IAU Working Group onIAU Working Group onCommunicating AstronomyCommunicating Astronomy

with the Publicwith the Public

IAU Working Group onIAU Working Group onCommunicating AstronomyCommunicating Astronomy

with the Publicwith the Public

Ian RobsonIan RobsonIan RobsonIan Robson

InceptionInception

The Washington DC Meeting of 2002The Washington DC Meeting of 2002 which had specific charges as which had specific charges as outcomes of the meeting: outcomes of the meeting:

The ‘Washington Charter’The ‘Washington Charter’ The IAU Working GroupThe IAU Working Group

 IAU DIVISION XII Working Group

COMMUNICATING ASTRONOMY WITH THE PUBLICIt is the responsibility of every practising astronomer to play some role in explaining the interest and value of science to our real employers, the taxpayers of the world.

Mission statementTo 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.

Three of the barriers that are most often perceived are: first, many of us feel that we don't know very well how to communicate to the public and suspect we won't be very good at it;

second, most organizations that employ us do not regard communication and outreach as a real part of our "job descriptions",

and third, many organisations (especially outside the USA) have not yet integrated public communication in their structure with the necessary funding, infrastructure, personnel etc.

For the researchers, the time taken for public communication is not only not rewarded, it may well in effect punish the researcher if outreach is not counted as a merit like grants, refereed papers, etc.

ActivitiesActivities

Web-site Web-site www.communicatingastronomy.orgwww.communicatingastronomy.org

List of key people List of key people Promulgation of the Washington CharterPromulgation of the Washington Charter Links to sites/info/books – early daysLinks to sites/info/books – early days Organised CAP2005Organised CAP2005

Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

The DC meeting had specific charges and so The DC meeting had specific charges and so followed a workshop theme to explore these.followed a workshop theme to explore these.

This meeting seeks to consolidate and move This meeting seeks to consolidate and move forward by:forward by: sharing best practicesharing best practice exchanging information/lessons learnedexchanging information/lessons learned networkingnetworking providing skills workshop sessionsproviding skills workshop sessions

Your input is most welcome.....Your input is most welcome.....

Looking to obtain funding for help in doing the ‘day job’ Looking to obtain funding for help in doing the ‘day job’ – must be very careful not to tread on existing turf but to – must be very careful not to tread on existing turf but to act as facilitators and helpers.act as facilitators and helpers.

Prepare for IAU General Assembly 2006Prepare for IAU General Assembly 2006 ASP Meeting Tucson September 2005ASP Meeting Tucson September 2005 Need to work on CAP2007Need to work on CAP2007 Much more work to do on promulgating the WCMuch more work to do on promulgating the WC Must encourage and support those who wish to Must encourage and support those who wish to

undertake ‘outreach’ – raise the profileundertake ‘outreach’ – raise the profile Need to focus on bringing ‘best practice’ into the Need to focus on bringing ‘best practice’ into the

domain of those who will benefit and use the web as the domain of those who will benefit and use the web as the medium.medium.

Need to develop the web-base of material – specifically Need to develop the web-base of material – specifically the virtual repositorythe virtual repository

Develop email list of ‘supporters’ and regular updates of Develop email list of ‘supporters’ and regular updates of progress – please sign upprogress – please sign up