International Astronomical Youth Camp 2010 - call for applications

22 February 2010

Imagine spending three weeks of your summer in beautiful mountain scenery working with other students from all over the world on an astronomical project of your choice. The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a three-week long summer camp aiming to promote knowledge on astronomy and related sciences in an international atmosphere. Each year it takes place at a different European location, this year from 1 - 21 August in the small town of Klingenthal in the east of Germany, near the border of Czech Republic.

The IAYC is different from most astronomical camps for two reasons: the international character and the fact that you carry out your own small research project. You will not just accept facts, but you will discover them yourself or working together with other people. The IAYC is therefore not like staying in a hotel and following a summer school or an astronomy course.

As a participant you will explore astronomy related projects in one of the seven working groups - together with other young people. These projects are done in a working group of your choice and depend on your own interest. The working groups themselves will be led by young scientists and focus on a specific field in astronomy. The IAYC2010 will offer a wide range of working groups and topics, from practical astronomy and basic theoretical astronomy over simulations in astronomy and electronic-robotronic engineering to high energy astrophysics, astrochemistry and not-so-introductory physics. There will be something for everyone from the complete beginner to the ambitious student. This year the working groups are:

  • ALF - Astronomy and Life
    BAM - Basic Astronomy and More
    FLIPA - Fundamental Laws in Physics and Astronomy
    GM - Galactic Masses
    HoA - Hands on Astronomy
    iBot - IAYC Robotics Extravaganza
    SEXI - Superhot Emitters -- the X-ray Introduction

As well as the astronomical programme, there are many non-astronomical activities such as group games, sporting events, singing evenings, hiking tours and an excursion. Since it is an international camp, the camp language is English.

Anyone from 16 to 24 years old and able to communicate in English may participate in the IAYC 2010. The fee for accommodation, full board and the whole programme, including the excursion, will be 620 Euro. However, early applications arriving before 15 April 2010 receive a 30 EUR reduction, making the camp fee 590 EUR. For people interested in participating in the camp that are not able to pay the camp fee themselves, a limited number of grants are available.

For more details, application form, outlines of projects and pictures from previous camps please visit http://www.iayc.org/ or e-mail the info service: info@iayc.org

Organisational Associates:
ESO AAS INSU CAS STRW NOVA STFC SCNAT SPA NRC MEC CNES DLR ESA JAXA NAOJ APL PS ESF ISRO ICRAN NLSI NOT U Cluster NASAEAS ASI NRAO CEA  KASI EAE SPA AUI CROSCI


The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is endorsed by the United Nations and the International Council of Science.