communicating astronomy with the public 2010 conference (cap2010) cape town, south africa 15-19...
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COMMUNICATING ASTRONOMY WITH THE PUBLIC 2010 CONFERENCE (CAP2010)
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA 15-19 MARCH 2010
ASTRONOMERS WITHOUT BORDERS: WILDWIDE CONNECTIONS THROUGH ASTRONOMY
BY
PROSPERY C. SIMPEMBA AND MIKE SIMMONS
OUTLINEAbout Astronomers Without Borders
MissionStructureProjects/activitiesNetworkingConclusion
Sunset over the Zambezi River,Zambia. AWB’s Time 4 work
ABOUT AWB
• Boundaries vanish when we look skyward .
• We all share the same sky.• AWB is people meeting among
the heavens.• The heavens transcend political,
ethnic and religious differences.• Connecting and sharing
knowledge and resources.• Astronomy communication
MISSIONTo overcome earthly differences in culture, nationality or religion through the universal appeal of astronomy.
STRUCTURE
Officers: President, SecretaryBoard of trusteesBoard of advisorsRegional CoordinatorsNational CoordinatorsAffiliate associations clubs
PROJECTS: IYA & BEYOND Take part in GAM: April 2010Professional, amateur astronomers, Educators, COMMUNICATORS, all astronomy enthusiasts, SPoCs
online interactive events during GAMsharing the excitement with others around the globeSaturn Watch :Saturn's rings are back!Is There Anybody Out There? - 7th April 00.00 UT Beauty Without Borders - Saturn for All Bring back the Milkway, one star at a time Write Your Name in the Sky
WriteYour Nameinthesky
CALL FOR IAU ENDORSEMENT OF GAM
CALL FOR AWB NATIONAL COORDINATORS
100 Hours of AstronomyA 100-hour, round-the-clock, round-the-globe event, including
-24 hours of live webcasts from research observatories-Public observing events, star parties, and other activities
April 2-5, 2009
Chairs: Douglas Pierce-Price (ESO) and Mike Simmons (Astronomers without Borders)
www.100hoursofastronomy.org
ASTRO BOOK DRIVE
Astro Book Drives are currently running in, Mozambique, Rwanda, Ivory Coast and soon in Zambia and Tanzania.
improving Astronomy Education in Developing Countries.
IAU
- AstroBookDrive was launched in October 2009.- It was founded by Dr. John Clarke ( Boston University , USA ) and Thilina Heenatigala (Sri Lanka Astronomical Association)- Currently it's affiliated with EurAstro and AWB. AstroBookDrive projects so far: Mozambique Book Drive – Donations for MozAstro by Girl Scouts Troop in California .Rwanda Book Drive – Donations for Rwanda IYA2009 Organization by Australian IYA2009Jamaica Book Drive – Donations for Astronomical Association of Jamaica by Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Winnipeg )Côte d’Ivoire Book Drive – Donations for Ivoir’Astro by EurAstro OrganizationAfghanistan Book Drive – Donations for Afghanistan Astronomical Association by StarPals NetworkTanzania Book Drive – Donations for Tanzania by Greatert Portland Astronomical Society (Maine, USA)Zambia Book Drive: still looking for donations
Visit: http://astrodrive.lakdiva.net
AWB Web Site•Face book-like functionality with blogs and groups
• Sharing ideas and knowledge
• Video conferences
• Presentations
• Collaborative projects
• Platform for small or start-up programs with global project ideas
NETWORKING
CENTRAL ORGANIZATION
REGIONAL COORDINATORS
AFFILIATE ORGANISATIONS
AFRICA
EUROPEASIA
NORTH AMERICA
SOUTH AMERICA
NATIONAL COORDINATORS
NETWORKING RESULTS
Enhanced education on astronomy
large sector of society GET TO appreciate ASTRONOMY
PROMOTE Youth involvement IN THIS CARDINAL SCIENCE
HELP DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO ACCELERATE THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF ASTRONOMY
PROMOTE FEMALE PARTICIPATION AND BRIDGE THE GENDER GAP (MDG)
Croatia UK Netherlands Morocco
AUSTRALIA BOLIVIA ITALY SRI LANKA
We produce a monthly newsletter
Iran: Solar eclipse 1999 Star Party: Iran 2004 Astronomy SeminarZambia: 2009Iraq/Iran
CONCLUSION
AWB IS ABOUTConnecting people for the only one skySharing knowledge and resourcesCommunicating astronomy with the publicBuilding on the IYA momentum
SABC STUDIOCAP2010 Interview
(Photo credit: John Goldsmith, www.icrar.org)
REFERENCES
• 1. www.astronomerswithoutborders.org• 2. http://astrodrive.lakdiva.net