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Abstracts, Talks and Posters
The booklet with all the abstracts below can be downloaded here (PDF format 750KB)
| LAST |
FIRST |
APPROVED AS |
TITLE |
AUTHORS |
ABSTRACT |
| Abbott |
Brian |
Oral |
Real-Time Data Standards for the Planetarium |
Abbott, B.P. |
The American Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium have built the most accurate, comprehensive, 3-D atlas of the cosmos called the Digital Universe (DU). The DU enables one to journey from the mountains on Earth to the farthest quasars. The DU enjoys many distribution channels, including pre-rendered space shows and news bulletins, live planetarium programs, and a free version available on the Internet. Recently, we have partnered with three planetarium vendors to bring the DU to planetariums around the world. These partnerships necessitate the adoption or creation of standards for three-dimensional data and associated metadata. Many standards exist in the current Virtual Observatory framework and additional standards are being proposed as part of the VAMP program. We intend to identify additional standards necessary for 3-D, real-time rendering tools for full-dome and flat- screen environments. |
| Adams |
Mark |
Oral |
The Global ALMA EPO Program: Communicating Astronomy with the Public at Millimeter & Submillimeter Wavelengths |
Mark T. Adams (NRAO), Henri Boffin (ESO), William Garnier (JAO), and Daisuke Iono (NAOJ) |
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is a major international science research facility of the 21st Century that will open new windows on celestial origins. ALMA construction is underway on the high-elevation Atacama Desert of northern Chile, and science operations will begin in 2010. Full science operations will be achieved in 2012. The ALMA Education and Public Outreach (EPO) Development Plan describes the path to a global EPO program that effectively communicates the excitement and value of the ALMA mission, science, and technology to international audiences. This EPO Development Plan is a collaborative effort of the Joint ALMA Observatory (JAO), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO), and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ). We present the existing and planned ALMA EPO program elements, including the development of visualization techniques for millimeter and submillimeter astronomical interferometry data, and ALMA’s proactive participation in the IYA 2009. |
| Albanese |
Lara |
Oral |
Viewing the Sky, A Multicultural Experience |
Albanese, L., Brunetti, F., Galli, D., Gasperini, A., Mannucci, F., Pacini, F., Pastorini, G., Sani, E. (Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory-INAF, Firenze - Italy) and Tso Chung Kuen (Centro Gandhi - Comune di Firenze). |
We report on the development of an ongoing multicultural experience based upon astronomy and involving Italian and Chinese children (recent immigration, age range of the children 3-10 years). Initially, a portable Starlab Planetarium has been used in the Primary School of Brozzi (Firenze) to teach about the sky, the constellations and their myths, both in the Mediterranean and Chinese traditions. Thereafter, teachers and pupils have started to create new astronomical stories and animations, inspired by their respective cultural traditions. A final show, prepared by children and their teachers, is planned for early Fall 2007. The aim of the program is to stimulate curiosity and encourage mutual respect between different communities. A DVD will be available at the end of the project. Methods and techniques can be adapted to different contexts. We plan to expand this experience in the framework of the “Universe Awareness” program. After all astronomy is one of the most fascinating and immediately accessible sciences and thus very popular with all children of the world. The program is supported by the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory (INAF), the City Council, the Tuscan Regional Government, the Marchi Foundation (Firenze), the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research. |
| Alison |
Boyle |
Oral |
Using Astronomy's History to Engage New Audiences |
Alison Boyle |
While much astronomy communication focusses on the results and practices of contemporary astronomers, the history of astronomy can provide a useful tool to engage new audiences with the subject. The historical approach provides an opportunity to encourage science citizenship by exploring how the practices and impacts of astronomy have changed over time and across different cultues. This paper will explore how the Science Museum plans to communicate astronomy via its history in future planned gallery and web products, and the benefits of combining science education with a historical approach. |
| Alvarez |
Oscar |
Oral |
Communicating Astronomy with the Public in Cuba |
O. Alvarez |
Communicating astronomy with the public on TV, is in a Third World Country is a difficult job, in order to produce attractive materials for a broad audience. A way to develop an effective communication in fields like Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology and connecting the professional astronomer in friendly relation with a broad majority of the people, is to combine the knowledge of the local scientist together with the most spectacular TV production of the first world countries, commenting, analyzing and conveying Astronomy science into the public debate of the common citizens. Here we present our ten years long experience of TV presentations in a program devoted to General Science outreach becoming in successful conveyor of Science information especially on Astronomy matters to the Cuban people. We also present advances on the construction of the "Planetario Habana" Cultural Centre for Science and Technology under construction, to be opened as part of the commemoration activities of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, aimed at guiding the interest towards basic sciences and astronomical formation of the people, in the most populated and frequented area of the country. |
| Alvarez |
Rodrigo |
Oral |
The IYA2009 in Belgium |
R. Alvarez |
As far as astronomy public outreach is concerned, many planetaria, public observatories, amateur astronomical societies, science centers and world-leading astronomical institutes are present and active in Belgium. However, as in many countries offering a rich panel of cultural activities as well as numerous opportunities for sightseeing and many entertainment parks, people willing to promote astronomy have to draw the media attention continuously in order to keep attracting people. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is the perfect opportunity to help Belgian people to really focus on astronomy and its achievements during a full year. |
| Arcand |
Kimberly |
Oral |
Touch the Invisible Sky |
Simon Steel, Noreen Grice, Doris Daou, Kimberly Arcand
|
Multi-wavelength astronomy – the study of the universe at wavelengths beyond the visible, has revolutionized our understanding and appreciation of the cosmos. Hubble, Chandra, and Spitzer are examples of powerful, space-based telescopes that complement each other in their observations spanning the electromagnetic spectrum.
While several Braille books on astronomical topics have been published, to this point, no printed material accessible to the sight disabled or Braille reading public has been available on the topic of multi- wavelength astronomy. "Touch the Invisible Sky"
presents the first printed introduction to modern, multi-wavelength astronomy studies to the sight disabled community.
On a more fundamental level, tactile images of a universe that had
until recently been invisible to all, sighted or non-sighted, is an
important learning message on how science and technology broadens our senses and our understanding of the natural world. This session will look at the underlying philosophy that drove the development of the book, and will give participants an opportunity to experience the methods and challenges of tactile image transcription. |
| Arlot |
Jean-Eudes |
Oral |
An International Network of Observation for the International Year of Astronomy |
J.-E. Arlot, A. Vienne, A.-C. Levasseur-Regourd |
The equinox on Jupiter will take place in 2009 and the French committee for IYA09 will take this opportunity to propose coordinated observations. The equinox on Jupiter will allow the occurrence of many events such as eclipses of the Galilean satellites by the planet Jupiter, occultations and transits and also mutual phenomena among the satellites themselves. These events are very easily observable, even with a small telescope, since the Galilean satellites are very bright. They are spectacular since the satellites will disappear within a few seconds. We propose that these phenomena be observed worldwide by amateur astronomers, students, pupils and that they send their observation to a central web site which will propose to every observer an analysis of his observation and provides a data base of all the observations. Many explanations could be provided as on the physics and the dynamics of the Galilean satellites themselves. The history of astronomy can also be touched by these observations as the Galilean satellites were the first celestial objects extensively observed from Earth and they became the first reliable clock available. At the end of the observational campaign, the results will be emphasized and the scientific benefits from these observations will be explained and published. |
| Barrosa |
Mariana |
Oral |
Putting Europlanet on the News – The European Planetary Science Congress 2007 Case Study |
Mariana Barrosa 1,2,3 , Anita Heward 3, 4 |
\\1 University of Glamorgan, UK 2 Fundação Navegar, Portugal 3 Europlanet 3 UK Goes to the Planets, UK\\E-mail: mariana.barrosa@multimeios.pt; anitaheward@btinternet.com\\ Since its foundation in 2005 EuroPlaNet - the European Planetology Network - links planetary scientists from across Europe, promoting the collaboration and communication between partner institutions and supporting missions to explore our Solar System. \\In August 2007, Europlanet hosts its second big international congress, in Potsdam, Germany. During this event, the most important discoveries and research in planetary sciences recently made in Europe will be presented and discussed by the scientific community. It will be the press office’s task to try to put these discoveries on the news, following the directives of EuroPlaNet’s Outreach and Communication Strategy as well as the commonly accepted best practices in communicating with the media: press releases, peer reviewing, embargoes, providing background information for journalist, facilitating interviews with scientists, arranging public events and press conferences.\\Bearing in mind recent studies that show a deficient presence of European scientific research in the media, in the weeks following the Congress we will analyse the European media coverage of this event and draw the conclusions according to the results. How many journalists were accredited with the Congress? How many interviews with scientists were facilitated? Did our press releases make it to the press? Did they originate a significant number of articles/news? What was done right? What can be changed or improved? |
| Benkhaldoun |
Zouhair |
Oral |
The Oukaimeden Astronomical Observatory: An Example for the Development of Astronomy in the Developing Nations. |
Benkhaldoun Zouhair |
Astronomy professional pains to develop in the Third World countries. Indeed, it, unfortunately, is still regarded as a luxury by the scientific decision makers of these countries which prefer to center their financial effort on the sectors known as vital such as agriculture, health, energy… In these countries some initiatives are from time to time crowned with a certain success. We propose to reporte here one experiment having ends to the realization of an astronomical observatory in Oukaimeden in the Moroccan high atlas. This realization is the fruit of a co- operation which can be regarded as a model for its reproduction in other countries with economic low income. It federated the means of a Moroccan university of a Moroccan association and an association of astronomy amateur from one northern country. |
| Boccato |
Caterina |
Oral |
Astronomy in My Shopping Cart: Today I Buy Some Asteroids, Hundreds of Black Holes and Three Solar Systems |
Caterina Boccato, Elena Lazzaretto |
The authors work at the Astronomical Observatory of Padua, one of the 19 Institutes which forms the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics –INAF - that, in our Country, promotes and coordinates the research activities in Astrophysics. Our Observatory, and in particular our working group, takes advantage of the long term experience in Astrophysics education, information and outreach gained in last 10 years of work in these fields. \\In CAP2007 we are going to present our pilot project: “Astronomy in my shopping cart” that will be tested and developed throughout 2007/08 in view of the “International Year of Astronomy”.\\Why putting astronomy in the shopping cart? The aim of the project is to spread astrophysics at a popular level choosing a place that best matches the meaning of the word “popular”: the shopping mall. Other considerations have led us to this choice: ((bulletedlist))thanks to our long term experience, we understood that if we want to bring science to the public (and no vice versa), we have to follow the public first! That’s why we go where our potential visitor usually goes and where the population is reflected as a whole (it has been recently demonstrated that “shopping centers-goers” match closely with local demographic profiles); ((bulletedlist))these new peripheral spaces are getting, at least in Italy, a sort of favoured “meeting points” for all kind of people: shopping centres are drastically changing their social roles assuming an high enrolment, communication and experience value. Under these points of view, a shopping mall is a real breeding ground of “science consumers”.\\With this project we want to arouse consumers’ interest in science making use of the superstore inside any shopping mall which is a place people are familiar to and where they find common consumer goods. We’ll adopt, at a first instance, an advertising language that resembles the one which is typically used within big markets. At this level, our science consumer will find a sort of exposition of simple, short and curious concepts regarding astronomy and astrophysics. These concepts, self consistent and correctly exposed, will stimulate consumer’s scientific curiosity. To satisfy this curiosity we’ll place a stand just outside the superstore in the shopping mall gallery. Once there, all the visitors will be given the opportunity to meet an astronomer ready to answer their questions using a language that suits their age and school level. The final purpose is giving our science consumer the possibility to bring home shopping bags filled not only with consumer goods but also with a piece of knowledge about astronomy, astrophysics and the way astronomers work and think to understand the universe and its phenomena. \\This pilot project will be carried out locally in Autumn 2007, and will be studied, implemented and proposed again with a well structured format and in a wider area in 2009, under the aegis of the International Year of Astronomy. \\The shopping centre in which our pilot project will take place, located near Padua, recorded about 6.200.000 presences in 2006: that’s why we expect to have a very large number of potential “science consumers”! |
| Boffin |
Henri |
Oral |
Exploring the Cold Universe – A European Planetarium Show for the IYA 2009 |
Henri Boffin (ESO) and Agnès Acker (Observatoire de Strasbourg, France) |
ALMA, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, is one of the largest ground-based astronomy projects of the next decade and is presently under construction on a 5000m high site in the Atacama Desert in Chile. This first truly global astronomical enterprise, involving four continents, will start partial operations in 2010. It will be the most sensitive instrument of its kind and will open a completely new vista in the study of both the cold- and the young-universe. ESO in collaboration with the Association of French Language Planetariums (APLF) and the German Planetarium of Augsburg is preparing a new planetarium show that will be available initially in 6 languages. The show will be showcased all across Europe from Autumn 2008 as an important activity of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, whose main idea is to bring astronomy closer to the society at large. The ALMA Planetarium show will thus be a unique initiative to associate European planetariums to this major international event. In this talk, we would like to present the planetarium show in the making and demonstrate how this will contribute uniquely to the IYA 2009. The planetarium show will emphasise the need for astronomy to go outside the optical domain of the spectrum, illustrate the unique insight millimetre waves provide, and focus on the science that ALMA will pursue, with an emphasis on the detection of very distant galaxies opening a view of the primordial phases of the universes, and the formation of stars and planets, leading to the question of life in the Universe. |
| Bravo-Alfaro |
Hector |
Oral |
Astronomy and Science Facilities for Basic Education at Universidad De Guanajuato |
H. Bravo-Alfaro |
During 2006, the {\it Departamento de Astronom\1a} has successfully carried out the modernization of a rustic astronomical observatory, on top of the main building of Universidad de Guanajuato, in Mexico. This site (known as "La Azotea" (The Roof)), now totally refurbished and equiped, started in January 2007 a new program of activities including: (1) Hosting more than four hundreds visitors every month, for astronomical observing sessions. (2) A very successful event of five Public Talks on Astronomy, held at "La Azotea", last May. (3) The 1st Summer School for Teachers on Astronomy Topics, will take place by the end of June. (4) A very ambitious program devoted to scholar groups, on daytime visits to the Observatory, will start by the end of August. We show how, with relatively low funds, professional astronomers and graduate students (with the support of local science councils) might succeed on organizing astronomy activities of high impact among students and a wide public. |
| Cesarsky |
Catherine |
Oral |
Opening Talk |
|
|
| Cesarsky |
Catherine |
Oral |
Closing Talk |
|
|
| Chochol |
Drahomir |
Oral |
Public Outreach Activities and IYA 2009 in Slovakia |
Chochol D. |
To coordinate the celebration of IYA 2009, we appointed the committee, whose members are from the leading astronomical institutions in Slovakia in the area of research, education and outreach. The activities of the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovak Astronomical Society,Universities in Bratislava and Kosice, Slovak Union of Amateur Astronomers, Slovak Central Observatory in Hurbanovo and other public observatories and planetariums in Slovakia are presented. The projects granted by the Science and Technology Assistance Agency provides necessary funds for our goals in regards of IYA 2009. |
| Christensen |
Lars Lindberg |
Oral |
Video Podcasting Hands-On Guide |
Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESA/Hubble) & Robert Hurt (Spitzer Science Center) |
Video Podcasting, or Vodcasting, is the latest evolution of the podcast revolution of the past few years. Now on-demand content is shifting from headphones and commutes to portable devices, computers, and televisions in the form of video. The appeal of accessing video content at will is growing and attracts especially the young demographic segment.
With the success of a stunning array of amateur productions of all formats, this revolution brings the consumer and producer closer together. Broad acceptance of production values well below the mark for broadcast bring high-quality results within reasonable reach of modest E/PO budgets.
The vodcast landscape changes quickly, with the rapid success of sites like iTunes and YouTube creating new content markets where none existed months before. From iPod screens to high definition TVs, the formats and interest are constantly evolving.
We will examine the production of two successful video podcast series: “Hubblecast” and “Hidden Universe: Spitzer Space Telescope” as case studies in the logistics of producing your own series:
• Studio hardware & software needs
• Manageable production design
• Formats: HD vs. full HD vs. standard definition, NTSC vs. PAL, framerates, interlacing …
• Script writing
• Video and audio recording
• Green screen/effects
• Music
• Editing
• Distribution
Attendees will learn how to make (or improve) video podcasts for science education. Discussions should help evolve collaborations amongst vodcast producers and better help everyone stay on top of the latest developments in this rapidly-evolving field.
|
| Crawford |
Carolin |
Oral |
Art@Ioa |
Carolin Crawford |
I will talk about the Arts-Astronomy events that we are developing at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge as part of our programme of outreach activities. In particular I will cover: our annual sculpture exhibition in the grounds of the IoA; creative arts workshops for local families run by both an astronomer and an artist; projects on the Sounds of Space with a composer and local secondary-school students; projects with two sound artists on 'In/visibility' leading to creative arts workshops with secondary school students, and a soundscape exhibition in the telescope domes at Cambridge. I will show how such collaborative projects present a different way to inform and educate across traditional science-art boundaries, and to engage a much wider (and tradiationally, less scientific) audies with astronomical ideas and concepts. |
| Cuillandre |
Jean-Charles |
Projection |
"Hawaiian Starlight - Exploring the Universe from Mauna Kea" (Film Projection, 2007, 43m) |
Jean-Charles Cuillandre |
Mauna Kea inspires a sense of awe. The film ``Hawaiian Starlight'' aims at sharing that magic through a multi-media experience: striking time-lapse cinematography scored with beautiful and engaging music. Intermixed within these daytime and nightime clips are animated sequences of stunning true color images of the cosmos captured by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope.
|
| Damineli |
Augusto |
Oral |
Brazilian Planning For IYA 2009 |
Augusto Damineli |
We present the Brazilian plans for IYA2009. In addition to the activities planned for many places scattered around all over the country, we discuss outreach activities we are preparing for the IAU General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro. In particular, we propose, as part of the international activities, a live music show in Rio, in open space, with international broadcasting. The idea is to show popular and classic compositions based on astronomical themes. Since music has a universal language, we believe that people from different ages and education level can have a sense of what kind of ispiration people from different cultures got from the skies. |
| Deustua |
Susana |
Oral |
IYA in the United States |
Susana Deustua, Doug Isbell |
To coordinate the U.S. celebration of IYA 2009, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) appointed two committees whose members are drawn from leading organizations that engage in astronomy education and public outreach in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Program Committee is charged with developing themes and activities that spread awareness of astronomy's rich scientific and cultural role throughout human history; the Development Committee will work to secure funding to support these activities.\\The U.S. IYA 2009 program's goal is to offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in North America through events and activities organized along six themes. These are: Looking Through A Telescope; Dark Skies are a Universal Resource; Arts, Entertainment & Storytelling; Student-Teacher Research Experiences; Telescope Building & Optics Challenges; and, Sharing the Universe Through New Technology. Each theme will be coordinated by one or more working groups of 6-8 people each, of interested professionals and amateurs, and supported by a centralized Web portal.\\We will present our efforts to date, and plans leading up to and through 2009 and beyond. |
| Doran |
Rosa |
Oral |
G-HOU in the IYA 20009 |
Rosa Doran, Roger Ferlet, Carl Pennypacker |
Global Hands-on Universe started a few years ago with the main purpose of renewing the teaching and learning of science. It gathers teachers, educators, scientists and students in more than 20 countries around the world. Its most successful international effort is EUHOU, European Hands-on Universe, which was partly funded by the European Commission in a collaboration of 8 European Nations. More than 1500 teachers worldwide have already been trained in preliminary efforts. We plan to expand our network to at least 100 nations in 7 years. Students regularly undertake science studies after being exposed to our multidisciplinary resources heavily based on real astronomical data and new technologies.\\For the IYA2009, we want to hold a global program fostering the interaction of schools around the globe. Our program is called "Today I am Galileo - Tomorrow I am Darwin". Series of activities are planned: historical research, reproduction of Galileo's observations, extra-solar planets studies...; a global inquiry will take place. Our main objective is to promote a deeper understanding, based on evidence, of our place in the Cosmos. |
| Emmart |
Carter |
Oral |
Global Networking of the Digital Universe 3D Atlas to Classrooms |
Dr. Carter B. Emmart |
This past year marks a turning point in outreach potential for teaching astronomy and astrophysics through 3D data visualization of the universe to a global network of classrooms and planetariums. Developed and maintained by the American Museum of Natural History, the "Digital Universe" 3D atlas has been in use for almost a decade as the basis for "Space Shows" and teaching via data visualization as opposed to artwork. Interactive visualization of this atlas has been an ongoing development at AMNH as well through collaboration with Linkopping University in Sweden as a graduate internship program. This program created the Swedish company Sciss, AB which has now developed interactive n-user networking within Digital Universe through software named "Uniview" that can continuosly traverse the entire scale range of the known universe. Remote lectures, teaching, and professional development are now possible within a global network of users all logged into the same data base. Authorities can log in from office or home and speak to planetarium audiences, classrooms or individuals as questions and control can be passed across to and from remote locations via Uniview. Demonstration of this will be made at the conference to a network of classrooms in Europe, the U.S., and possibly the Far East. |
| Evans |
Gary |
Oral |
Anthropomorphic Astronomy in IYA 2009 |
Gary Evans |
ANTHROPOMORPHIC ASTRONOMY\\The International Year of Astronomy 2009 will stimulate interest in astronomy across the world, especially with the young. To help do this, astronomy’s ‘face’ in 2009 needs to be more human than that presented by large domes on distant mountain tops. \\While we can reach those already interested in astronomy, and those on the fringes, a more difficult audience is the majority – those with little or no interest in science. We need to use communication tools that they already accept. To do this, we need to take a lesson or two from the mass-appeal sector of television.\\Firstly, we need to present astronomy as something the everyday person can do, and tap into the vast amateur astronomy community. Perhaps we need to find astronomy’s Steve Irwin, a person with boundless enthusiasm who can present shows in which s/he does astronomy in the most unlikely places, even involving the public in ‘street astronomy’. Secondly, we need programmes presenting children with challenges to recreate iconic moments in astronomy’s history. Finally we need to enlist celebrities – both those already into astronomy and those who aren’t. Whatever the details, the key ingredients remain the same: everyday people (amateur astronomers), children, celebrities and above all, entertainment. We can use our creativity to apply astronomical themes to as many popular TV formats as we can.\\The Great Messier Race, The Naked Astronomer, the Galileo Challenge - the possibilities are endless. Is “Astronomy Idol” even a step too far? |
| Fienberg |
Richard |
Oral |
Progress toward a Decent-Quality "Cheapscope" for IYA 2009 |
Richard Tresch Fienberg (Sky & Telescope) |
Nothing piques a kid's interest in astronomy like looking through a telescope she built herself. it would be unrealistic to expect millions (or even thousands) of kids to build a typical telescope maker's first instrument: a 6-inch reflector on a Dobsonian mount. But it would be realistic to give thousands (or even millions) of kids and adults a chance to build a simple refractor similar to the ones that Galileo used to make his astonishing discoveries beginning in 1609. And with such a telescope, IYA 2009 participants could enjoy views of some of the most significant wonders that Galileo saw, including lunar craters and mountains, the moons of Jupiter, and the phases of Venus.\\Especially for people who can't afford to buy even a department-store telescope, a do-it-yourself "cheapscope" could be the key to pursuing an interest in astronomy beyond IYA 2009. There are several cardboard-and-plastic do-it-yourself refractor kits on the market today, but none have an optimum combination of magnification, field of view, optical quality, and ease of use.\\Two IYA 2009 task groups -- under the auspices of the American Astronomical Society in the U.S. and the International Astronomical Union more broadly -- are working to develop a better inexpensive telescope kit that can be distributed in quantities of millions. Ideally, every participant in an IYA 2009 event would be able to take home of these little telescopes. |
| Fischer |
Daniel |
Oral |
A Comet's Tale: How Most of the World Came to Miss the Greatest Comet in Decades |
Daniel Fischer |
In January 2007 one of the truly Great Comets in history - and the first one of the internet era - graced the Southern skies, a full five months after McNaught's discovery. Yet most of the world outside the amateur community never took notice, and the mass media in particular failed completely to convey the (literally) largest astronomy story in years to a general audience.\\This paper aks: Who's to blame, and how can we do better next time? It will be shown that it was partly the fault of the comet itself, which could not be observed well before perihelion, but key players in the comet community also failed to grasp its unique properties. Still the worldwide media machine would have had enough time to kick into action when the comet became very bright in early January. Were they just lacking the right trigger, such as a well-timed NASA or NOAO or ESO Press Release? |
| Gallego-Calvente |
Aurelia Teresa |
Oral |
Misconceptions in Astronomy |
Aurelia Teresa Gallego-Calvente / Stefano Sandrelli / Amelia Ortiz-Gil |
In the present study performed by the Astronomical Observatory of Brera (Italy) and the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Valencia (Spain), we analize some usual misconceptions in Astronomy. In particular we explored their evolution (if any) depending on age and socio-educational factors, from a cognitive structures point of view. Cognitive structures interact with learnt contents and produce resistant conceptual schemes which are almost completely unknown and ignored by teachers and educators. We carried out an extensive survey (more than 2000 test between these two countries) and we studied the spontaneous schemes and concepts used by youngsters when facing some basic astronomical ideas, in order to focus efforts on helping to change the above schemes by inducing on the students "clash of ideas" situations. In that way, students could acquire a dynamic mental model consistent with the scientific model. |
| Gauthier |
Adrienne |
Oral |
Virtual Astronomy Multimedia Project |
Adrienne Gauthier, Lars Lindberg Christensen, Robert Hurt, Ryan Wyatt |
High quality astronomical images, accompanied by rich caption and background information, abound on the web and yet are notoriously difficult to locate efficiently using common search engines. "Flat" searches can return dozens of hits for a single popular image but miss equally important related images from other observatories. The Virtual Astronomy Multimedia Project (VAMP) is developing the architecture for an online index of astronomical imagery and video that will simplify access and provide a service around which innovative applications can be developed (e.g. digital planetariums). Current progress includes design prototyping around existing Astronomy Visualization Metadata (AVM) standards. Growing VAMP partnerships include a cross section of observatories, data centers, and planetariums. |
| Gianluca |
Masi |
Oral |
Be an Astronomer for One Night: When a Telescope Enters a Planetarium Dome |
Gianluca Masi, Gabriele Catanzaro, Giangiacomo Gandolfi, Stefano Giovanardi, Vincenzo Vomero |
While sharing the astronomical experience with our public at the Planetarium of Rome, we tried to transform the dome into a real observatory.\\For this, we used the Virtual Telescope - a remote, fully robotic observatory - with an astronomer on site.\\This way, it was possible to blend the atmosphere of the planetarium with the typical environment where astronomers work: the former was used in concert with the observing facility, with the remote astronomer guiding and explaining the observing session. Each observation was previously introduced under the dome, hunting for the right corner of sky, before to go with the telescope.\\We had a very positive feedback from our visitors, who enjoyed the excitement of a typical night at the telescope. The images were also properly enhanced live, to show and explain the benefits of image processing. When possible, we have chosen last-minute targets (like newly discovered comets and near-Earth asteroids) or true astrophysical targets (like fast variable stars), to reinforce the return of such a live experience.\\In this work our approach, the format of the show, the techniques and the public feedback are presented and discussed.\\ NB: the affiliation is "Planetario di Roma" for all the authors, while the first one also belongs to "The Virtual Telescope Project" |
| Govender |
Kevin |
Oral |
Socio-Economic Impact of Astronomy in South Africa |
Kevin Govender |
In South Africa, a country where almost half the population live in poverty, we have built the multi- million dollar Southern African Large Telescope, we have begun on the even more expensive Karoo Array Telescope, and we are one of the two finalists bidding to host the multi-billion dollar Square Kilometre Array! In trying to communicate astronomy to the public, how do we justify such spending to a family in a rural area living in poverty? \\This presentation will expand on efforts in South Africa, specifically the SALT Collateral Benefits Programme, which are trying to answer these seemingly difficult questions. The socio-economic impact of astronomy on societies, especially those in the vicinity of these large telescope projects, will be investigated, with examples and experiences being shared especially from the sparsely populated Northern Cape Province of South Africa. |
| Govender |
Kevindran |
Oral |
IYA2009 in Africa - A South African Perspective |
Kevin Govender |
In Africa, the stars have always been a part of people's everyday lives, be it in the form of folklore, superstition or even agricultural indicators. Modern astronomy, however, has not been very widespread, with only a few African countries having sufficient facilities or academics to support a modern astronomical community. The International Year of Astronomy serves not only as an opportunity to boost these astronomical communities, but also to celebrate the rich history and culture that has existed for thousands of years. On this, the poorest continent, with so many millions living in rural areas, there is one glaring advantage over others - people's abundant access to a dark night sky. We would like to see 2009 as the year that everyone in Africa, no matter what their background or lifestyle, turn their heads to the skies in appreciation of the beauty of the universe, in celebration of their cultural heritage, and in the hope that they are inspired to overcome harsh challenges that this small planet and its occupants may have placed on them. It is an opportunity not just to promote astronomy, but also to spark curiosity and spur a culture of learning. The perspective will be given from South Africa, home to a number of major astronomical facilities, and a major player in the development of astronomy across Africa. IYA2009 progress to date and plans for the future will be discussed. |
| Grice |
Noreen |
Oral |
Creating Opportunities in Astronomy Communication for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired |
Noreen Grice (You Can Do Astronomy LLC) |
Astronomy is such a visually rich field that you may wonder if access is possible for a person who is blind or visually impaired. The good news is that with creative strategies and available resources, students who are blind need not be excluded. Braille text, tactile illustrations, hands-on models, and descriptive narration can remove many barriers. Come to this presentation and learn how accessible astronomy can be! |
| Harvey |
Janice |
Oral |
IYA Tabloid in your Community |
Janice Harvey, Antonienta Garcia |
Gemini PIO would like to offer suggestions on how to approach your local newspaper with the possibility of a tabloid for your community being published during IYA 2009. Local government support, astronomer’s articles, advertisers, and someone within your organization to manage the content will be discussed. We will explain the timeline required, number of personnel hours required, developmental stages and income your local newspaper would have to generate in order to produce a quality, table-top tabloid.\\In 2003 “Stars Over Mauna Kea”, a special supplement/tabloid was produced and distributed in the local newspapers in Hilo, Hawaii with over 30,000 copies printed and distributed. The publication, 48 pages in total, featured profiles of observatories on Mauna Kea, stories about the geology and legends of Mauna Kea, and historical information about the evolution of astronomy in Hawaii. In addition the publication included a series of essays titled “In their own words”. These were articles written by key members of the astronomy community.\\In 2005 60,000 copies of “Stars Over Mauna Kea II” were printed as a follow-up to the first edition. An article on `Imiloa Astronomy Education Center, explanations of what types of telescopes sit atop Mauna Kea, and columns written by scientists about the fascinating and significant discoveries being made were featured. Personal stories about careers in astronomy were also highlighted.\\In Chile, a similar tabloid, 8 pages in length was published and 5,000 copies were distributed throughout the country. The 2005 tabloid featured Gemini, CTIO and SOAR telescopes. |
| Hesser |
Jim |
Oral |
Canadian Planning for IYA 2009 |
J.E. Hesser & The IYA Canada Committee |
The Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA), the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and the Fédération des Astronomes Amateurs de Québec (FAAQ) are working with diverse partners to develop Canadian IYA activities. Our primary goals are to offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in Canada, and to cultivate partnerships that sustain public interest in astronomy. Our overall philosophy envisions building highly-leveraged participation from organizations and individuals across Canada whose activities are supported by our national volunteer team. We have participation from the National Research Council and the Canadian Space Agency, as well as representatives of the planetarium and science centre communities and of the media. Given the long-standing importance of the night skies to Aboriginal peoples in Canada and in other countries, we are particularly encouraging a strong participation of Canada’s First Nations and Inuit communities and are fortunate to have secured creative, effective leaders from Cape Breton University for this component. \\We present our plans with emphasis on those elements we believe will be of greatest interest to the international community represented at the conference, with an aim towards exploring collaboration or co-ordination for selected activities. |
| Hill |
Robert |
Oral |
Education, recruitment/training & public outreach in Europe - Findings from
Education, recruitment/training & public outreach in Europe - Findings from ASTRONET Panel E |
Robert Hill (Northern Ireland Space Office), Rosa Maria Ros (Technical University of Catania), Bob Fosbury (ESA/ST-ECF), Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESA/Hubble), Leonarda Fucili (SSIS, Universities of Lazio), Dirk Lorenzen (German Public Radio), Jose Carlos del Toro Iniesta (ESA), Claus Madsen (ESO), Andy Newsam (Liverpool Telescope/John Moore University), Alan Pickwick (Manchester Grammar School/EAAE Secretary), Veselka Radeva (Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium) |
ASTRONET is a unique ten year planning exercise created by a group of European funding agencies in order to establish a comprehensive long-term plan for the development of European astronomy. The objective of this effort is to consolidate and reinforce the world-leading position that European astronomy has attained at the beginning of this 21st century. Panel E - education, recruitment & training, public outreach – was set up by the ASTRONET Roadmap Working Group. I will report on the findings and recommendations of this Panel. |
| Hillier |
Dan |
Oral |
Dark Sky Scotland |
Dan Hillier |
Dark Sky Scotland (DSS) is a nationwide programme of public and educational astronomy events running from Autumn 06 to Spring 08. Scotland has some of the largest areas of dark skies in Western Europe and DSS is harnessing these in support of science education and careers, and rural tourism and communities.\\DSS will reach some 6000 people through over 30 events and many more through touring exhibitions. The DSS events are based mainly around tried and tested astronomy activities. The innovative features of the project are:\\((numberedlist))The national DSS partnership comprise diverse organisations including the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Forestry Commission Scotland and Careers Scotland – and is possibly the first initiative in any country to run a nationwide dark sky programme.\\((numberedlist))DSS was launch by the Deputy First Minister for Scotland and has received national media coverage.\\((numberedlist))The events are run throughout Scotland, often in remote rural communities. \\((numberedlist))In these locations, weekend events include daytime and evening sessions for families, and training workshops for teachers, tourism organisations and community groups to ensure there are wide benefits for the local community.\\((numberedlist))Special emphasis on making astronomy accessible through naked eye observing, leading into current astronomy and space programmes.\\The way DSS has been packaged, at national and local levels, may offer models for similar programmes in other countries. |
| Huettemeister |
Susanne |
Oral |
The International Year of Astronomy in Germany: The Role of Planetaria |
Susanne Huettemeister |
German planetaria draw about 2 million visitors per year. Thus, they are by far the largest communicators of astronomy, surpassing public observatories or efforts made by universities or research institutions. Planetaria communicate und promote astronomy at all times. But clearly a special coordinated effort needs to be made in 2009, to make the most of the unique opportunity offered by the Year of Astronomy. \\Experience shows that the public only perceives an event as 'special' if it is promoted by numerous independent channels, especially national media. This is the level of attention required for the Year of Astronomy to have a high impact. To accomplish this, the Council of German Planetaria is in the process of joining forces with the European Space Agency ESA. The aim is to establish a cooperation that will last well beyond 2009, and begin already in 2008 with the launch of the Planck/Herschel mission. For 2009, a technically very ambitious planetarium show will be developped. \\The main focus will be on space astronomy, but it is obvious that the full story of exploration starting with Galileo and the invention of the telescope will be told. The primary aim is to present the show in at least 30 German language planetaria, but it will be offered to planetaria all over Europe. An effort of this size provides the oppotunity for coordinated and thus effective promotion. Of course, it will be an integrated part of the larger context of the Year of Astronomy as a whole, on a national and international level, in which all planetaria will take part both individually and as a group. |
| Hurt |
Robert |
Oral |
Dynamic Range of Astronomical Pictures and the Implications for EPO Use |
Robert Hurt (Spitzer Science Center) & Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESA/Hubble) |
The universe produces light across a broad spectrum of light and incredible extremes of dynamic range. Rendering photographic quality pictures from astronomical research data requires the visualizer to understand the difficulties in converting a linear record of sky flux into a properly compressed visual representation that satisfies multiple goals: 1) preserve scientific integrity of the image; 2) captures detail at both the faintest and brightest areas of interest; and 3) produces an aesthetically appealing product. The mathematics of dynamic range compression yield a number of powerful and flexible tools to achieve these. We will discuss the overall nature of dynamic range, families of mathematical dynamic range transformations (with suggestions on how to use them effectively), and considerations in balancing science and aesthetic content in the process. We will also demonstrate how the FITS Liberator plug-in brings this functionality to Photoshop, though the techniques can be used in many image analysis packages. |
| Kapadia |
Amit |
Oral |
First VAMP Prototype |
Amit Kapadia (ESA/Hubble), Fabien Chéreau (ESO), Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESA/Hubble), Lars Holm Nielsen (ESA/Hubble), Adrienne Gauthier (TBA), Robert Hurt (SSC) & Ryan Wyatt (California Academy of Sciences) |
The Virtual Astronomy Multimedia Project (VAMP) intends to implement metadata standards to be used by a myriad of applications delivering high quality multimedia to the public. VAMP supports the Astronomical Visualization Metadata (AVM) standard for the contextual information embedded in the multimedia products. With this standard, observatories, universities, and other institutions will be able to collaborate and share their science and outreach images to the public.
This demonstration shows one software application that will make use of VAMP: the community-supported (1 million downloads) desktop planetarium program Stellarium with the new VirGO plug-in. VirGO is developed by ESO’s Virtual Observatory Systems department. The demo will show how Stellarium’s 300 million star sky, seamlessly moved in real-time, gets littered with thousands and thousands of “footprints” from real ESO science data, and allows access to associated metadata and science data previews. For the well-known deep-sky objects the user will be presented with multiple PR images from multiple sources (i.e. Hubble, Chandra, Spitzer, VLT etc) and access to some of the embedded metadata. |
| Kim |
Young-Soo |
Oral |
Dark Panorama Event for IYA2009 |
Young-Soo Kim, Dong Joo Lee, Young Sook Ahn, Seo Gu Lee, & Han Bae Yoon |
Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) has made plans for the International Year of Astronomy 2009. One of the events is a ‘Dark panorama’, which is a star gazing activity of public in the city center. All the lights of buildings and in the street at an area are turned off and people can see the night sky. \\In order to figure out the plan for the IYA2009, a model event will be performed in August this year. The event will be placed in the heart of the capital, at the plaza in front of the Seoul city hall. At the event, we will count stars so that we can compare the darkened night to the light polluted sky. It is a coalition event working together with the Korea NGO’s Energy Network, and supported by the National Assembly, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Energy, and more than thirty organizations including corporations, press, and NGOs. \\In this talk, we will present the plans for the IYA2009 and the result of this year’s Dark panorama event. |
| Krishnamurthi |
Anita |
Oral |
Bringing the Universe Down to Earth |
Anita Krishnamurthi |
The Astrophysics Science Division at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has more than a hundred active research scientists and is home to several exciting NASA missions and programs, including the upcoming James Webb Space telescope.\\We are committed to sharing the results of our research efforts with a wide variety of audiences and have a very active education and public outreach program. Our communications efforts reach a large variety of audiences with a diverse range of programming - from press to podcasts to school teachers, afterschool program providers, Girl Scout groups, amateur astronomy clubs, museum displays and so on.\\I will share some examples of our ongoing efforts and discuss how we might collaborate with others and participate in IYA programming. |
| Lau |
Chen Chen |
Oral |
Using Art as a Medium in Communicating Astronomy |
Lau Chen Chen, National Planetarium of Malaysia |
Using Art As A Medium In Communicating Astronomy National Planetarium of Malaysia\\ Abstract In general, Batik is a delicate art, which requires patience and skills. It is a process of “painting” and “drawing” on the fabric into a unique pattern using dye and wax. Before that, Malaysian designers were using organic motif such as flowers, animals, plants, shapes and geometric motif for their Batik designs. But in the Inaugural 2006, Malaysian National Space Agency have been organized Batik Art Competition “My Space’s Inspiration”. Participants were asked to produce motif of space science for their Batik making on the fabric which 1m x 1m and to write a summary about their Batik design. The objective of this competition is to promote space using Batik and encourage or create interest designers or public combine space science elements in producing Batik art. This competition received good response that we received 106 participations from art background people which were University’s students, College students and designers. These participants used background of night sky, galaxies, nebulae, Milky Way, solar system and astronaut as their Batik’s motif. Through this competition, it showed that Batik art competition is an educational and communication tools for space science. In conclusion, Malaysian National Space Agency will carry out various types of space art activities in the future to create awareness among the artists interest in space science. |
| Lawton |
Christopher |
Oral |
Inspiring a Community |
Christopher Lawton |
Everyone has access to the night sky, but many are uncertain of the objects visible to the naked eye and through binoculars. By creating courses tailored for small groups in the local community it is possible to inspire them to be interested in the heavens and associated issues such as light pollution. In reaching out to the mature adult community it is possible to inspire them and their children to take a greater interest in the universe. Too often, however, such courses avoid difficult areas, such as gamma-rays, based on the false assumption that the public do not understand more complex ideas. Through careful presentation and use of language it is possible to engage an audience on a range of subjects normally considered to sit outside the standard list of topics. The impact of such courses should not be underestimated when it comes to promoting more expansive (and expensive) national projects. |
| Levin |
Sarah |
Oral |
UNAWE: Humanizing Astronomy |
Sarah Levin |
Universe Awareness (UNAWE) is an international programme that aims to expose underprivileged children (in the age group of 4-10) to the inspirational aspects of astronomy. We are currently at the stage of developing materials that will be utilized in a diverse range of environments. This paper will explore the particular approach of UNAWE to developing educational tools which incorporates indigenous and folkloric astronomical knowledge and delivers that knowledge in the local culture of transmission. A specific understanding and explanation of the Universe, the Sun, Moon and stars is present in every culture and can be found contained in its history, legends and belief systems. By consciously embracing different ways of knowing the Universe, alongside the rational model, UNAWE places the humanizing potential of astronomy at the centre of its purpose. Whilst inspiring curiosity, pride and a sense of ownership in one’s own cultural identity, such an approach also exposes very young children to the diversity of other peoples and their cultures as well as the unifying aspects of our common scientific heritage. The means of creating and delivering the astronomy programme are as relevant to the desired educational outcomes as the content. Respect for alternative values systems, the need for dialogue and community participation, and where possible the production of materials using local resources is emphasized. This paper will touch on recent experiences liasing with communities in India, South Africa, Tunisia, Venezuela and Colombia |
| Lopez |
Ericsson |
Oral |
The IYA2009 in Ecuador |
Ericsson Lopez |
At the first semester of 2007, the Ecuadorian working board was established in order to prepare national events and projects for the International Year of Astronomy, to be held in 2009. People involved in this group are quite important for communicating astronomy to general public in highly professional way. The board was integrated by qualified scientists and educators from the Quito Astronomical Observatory, universities of Ecuador, such as the National Polytechnic School, heads of planetariums and science journalists, complemented with the valuable representation of primary and secondary schools around the country. The IAY2009 in Ecuador will be celebrated promoting the scientific and educative activities previously made in the country; carrying on science meetings for students and general public, performing night observation sessions and traveling exhibitions abroad the country, and so on. Radio, TV and newspapers promotion is considered as an important component for spreading and getting the people participation inside the events planned for the IYA2009. We are compromised with the education and promotion of the Science in the country that we are seeing in this IYA2009 global celebration as a great opportunity for reaching great results in our noble work. |
| Mahoney |
Terence |
Oral |
Update on Celebrations of 400th Anniversary of the Publication of Keplers Astronomia Nova |
T. J. Mahoney |
Contacts are being made with various organizations to prepare celebrations the 400th anniversary of the birth of modern astronomy with the publication of Kepler's Astronomia Nova (in which the first two laws of planetary motion were first described). So far there are plans being made at Graz (Austria) and Prague (Czech Republic). NASA's Kepler project is also actively preparing to make 2009 Kepler's year. Further contacts will be made with other towns and cities in which Kepler lived and worked (e.g. Weil der Stadt, Tuebingen and Regensburg (Germany), Linz (Austria) and Sagan (Zagan, Poland) to encourage similar events. Kepler's work is now being drastically reappraised by historians, who are now arguing that the impression hitherto given of Kepler as a mystic who made his important discoveries in spite of himself needs to be drastically revised. Perhaps the time is now ripe for an IAU GA Special Session on Kepler. Historians of science, particularly Kepler specialists, are now being contacted to consider this possibility. A request has now been made to form an IYA working group to prepare to celebrate "Kepler's Year" (2009). |
| Malin |
David |
Oral |
The Importance of the Public Talk |
David Malin |
A long-established and effective way of engaging general audiences with scientific ideas is the public talk. Such a talk should be part of any broad program of science communication. With the right title and presentation, this combines elements of the theatre with a public discourse and reveals the scientist as a 'normal', interesting and approachable human being. Other essential ingredients and potential pitfalls in this kind of presentation will be discussed, in particular the layout of the venue, the visual content and ways of encouraging and managing discussion at the end of the talk. |
| Malkov |
Oleg |
Oral |
International Year of Astronomy in Russia |
Oleg Malkov |
The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) will be a great event in scientific and cultural life of all nations. The IYA2009 activities will be on several levels, however, the majority of IYA2009 events will take place locally and nationally.\\To prepare thess activities, National Nodes in each country have been formed. These Nodes establish collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, science centres and science communicators.\\The Russian National Node acitivity is described in this presentation. |
| Manning |
James |
Oral |
Intermediary Astronomy: Education through the Leveraging Of Networks, Partnerships, and Intermediaries at the Astronomical Society of the Pacific |
James Manning, Suzy Gurton, Michael Gibbs, Dan Zevin, Marni Berendsen, and Andrew Fraknoi |
In the last decade if its 12-decade existence, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) has worked to expand the impact of its education and outreach program through physical and electronic networks and partnerships. Some of its key networks include the Project ASTRO Sites Network (with 15 regional sites for training educators and astronomers to work together in classrooms), the Family ASTRO Network (trained leaders around the U.S. who do family astronomy workshops in formal and informal settings), the Night Sky Network (an organization of 200 astronomy clubs engaged in public outreach), the Astronomy from the Ground Up Network (an expanding group of smaller museums and nature centers doing astronomy programs), the Astronomy College Network (an informal network of over 1000 instructors teaching astronomy in smaller colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada, who meet every three years at "Cosmos in the Classroom" conferences), and the ASP Membership (in all 50 U.S. states and more 60 other countries). The presenter will demonstrate how these networks, as well as its connections with scientific and Education/Public Outreach communities, advance its mission to train and support astronomy education and outreach “intermediaries” (those at the interface between astronomy and students and the public) to increase public understanding and appreciation of astronomy—and also position the Society to advance the goals of the International Year of Astronomy. |
| Matsopoulos |
Nikolaos |
Oral |
Astronomy Outreach in Greece and IYA Prospects |
Nikolaos Matsopoulos & Manolis Zoulias |
We present an overview of astronomy outreach activities in Greece and the profiles of the organizations involved, such as astronomy and space research institutions, media, amateur societies and more. Furthermore an analysis of the capabilities and potential of these organizations is presented for their involvement in IYA2009 projects on national and international levels. |
| Mehlert |
Doerte |
Oral |
SOFIA - The Flying IR Observatory |
C. Scorza, D. Mehlert, D. Backman |
SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy, is an airborne observatory that will study the universe in the infrared spectral region. For this project NASA and DLR, the German Aerospace Center, created SOFIA — a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified in the U.S. to accommodate a German 2.5 meter reflecting telescope. SOFIA will be the largest airborne observatory in the world, and will make observations that are impossible for even the largest and highest of ground-based telescopes. Besides this contribution to science progress, SOFIA will be a major facility for the development of new instruments and observational techniques, and for the education of young scientists. Moreover SOFIA has a unique Education and Public Outreach (E&PO) program geared for people involved in science education such as teachers, museum or planetarium workers, youth or community organization workers and volunteers, scientists doing outreach education, or journalists writing about science education. In this contribution we will present the activities of the US and German E&PO teams. In particular we will focus on the possible SOFIA contribution the IYA 2009. |
| Missotten |
Robert |
Oral |
UNESCO & IYA |
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| Moussas |
Xenophon |
Oral |
The Antikythera Mechanism, a Great Attractor of Children to Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology. |
X. Moussas (1), J.H. Seiradakis (2), T. Freeth (3), M. Edmunds (4), Y. Bitsakis (1), G. Babasides (1), D. Ioannidis-Vamvakas (1), G. Fasoulopoulos (5), E. Daniels (6), D. Kriaris (7) [(1) Space Group, Laboratory of Astrophysics, Faculty of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, GR 15783, Zographos, Athens, Greece, xmoussas@phys.uoa.gr, (2) Dep. of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, (3) Images First, London, (4) Dep. Of Astronomy, Cardiff University, Wales, U.K., (5) Direction of Secondary Education of Dodecanese, Claude Pepper street, Zephyros, 85 100 Rhodes, Greece, gfasou@yahoo.gr, (6) Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024 USA, (7) Athens, Greece] |
The Antikythera Mechanism is an excellent attractor of pupil and young people to Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology. This old astronomical instrument of the 2nd century BC found in an ancient shipwreck of the 1st century BC, looks like an oxidized grand mother's clock made of bronze gears, is the oldest known analogue computer that calculates the position of the Sun, the Moon (its phases), the eclipses of the Sun and the Moon, several calendars, based on the Saros, Exeligmos Meton's and Callippus cycles of 18 years, 54 years, 19 years and 76 years. The Antikythera Mechanism rewrites the history of science and technology, and it is an excellent device to teach many subjects to children, but mainly modelling of physical phenomena. The interest concerning the Antikythera Mechanism in Greece and worldwide is enormous and we organize and we participate to conferences, general public lectures, exhibitions, and we construct and contribute to models and replicas. We have a successful collaboration with the Children's Museum of Manhattan and we participate to their exhibitions Gods, Myths & Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece (www.cmom.org) with great success. |
| N |
N |
Oral |
Conference Summary |
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| N |
N |
Oral |
LOC Welcome address |
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| Naranjo |
Orlando |
Oral |
Asteroids for Popularization of Astronomy |
Orlando A. Naranjo. Grupo de Astrofísica Teórica. Universidad de los Andes. Facultad de Ciencias. Departamento de Física. Mérida-Venezuela. |
Asteroids for popularization of Astronomy\\Orlando A. Naranjo. Grupo de Astrofísica Teórica. Universidad de los Andes. Facultad de Ciencias. Departamento de Física. Mérida-Venezuela.\\It is presented here how the nomination of Asteroids may be used as a tool for popularization of Astronomy, Science and Technology. The nomination of asteroids was used by organizers of educative activities in schools and museum as a price to the winners of scientific and technological events which they promote. Actually, there are two events, one in Venezuela and one in Brazil, which had used this as an attractive alternative for popularization. The first event was called “Bautizo Espacial” (Space Baptism) and consisted of a contest of scientific stories written by fundamental and high school students. This event was organized by universities and governmental institutions and was realized in the Venezuelan State of Lara. The second event, called “Grande Desafio” (Big Challenge), was a competition where teams (with 3 to 6 fundamental and high school students) was challenged to build a prototype of an equipment to battle forest fire. This happening was organized by the Exploratory Science Museum of the State University of Campinas in Brazil (Museu Exploratorio de Ciencias, UNICAMP). Both events had national publicity in newspapers, radios, TV and WEB pages, reaching great amount of people in each nation. In both events were realized parallel activities promoting public knowledge of astronomy. The asteroids that have been named were discovery in a search program developed by the Group of Theoretical Astrophysics of University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela (Grupo de Astrofísica Teórica, Universidad de Los Andes). The search was done with the 1-m Schmidt camera from Llano del Hato National observatory, located in Mérida State. Finally, it is proposed to IAU the use of the program “Asteroids for Popularization of Astronomy” during the celebration of the International year of astronomy in 2009. \\Key: Astronomy popularization, Asteroids nomination, Public perception of astronomy. |
| Nielsen |
Lars Holm |
Oral |
The Credibility of Science Communication: An Exploratory Study of Press Releases in Astronomy |
L. H. Nielsen (on behalf of N. T. Jψrgensen, K. Jantzen and L. L. Christensen) |
Current developments in the media marketplace are leading inevitably to faster, simpler and more aggressive science communication. We will present the results of an exploratory study of potential credibility problems in astronomy press releases, their causes, consequences and possible remedies. The study consisted of eleven open-ended interviews with journalists, scientists and public information officers (PIOs). Results suggest that credibility issues are ubiquitous, deeply integrated into the workflow and can have severe consequences to the actors (especially the scientist), but are an unavoidable part of the communication process. |
| Nxumalo |
Mdumiseni |
Oral |
From The Zulu’s Indigenous Knowledge of Stars to the Modern Understanding of the Universe: Critical Evaluation of Indigenous Knowledge of Stars |
Mdumiseni Nxumalo |
Olden age people wondered about what lies out there in the night skies. Their amazement led to different star-lore and myths found across the cultures of the world. Star-lore and myths were and are still stimulators of interest in stars (astronomy). However some of these myths and even our modern star movies we grew up enjoying can lead to misconceptions leading to what is known as bad astronomy. However, with research involving elderly people some indigenous knowledge has been identified to be very careful studies of the nature of stars to an extent that such knowledge was used to predict the year’s seasons. Some plants and crops behaviors were found to coincide with some events in the sky. This knowledge was very useful in the prehistoric means of agriculture. This presentation aims to: ((bulletedlist))critically evaluate South African (Zululand) indigenous knowledge of stars, identify and highlight usefulness, encourage research by astronomy communicators on this knowledge and highlight the possibility of using this knowledge in conjunction with modern astronomy to enhance the communication of astronomy to the public. It relates some experiences of interacting with the public in planetarium shows at the University of Zululand Science Centre, South Africa. |
| Ortiz-Gil |
Amelia |
Oral |
A Web Site of Astronomical News in Spanish |
Amelia Ortiz-Gil |
“Noticias del Cosmos” (http://www.uv.es/obsast/es/divul/noticias/) is a collection of web pages inside the Astronomical Observatory of the University of Valencia΄s web site where we publish short summaries of astronomical press releases daily. Most if not all of them are originally written in English, and often the Spanish readers may find it difficult to understand them because not many people are familiar with the scientific language employed in these releases. The goal of the “Noticias del Cosmos” is twofold. First, we want to communicate the last astronomical news on a daily basis to a broad Spanish-speaking public who otherwise would not be able to read them because of a language barrier. Second, we propose the use of the daily news as a tool to introduce the astronomy topics of the school curriculum in a more captivating way. Most of the students at school have not reached a level in their knowledge of English good enough to fully understand a press release, and “Noticias del Cosmos” offers them and their teachers these news in their mother tongue. During the regular program of school visits at the Observatory we use the news as a means of showing that there is a lot to be discovered. So far the visits to the web site have been growing steadily. Between June 2003 and June 2007 we had more than 30,000 visits, with an average of 70 visitors per day. More than 70% of the visits come from Spain, followed by visitors from South and Central America. The feedback we have received from teachers so far has been very positive, showing the usefulness of the news in the classroom when teaching Astronomy. |
| Parello |
Stephanie L. |
Oral |
Everyday Astronomy @ Sydney Observatory |
Stephanie L. Parello,
Sydney Observatory |
Catering to a broad range of audiences, including many non-English speaking visitors, Sydney Observatory offers everything from school programs to public sessions, day care activities to night observing, personal interactions to web-based outreach. With a history of nearly 150 years of watching the heavens, Sydney Observatory is now engaged in sharing the wonder with everybody in traditional and innovative ways. Along with time-honored tours of the sky thru two main telescopes, as well as a small planetarium, Sydney Observatory also boasts a 3D theatre, and offers programs 363 days a year — rain or shine, day and night. Additionally, our website never sleeps, with a blog, youtube videos, and night sky watching podcasts. And for good measure, a sprinkling of special events such as the incomparable Festival of the Stars, for which most of northern Sydney turns out their lights. Sydney Observatory is the oldest working observatory in Australia, and we’re thrilled to be looking forward to our 150th Anniversary next year in anticipation of the International Year of Astronomy immediately thereafter. |
| Patkos |
Eniko |
Oral |
Science Communication and the European Union |
Eniko Patkos, Claus Madsen |
As much scientific research is funded with public money, it is evident that there is a need to inform the public about the main research results. In addition, the general lack of understanding of how advances in science and technology affect our lives also calls for increased efforts in science communication. In Europe, public money comes from national budgets, international research organisations’ budgets, and also the European Union (EU) budget. This establishes a clear responsibility for all these actors to support science communication. The stakes for the European Community for the coming years are high: between 2007 and 2013, the Community will invest some €50 billion in research.\\The EU provides support for science communication in different ways and in the framework of different EU programmes. The Community-launched policy initiatives aim to harmonise the best practises of science communication, while databases and hands-on guides try to ease the everyday work-life of the science communicators. The EU also provides some financial support to innovative science communication projects through its R&D Framework Programme, the e-Content Plus Programme, and the new Media Programme. The structure of the different funding programmes is complex; it is not easy to find the most appropriate support programme for a project without some EU experience.\\The presentation will introduce the main EU science-communication policy initiatives of recent years, followed by an overview of future possibilities. The second part will elaborate on the concrete funding possibilities, describing the different programmes, and the ways and means of applications, with particular attention to those possibilities where astronomy can appear. |
| Patsis |
Panos A. |
Oral |
The Society for Space and Astronomy |
Zachilas Loukas, Patsis Panos, Mavromatis Konstantinos |
The Society For Space and Astronomy was founded in Volos, Greece in 1992 and now has 511 members both in Greece and abroad. Approximately, one third of the total number of its members is high school students. Since its foundation, the Society issues its own magazine, "Ouranos" (The Sky), with subscribers in Greece, Europe and The United States. Every Sunday evening the Society holds meetings and discussions on issues concerning astronomy - the meetings take place at the 1st Volos High School yard. Members can also borrow books, maps, slides, videotapes, e.t.c. from the Society's library. Each month the Society holds "Astronomy Classes For All", open both to its members as well as to anyone interested in Astronomy. Every summer the Society organizes night meetings at Hania, on Pelion Mountain. Members have the chance to observe or take photographs of planets, nebulae, galaxies etc. from the 22 telescopes that the Society and its members own. Each year the Society organizes the Pan-Hellenic School Competition in Astronomy and on a special evening it awards its prizes to the students who were distinguished in the Competition. The first boy winner and the first girl winner visit U.S. Space & Rocket Center at Huntsville, Alabama. The Society's activities include visits to sites with astronomical interest, scientific lectures etc. The Society also has its own sun clock in the 1st Volos High School yard. |
| Paul |
Roche |
Oral |
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network |
P. Roche, S. Roberts, R. Ross |
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network will provide a series of facilities supporting astronomical research and education. We report here on the first three and a half years of operations of the Faulkes Telescope Project (now part of LCOGTN), working primarily in the UK and Europe. \\We will provide an update on LCOGTN plans, and implications for network and educational resource availability by IYA2009. A variety of educational approaches have been attempted to try and engage high school teachers and students, and we will discuss several case studies and examples of good practise. |
| Pedrosa |
Antonio |
Oral |
Planetariums – New Tools for A Greater Impact |
Antonio Pedrosa, Marco Silva |
The International Year of Astronomy will be a celebration of Astronomy. Planetariums will definitely be one of the major vehicles to transmit its message. The new digital technologies that are now becoming available to the planetariums bring an enormous change on the way planetariums work and what’s more, on the possibilities and impact of the message they transmit. Navegar Foundation manages the Espinho Planetarium that has been developing efforts in different areas of digital planetariums, mainly on content creation and software tools development. Among these tools we would like to present two that have been developed in the recent past, for pre- rendered content production. We would like also to present a new tool, dedicated to test content under production and to real-time presentation of shows in the planetarium, integrating real-time sky simulations and the display of pre-rendered content. |
| Pierce-Price |
Douglas |
Oral |
ESO Education and Public Outreach for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 |
Douglas Pierce-Price |
I will present an overview of education and public outreach activities for the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) at ESO, the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere.\\Specific activities are still being designed, but we plan various projects including: public events local to ESO facilities, for example an exhibition of astronomical imagery in Munich; interactive web-based activities for the global public; and an international competition aimed at school students which will invite young people, as potential future astronomers, to imagine and plan for a night of observations with the forthcoming European Extremely Large Telescope.\\The IYA2009-specific events will take place in additional to ESO's normal education and public outreach activities, which will also be summarised in this presentation. |
| Pu'uohau-Pummill |
Kirk |
Oral |
Still Photography for All-Dome Time-Lapse Movies |
Kirk Puu'ohau-Pummill |
I am presenting a demonstration of and technique for creating high- resolution, full dome time-lapse movie content for planetaria using a Canon 1Ds Mk II digital camera. Our objective is to produce educational content for planetariums, including those using state-of-the-art 4K x 4K digital projection systems to demonstrate the operation of the Gemini telescopes as seen from the observing floor over the course of the nights observations. |
| Robson |
Ian |
Oral |
IAU Commission 55 - An Update |
Robson, Crabtree, Christensen |
I will give a brief update of the work of C55 'Communicating Astronomy with the Public', especially with the focus on IYA2009. |
| Robson |
Ian |
Oral |
IYA2009 - The Work in the UK |
Ian Robson |
I will give a brief overview of the work being done within the UK for IYA2009. |
| Rojo |
Patricio |
Oral |
Chilean Activities for IYA 2009 |
Patricio Rojo (SPoC) and Chilean Node members |
The Chilean node, for the preparations of activities for the International Year of Astronomy 2009, currently consists in 24 members representing most of the professional and amateur organizations related to astronomy in Chile. We have divided ourselves in two main working groups that focus in the preparation of activities on the areas of Education and Society, respectively. Each group have divided their projects in two broad categories, those that will be performed during 2009, and those that should start on 2009, but have a lasting effect. Those four categories of activities are given equal importance. In this talk, I will present the activities that are being planned as well as their progress report. |
| Russo |
Pedro |
Oral |
The Journal Communicating Astronomy with the Public - A Study from IAU Division XII Commission 55 CAP Journal Working Group |
Pedro Russo (1), Lars Lindberg Christensen (2), Terry Mahoney (3), André Heck (4), Rick Fienberg (5), Richard de Grijs (6), Andrew Fraknoi (7), Sidney Wolff (8), Paul Murdin (9), Steve Miller (10) |
((numberedlist))Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, DE ((numberedlist))ESA/Hubble, DE ((numberedlist))Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, ES (4) Strasbourg Astronomical Observatory, FR ((numberedlist))Sky & Telescope, USA ((numberedlist))Sheffield University, UK ((numberedlist))Department of Astronomy, Foothill College, USA ((numberedlist))National Optical Astronomy Observatory, USA ((numberedlist))Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, UK ((numberedlist))University College London, UK\\E-mail: russo@mps.mpg.de\\The public communication of astronomy provides an important link between the scientific astronomical community and society, giving visibility to scientific success stories and supporting both formal and informal science education. While the principal task of an astronomer is to discover new knowledge, disseminating this new knowledge to a wider audience than the scientific community is becoming increasingly important. This is the main task of public astronomy communication: to bring astronomy to society. Here we present the results of a study from IAU DIVISION XII Commission 55 CAP journal Working Group for establishing a partly peer-reviewed journal called Communicating Astronomy with the Public. Such a journal, published quarterly in full colour, will be vital for intra-community exchange of information and will make it possible to learn from others in the same profession and with the same needs, as well as give authors a chance to present their information in a coherent and meaningful fashion. |
| Russo |
Pedro |
Oral |
The International Year of Astronomy 2009 - An Opportunity too Good to Miss |
Pedro Russo (IYA 2009 coordinator/ESA-Hubble) & Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESA/Hubble & IAU) |
The vision of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009) is to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery. All humans should realize the impact of astronomy and basic sciences on our daily lives, and understand better how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society. The authors of this talk are working for the IYA Secretariat and will present a snapshot of the current status of the project, as well as re-iterate the IYA2009 goals, objectives and deliverables. Part of this talk will deal with some important IYA evaluation parameters and also the global strategy for the future |
| Russo |
Pedro |
Oral |
Distribution Services of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences Outreach Products |
Pedro Russo |
The wikipedia entry of web 2.0 refers web 2.0 to a “perceived second generation of web-based communities and hosted services — such as social-networking sites, wikis and folksonomies — which facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.” With this premise, web2.0 will play an important role in future astronomy education and public outreach collaboration projects and in the dissemination of outreach products between the public. In this paper I will present the first efforts to integrate outreach products under virtual observatories and distribution services and how the use of new approaches, like web 2.0 and semantic web can help to achieve the main objectives. With main emphasis on the Europlanet Integrated and Distributed Information Service (IDIS) which will offer to the european planetary science community a common and user-friendly access to the data and information (including outreach products) produced by the various types of activities. |
| Sandrelli |
Stefano |
Oral |
The Universe as a Creative Lab: Mixing the two Cultures |
Stefano Sandrelli, Alessandra Angelini |
Is it possible today to use a Renaissance-like approach to culture, where rationality and creativity, reality and imagination, history and myth, science and art are not opposite polarities but complementary fashions to observe reality?\\The Public Outreach & Education office (POE) of the Astronomical Observatory of Brera (Milan), one of the most ancient and prestigious institutes of the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), has been started a multidisciplinary approach to the diffusion of the culture for several years. \\In 2006-07, as a preparation for the International Year of Astronomy, we pursued four main projects: \\((numberedlist))an experimental narrative laboratory “The Olmicomics”, addressed to 12-13 years old students in order to motivate them to use scientific suggestions as a starting line for creative processes in both literature and comics; \\((numberedlist))an anthology of tales written by scientist, to show that science is not pure rationality, but a real way-of-life. The anthology will be published in Italian by Springer – Verlag in September 2007 under the title of “Every number is equal to 5” (Tutti I numeri sono uguali a cinque). \\((numberedlist))a whole month (March-April) of Science and Theatre at the Arsenale Theatre (Milan), in collaboration with the Arsenale Theatre Company, which has a very deep interest in contemporary scientific languages; \\((numberedlist)) “The universe as a creative lab: astronomy for artists”, a two-years long project in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera (Milan), addressed both to students and teachers of the Academy itself. \\In our contribution we will illustrate what works and what does not in our programmes, referring in particular to the biennial project “astronomy for artists”. In the past academic year, in fact, the course for artists was divided into two phases. First, the artists attended some astronomical | |
