support and read more at <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/telescopes-to-tanzania" target="_blank">https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/telescopes-to-tanzania</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>10) Sharing Stories : The BraBo (Brazil-Bolivia)
Expedition of GalileoMobile</strong></p>
<p>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<a href="http://galileomobile.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">
http://galileomobile.wordpress.com/<br>
</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>11) Sharing Stories: StarDisc as Community Space</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>To learn more:<a href="http://www.stardiscenterprise.co.uk/" target="_blank">
http://www.stardiscenterprise.co.uk/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>12) Upcoming events</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>a) The Astronomical Society of the Pacific 2014 Annual Meeting –
Celebrating Science: Putting Education Best Practices to Work<br>
Date: 2–6 August 2014<br>
Location: Burlingame, USA<br>
More information:<a href="http://www.astrosociety.org/education/asp-annual-meeting/" target="_blank">
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/asp-annual-meeting/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>b) The 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly<br>
Date: 2–10 August 2014<br>
Location: Moscow, Russia<br>
More information:<a href="http://www.galileoteachers.org/teacher-training-at-cospar/" target="_blank">
http://www.galileoteachers.org/teacher-training-at-cospar/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>c) The 12th Asia–Pacific IAU Regional Meeting<br>
Date: 19-22 August 2014<br>
Location: Daejeon, South Korea<br>
More Information:<a href="http://www.aprim2014.org/" target="_blank">
http://www.aprim2014.org/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>d) The 3rd Middle-East and Africa IAU Regional Meeting (Early
registration by 30 June 2014)<br>
Date: 1–6 September 2014<br>
Location: Beirut, Lebanon<br>
More Information:<a href="http://www.mearim3.org/" target="_blank">
http://www.mearim3.org/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>e) 44th Young European Radio Astronomers Conference (Registration
by 30 June 2014)<br>
Date: 8–12 September 2014<br>
Location: Toruń Centre for Astronomy, Nicolaus Copernicus
University, Poland<br>
More Information:<a href="http://yerac2014.astro.uni.torun.pl/" target="_blank">
http://yerac2014.astro.uni.torun.pl/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>f) Astronomy Education Alliance Meeting (Late registration by 15
August 2014)<br>
Date: 8–12 September 2014<br>
Location: Cascais, Portugal<br>
More Information:<a href="http://handsonuniverse.org/astroeducation/" target="_blank">
http://handsonuniverse.org/astroeducation/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>13) Contributions to this newsletter</strong></p>
<p>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 <a href="mailto:outreach@iau.org" target="_blank">outreach@iau.org</a>.</p>
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</div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Kevin Govender<br>IAU Office of Astronomy for Development<br><a href="http://www.astro4dev.org">www.astro4dev.org</a><br><br>
</div></div>