Mission statement

1. It is the responsibility of every practicing astronomer to play some role in explaining the interest and value of science to our real employers, the taxpayers of the world. Mission statement To encourage and enable a much larger fraction of the astronomical community to take an active role in explaining what we do (and why) to our fellow citizens. To act as an international, impartial coordinating entity that furthers the recognition of outreach and public communication on all levels in astronomy. To encourage international collaborations on outreach and public communication. To endorse standards, best practices and requirements for public communication. Notes Commission 55 created at the IAU General Assembly in 2006 Commission organizes and sponsors the Communicating with Astronomy series of conferences that brings together professional astronomers and others involved with communicating astronomy with the public

2. C55 and the OAD • Astronomy has the universal ability to stimulate young people and introduce them to science and technology – across cultures • Introduce children to astronomy when they young and keep doing it! • Example: Deadly Moons program (Ireland) shows that you can reach children as young as 4 • FamilyAstro – program that helps parents to get more involved in their children’s science education, and to spend more time together in active experiments, observations, and discussion • Discover the Universe / À la découverte de l'univers uses webinartechnology to reachremote areas (distant fromresource) • Many other successful programs that can be “recycled” for use in other countries • A focus on youth will provide the next generation with the tools to change theirfuture • IAU Commission 55 to work with, and achieve the goals of, the OAD