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The International Astronomical Union Programs for supporting the teaching of astronomy

The International Astronomical Union Programs for supporting the teaching of astronomy in developing countries Thailand and Laos January 2007 John Hearnshaw University of Canterbury, New Zealand Chair of IAU Comm. 46 Program Group for the Worldwide Development of Astronomy.

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The International Astronomical Union Programs for supporting the teaching of astronomy

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  1. The International Astronomical Union Programs for supporting the teaching of astronomy in developing countries Thailand and Laos January 2007 John Hearnshaw University of Canterbury, New Zealand Chair of IAU Comm. 46 Program Group for the Worldwide Development of Astronomy

  2. Mt John location – where are we? • On the SW shore of • Lake Tekapo • Mackenzie basin • The geometrical centre • of the South Island • Latitude 43º 59.2' S • Longitude 170º 27.9' E • Altitude 1032 m • above sea level

  3. The observatory from the air Mt John as seen from a hang-glider, looking north over Lake Alexandrina. The 1-m telescope is in the foreground.

  4. The McLellan 1-m reflector The McLellan telescope’s dome is 8 m in diameter. The telescope was installed in 1986.

  5. The McLellan 1-metre telescope Testing on campus 1985 After installation MJ 1986

  6. MOAtel completed – October 2004

  7. MOAtel – the telescope on opening day, 1 December 2004

  8. IAU: International Astronomical Union • Founded 1919 • Head office/secretariat in Paris • Holds General Assemblies every three years • Sponsors other conferences: • regional meetings • symposia • colloquia Orion nebula

  9. IAU members: • 65 adhering countries (incl. Thailand from 2006) • about 9100 individual members • The adhering countries pay membership dues • from their national academies to the IAU, • depending on country size and number of • astronomers. • Individual membership is free, but restricted • to professional astronomers (normally about • 3 years since PhD and active in research/teaching) spiral galaxy NGC 1232

  10. IAU executive committee The committee comprises: President: Catherine Cesarsky (France, ESO) General Secretary: Karel van der Hucht (Netherlands) President-elect: Robert Williams (USA) Assistant general secretary: Ian Corbett (Germany, ESO) Six vice presidents (from Brazil, China, Netherlands, Italy, South Africa, USA) Two advisors (from Australia and Norway) north polar star trails

  11. IAU Divisions The IAU has 12 Scientific Divisions: Division I: Fundamental Astronomy Division II: Sun and Heliosphere Division III: Planetary Systems Sciences Division IV: Stars Division V: Variable Stars Division VI: Interstellar Matter Division VII: Galactic System Division VIII: Galaxies and the Universe Division IX: Optical and Infrared Techniques Division X: Radio Astronomy Division XI: Space and High Energy Astrophysics Division XII: Union-Wide Activities Mt John Observatory, New Zealand 1-metre telescope

  12. Commissions and working groups (or program groups) • The IAU has 37 specialized commissions. • Several commissions are grouped together • in each Division. • Each covers one particular branch of astronomy • The commissions may have working groups or • program groups responsible for particular tasks • within that branch of astronomy. 60-cm telescope at Mt John, New Zealand

  13. IAU Commission 46: Astronomy Education and Development • Commision 46 is within Division XII for Union- • wide matters. • Comm. 46 president: Magda Stavinschi (Romania) • Commission 46 has nine program groups • World-wide Development of Astronomy (WWDA) • Teaching Astronomy for Development (TAD) • Collaborative programs (CP) • International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) • Exchange of Astronomers (EA) • Exchange of books and journals (EBJ) • Newsletter • Public education during solar eclipses • National liaisons infrared image of the Galactic centre (ESO)

  14. Some IAU Comm. 46 officers, at General Assembly in Sydney, Australia, in July 2003. Left to right: J. Fierro (Mexico), J. Pasachoff (USA), S. Isobe (Japan), J. Percy (Canada), D. McNally (UK)

  15. The Program Group for the World-wide Development of Astronomy • PGWWDA chairperson: John Hearnshaw (New • Zealand) • PGWWDA identifies countries with the potential • to develop astronomy education and research. • PGWWDA visits countries interested in increasing • contact with IAU and reports back to IAU EC and • to Commission 46 president • PGWWDA will encourage follow up with work • of TAD, ISYA, EA Milky Way in infrared at 12, 25 and 60 μm with IRAS satellite

  16. Program Group Teaching Astronomy for Development • TAD chairpersons: Larry Marschall & Ed Guinan (USA) • TAD assists developing countries with astronomy • education and research at university level • TAD sends visiting lecturers, and provides • travel funds for graduate students and visiting • scientists • During 2000-2006 TAD was active in Central • America, Vietnam, Morocco, Philippines, • Nigeria • TAD is planning support for Vietnam, Mongolia, • Nicaragua, Philippines from 2007 Pleiades star cluster 30 Doradus nebula in LMC

  17. Program Group: The International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA) • ISYA chairperson: Michele Gerbaldi (France) • Each school brings together some dozens (30-40; • > 33% foreign) of astronomy graduate students • (MSc, PhD level) for lectures and practical work • Language used is English • Recent ISYA held in Cuba (1989), Malaysia (1990), • Morocco (1990, 2004), China (1992), India (1994), • Egypt (1994), Brazil (1995), Iran (1997), Romania • (1999), Thailand (2001), Argentina (2002), • Mexico (2005), Malaysia (March 2007) globular cluster, 47 Tuc Trifid nebula, M20

  18. Program Group for the Exchange of Astronomers (EA) • EA chairpersons: John Percy (Canada), • Kam Ching Leung (USA) • EA awards air fares for visiting astronomers • to work in other countries for visits of at least • 3 months • EA does not pay living costs • EA has recently supported exchanges for • astronomers from India, Korea, Nigeria, Egypt, • San Salvador, Argentina, Russia, Australia etc. • Recent host countries have been China, USA, • Mexico, Canada, India, several European • countries spiral galaxy in Andromeda, M31

  19. The importance of astronomy education (courtesy of Fraknoi and Percy) • Astronomy education is important because: • Astronomy has influenced our history and culture • through its practical applications and its • philosophical and religious implications. • Astronomy has practical applications to navigation, • timekeeping, calendars, climate. • Astronomy has advanced mathematics, science • and technology. • Astronomy deals with our place in time and space; • with cosmic roots, and the origins of Earth and life. • Astronomy reveals a vast, varied and beautiful • universe.

  20. The importance of astronomy education (continued) • Astronomy harnesses curiosity, imagination and a • sense of shared exploration and discovery. • Astronomy is the ultimate interdisciplinary subject. • Astronomy attracts young people to science and • technology and can promote public understanding • of science. • Astronomy (unlike many sciences) can be enjoyed • as a hobby. • Astronomy puts our planet into perspective – especially • issues of the environment and overpopulation. • Astronomy education promotes an awareness of the • history of ideas in science. 1.8-m Japan-NZ alt-az telescope at Mt John, NZ

  21. Other astronomy links for astronomy teachers • Astronomy Education Review • (http://aer.noao.edu) The Astronomy Education Review is an electronic journal/website that provides a meeting place for all who are engaged in astronomy and space science education, in either formal or informal settings.

  22. United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs • United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs • (http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/) • The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs • (UNOOSA) is the United Nations office responsible • for promoting international cooperation in the • peaceful uses of outer space. • Assists developing countries in space technology • and development. • Head office in Vienna, Austria

  23. Astronomical Society of the Pacific • http://www.astrosociety.org • Founded 1899 • Head office in San Francisco • Supplies many educational • maerials to teachers (slides, CDs, video tapes, • posters) from Astroshop • Publishes Mercury magazine • Publishes many IAU publications, including • IAU symposia, IAU Transactions

  24. Astronomy picture of the day • Astronomy picture of the day • (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html) • Website with excellent new pictures every day • Many pictures from NASA, and • Hubble Space Telescope • Every picture has a brief explanation • Ideal resource for teachers and educators Rosette nebula, NGC 2237

  25. Hubble Space Telescope website • http://hubblesite.org/ • Latest news, picture gallery and discoveries • from the Hubble Space Telescope

  26. Amazing space website • http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/ • Hubble website run by Space Telescope Science • Institute • The Formal Education Group of the Space • Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public • Outreach • Promotes the science and majestic beauty of the • universe for use in the classroom Hubble Space telescope deep field: about 1500 galaxies to mag. ~30, some over 1010 yr old. Exposure time 10 days

  27. THE END Crab nebula η Car Horsehead nebula M51 Trifid nebula

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