We would like to give a warm welcome to Wanda Diaz Merced to the OAO team. Dr Wanda will stay with us here at NAOJ as Invited Professor until December 2019 researching on “The role of discourse for diversity in Astronomy”, and how professional astronomers can improve their scientific communication, to foster diversity by minimizing unconscious bias in speech.
We would also like to welcome to our team Mizuho Matsumoto. Matsumoto-san, is part of the NAOJ International Relations and will collaborate with us on office and project Logistics and Management, she is also part of the Core (implementation) Team for the IAU Symposium on Astronomy for Equity Diversity and Inclusion.
In this issue, we want to thank all the participants of the the One Telescope One Family contest, we want to highlight the Clear Skies project and the program 10 Themes x 10 Countries.
Wishing you all clear skies and happy celebrations!
Lina Canas, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach Team
1) Two Astronomical Sites Achieve World Heritage Status Through IAU–UNESCO Collaboration
On 7 July 2019, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) declared 29 more properties World Heritage sites. Among the new additions are Risco Caído and the Sacred Mountains of Gran Canaria, and Jodrell Bank, two places of great astronomical significance. They are the first astronomical properties to be inscribed as World Heritage sites, and this happened as a result of the advocacy of the Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative (AWHI), a collaboration between UNESCO and the IAU.
"On behalf of the more than 500 people employed by the Maunakea Observatories, we offer a perspective about the Maunakea situation with the sincere hope that our words encourage greater understanding of the complex circumstances in which we find ourselves."
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) project Clear Skies aims to promote rational thinking among the youth in India. The project runs activities in schools in Hyderabad, India using astronomy.
The 10 x 10 initiative consists of a Virtual School Exchange program involving 10 countries and 10 themes of science, launched under the "Eddington na Sundy" project, in which, on every 29th day of 2019 (except for the months of February and May), a guest presents a topic that will be discussed at the same time by students and teachers from various educational institutions. Our colleague Kumiko Usuda-Sato from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and OAO team member, lead the latest edition of the program asking students to imagine that if an alien was visiting their school or town, what could they do to effectively communicate? The activity had the goal of raising awareness of alternative and diverse means of communication, such as sign language and tactile resources.
"We share the same Moon" is an IAU100 Special Project from the United Kingdom (UK), bringing science to the primary school classroom in a creative way through storytelling linked with creative activities. Teachers and outreach professionals outside the UK who are using a different curriculum can find many resources (arranged according to the science topic), useful for their own practices.
6) IAU Symposium on Astronomy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: Registrations Now Closed
The first IAU Symposium on Astronomy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to be hosted in Tokyo, Japan, from 12-15 November 2019 has received to date, over 180 submissions, with Registrations now at maximum capacity (of 120 participants). The organization has now closed the Registrations due to the high demand for participation. The SOC and LOC Chairs agreed to set up this limit, given the nature of the symposium, focused on promoting personalized discussion and close dialogue. If you want to register but are unable to, the organization created a waiting list and will accept new participants depending on availability. Please send an email to iaus358contact[at]prcml.mtk.nao.ac.jp (Subject: Application to Registration Waiting List).
7) One Telescope, One Family Contest: Thank You for Participating
We want to thank everyone for participating in the “One Telescope, One Family” contest focusing on the beautiful diversity of families around the world. We reached 80 submissions from all around the world and the team will now be contacting all participants, including the winners, during the month of August.
You can also find several activities being implemented with NAOJ Telescope KIT. Last July, the small telescope was presented at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan. You can find some cool photos of the activities here.
Find more information about “One Family, One Telescope” contest here.
8) Celebrate Diversity with Astronomy: the Year of Indigenous Languages
Help raise awareness of the alarming rate languages around the world are disappearing by highlighting the importance of astronomical knowledge of indigenous peoples and inspire other regions to take actions for the appreciation of our cultural diversity. Hear the "100 Years Under One Sky" recited by native speakers in Garífuna, Miskito and Tol, indigenous languages from Honduras in Central America. And also Northern Thai and Yong language, a Thai indigenous language with a different phonetic from Northern Thai language. The latest addition is Minderico, a language from a small region in Portugal. We want to thank Catarina Leote, co-coordinator of the Portuguese Language Group of the IAU Astronomy Translation Network for sharing it with us.
If you want to be involved in the project, you can reach us at [email protected].
9) Meetings and Global Events
Here you can find a list of astronomy outreach & education conferences and events around the world. Plan ahead for a very special year for Astronomy, full of interesting events!
b) IAUS358: Astronomy for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion — a roadmap to action within the framework of IAU centennial anniversary
Date: 12-15 November 2019
Location: Tokyo, Japan
More information: https://iau-oao.nao.ac.jp/iaus358/
c) Art, Visualisation and the Cosmos in Education
Date 5-6 December 2019
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
If you are interested in translating our newsletter into your language, please let us know via [email protected].
11) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2019
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 2019! 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].
You can send us your suggestions until the 4th (for issue #1) and the 17th (for issue #2) day of each month. We are looking forward to hearing from you.