The Communicating Astronomy with the Public (CAP 2018) Book of Proceedings has just been published this past week and for our team, CAP 2018 in Japan was a valuable experience that we will carry with us in our daily lives in the hopes we become better professionals, better human beings. We can say that inspired by your work and by meeting the participants, we feel our universe has indeed expanded. We thank everyone for sharing their journey with us and our team is looking forward to knowing how CAP 2018 contributed to everyone involved: as an individual, professionally, and ultimately to the community. Please do keep in touch, even from a distance, we are just one email away. You can reach out to us at lina.canas[at]nao.ac.jp and [email protected].
In this issue, we want to highlight the upcoming IAU100 Global Projects: Einstein Schools and 100 Hours of Astronomy. Also, in the framework of the 100 years celebrations, the IAU is hosting a symposium on Equity Diversity and Inclusion to be held in Tokyo in 2019. Plan ahead for an exciting year of celebrating astronomy.
Last, but not least, if you’d like to join our team, don’t miss the chance to apply to our International Outreach Coordinator position! We are excited to welcome you here at the Office for Astronomy Outreach Deadline for applications is October 15.
Wishing you all Happy Reading & Clear Skies!
The IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) IAU Resolution “Hubble–Lemaître Law”
During its XXX General Assembly in Vienna (in August 2018), the International Astronomical Union (IAU) put forward a draft resolution to rename the Hubble law the “Hubble–Lemaître law”. The resolution was proposed to recognise Lemaître’s research on the expansion of the Universe, and to pay tribute to both Lemaître and Hubble for their fundamental contributions to the development of modern cosmology. This resolution has now been put to all IAU Junior and Individual Members via an electronic vote.
The Einstein Schools program is launched today to encourage talented youth around the world to learn and communicate about gravity in astronomy. As part of an international network, the schools will be able to share experiences and benefit from high-quality resources and access to astronomy professionals acting as mentors for your activities.
3) Participate in the 100 Hours of Astronomy Global Project
It is only a few months before the yearlong centennial celebration of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) will take place. As a big kick-off event, the global project 100 Hours of Astronomy is organised to take place 10-13 January 2019. Everyone around the globe can participate in this joint effort to bring astronomy to the general public.
4) First IAU Symposium on Astronomy for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion announced
In 2019, November 12 to 15, Japan will host the first IAU symposium on Astronomy for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The aim of the symposium is to be a roadmap to action within the framework of the IAU centennial anniversary, highlighting the role diversity and inclusion plays in producing better science, contributing for competitiveness and innovation and focus on specific actions.
5) Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE) Resources Available
On Friday 24 August, during IAU GA30, NASE held a small seminar on cultural astronomy at historical Kuffner Observatory, Vienna, Austria. As a result, NASE has published the book: “Calidoscopio NASE de experiencias en astronomía cultural” (NASE kaleidoscope of experiences in cultural astronomy), in both English and Spanish to promote Cultural Astronomy in different countries around the world.
You can find the direct link to the PDF books in two languages: English and Spanish.
6) CAP 2018 Japan Proceedings Now Online
The Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2018 Book of Proceedings is now online with both editions, 1st Edition (Printed & Shipped) and 2nd Edition (Digital Version) available. The team welcomes comments or suggestions to lina.canas[at]nao.ac.jp.
7) News from Syria
On Saturday, September 22nd, the Syrian Astronomical Association in Aleppo arranged an astronomical activity in Al Manara Private School that included astronomical expertise and monitoring of the Moon and planets.
You can find photos of the event here. (A warm thank you to Muhammed Alassiry our NOC from Syria for sharing the news with us.)
8) News from Italy
Using Manga and Anime to Communicate Science Workshop Costellazione Manga will be presented at “Lucca Comics and Games”, a large Comicon that will be hosted in Italy in November 2018. It will be a three-hour workshop The workshop will be open to communicators, students of journalism, and teachers who want to know how Costellazione Manga works, as well as anyone who wants to learn to use manga and anime in schools or planetaria. The team will describe the pedagogical basis and will have a "hands-on session". This workshop has the support of Chalmers, Onsala, INAF and the Observatory of Arcetri in Florence.
Find more information about the workshop here (in Italian) here. The workshop will be given in English on 3rd November at 9:00, and you can read more information (in English) here.
9) NASA: 60 Years and Counting
From 2018 through 2022, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is marking a series of important milestones: the 60th anniversary of the agency’s founding by Congress in 1958, and the 50th anniversary of the Apollo missions that put a dozen Americans on the Moon between July 1969 and December 1972. Celebrations are already underway, including a special IAU100 milestone during 2019 — the Moon Landing 50th Anniversary.
If you are interested in translating our newsletter into your language, please let us know via [email protected].
12) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2018
Here at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, we’re always looking for news about astronomical education and outreach events around the world. Please continue to share your stories with us in 2018! If you are organising large-scale events at a regional or international level, offering astronomy education or communication job positions, have any innovative projects or inspiring stories, looking for professional–amateur collaboration in astronomy, or have created any educational resources, let us know by sending an email to [email protected].