IYA2009 Updates

Voyage to the Heart Of Matter

24 November 2010

In this unique collaboration between CERN and renowned paper engineer Anton Radevsky, 7000 tonnes of metal, glass, plastic, cables and computer chips leap from the page in miniature pop­up, to tell the story of CERN's quest to understand the birth of the universe. Protons, travelling at nearly the speed of light, collide within the heart of the ATLAS detector, sending out showers of debris to recreate 40 million times a second the conditions that existed millionths of a second after the Big Bang, the event that set our universe in motion. Now all ages can join the ATLAS experiment on this fascinating journey to the beginnings of the universe in this astonishing pop­up book.

ANTON RADEVSKY is a pop­up engineer and illustrator and lives in Sofia, Bulgaria. His previous books include The Modern Architecture Pop­Up Book, The Pop­Up Book Of Space Craft and The Wild West Pop­Up Book.

John Dobson Inaugurates Living Legend Series

23 November 2010

John Dobson, popularizer of the widely-used Dobsonian telescope design that now bears his name, was interviewed in the first episode of a new series of webcasts, Astronomers Without Borders' Living Legend Series on Saturday, November 13.

Save the Dates: April 2011 is Global Astronomy Month

23 November 2010

April 2011 will again be a busy month for amateur and professional astronomers, educators and astronomy enthusiasts as Global Astronomy Month (GAM) returns for its second edition. The annual event, organized by Astronomers Without Borders, celebrates the Universe in the spirit of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 cornerstone project ”100 Hours of Astronomy.”

Astronomy clubs, science centers, schools, educators, and other astronomy enthusiasts worldwide are invited to reserve dates in April 2011 for public outreach, hands-on activities, observing sessions and more while sharing the enthusiasm with others across the globe during Global Astronomy Month. Everyone is invited either to join the global programs or initiate their own activities during April 2011.

This is the second edition of GAM, after its launch last year, when Astronomers Without Borders (AWB) coordinated seven global events dedicated to remote observing, fighting light pollution, world peace, observations of the sky and cultural manifestations, as well as encouraging the organization of local events.

A growing list of global programs are scheduled for GAM 2011. The month kicks off with the lord of the rings on April 2/3, designated as Saturn Watch. With the planet at its closest to Earth, it’s a perfect night to admire the unequaled beauty of the ringed planet. On April 9 the Global Star Party will unfold as darkness sweeps around the Earth. This is the night to set up your telescopes and share the wonders of the sky with others. From April 10 to 16 it’s Lunar Week as our gaze turns toward Earth’s natural satellite. Just as the Moon has captured our imagination for millennia, it never fails to fascinate with close-up views of its craters and mare. Educational and cultural events dedicated to the Moon are also planned. On April 17 we switch from night to day, dedicating ourselves to our closest star on SunDay. The month closes on a high point with a peak – of meteors. On April 21/22 get comfortable in something warm and spend the night scanning the sky for meteors caused by debris left behind by Comet Thatcher. An incredible show awaits during Lyrids Watch.

More programs are to come as GAM grows with every group of people that joins us in the celebration of the Universe. Among these are Remote Observing Programs and a Cosmic Concert.

If you need another reason to join us during Global Astronomy Month, try these:

• GAM lets your science center or astronomy club participate in an internationally recognized project;
• GAM provides several events to attract visitors to your institution or astronomy club;
• GAM allows you to connect with your local community, including public authorities and the media;
• GAM gives you the chance to inspire young people to look up and wonder. Show your commitment to educating young people.

”There’s something for everyone”, says Mike Simmons, President of Astronomers Without Borders. IYA2009 showed the way to involving more people than ever,” and GAM is riding that wave of excitement in the discovery of our Universe.”

Join the celebration in April 2011 as Global Astronomy Month brings together thousands of passionate individuals and hundreds of organizations worldwide to share their enthusiasm in innovative new ways, connecting people through a great sense of sharing the Universe! It’s a month of celebrating Astronomers Without Borders’ motto – One People, One Sky!

Save the dates – April 2011 is Global Astronomy Month.

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More information:

• Website: http://www.gam-awb.org
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/GAM_2011
• Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Astronomy-Month-2011/139709899412771

 Astronomers Without Borders

Astronomers Without Borders is dedicated to fostering understanding and goodwill across national and cultural boundaries by creating relationships through the universal appeal of astronomy. Astronomers Without Borders projects promote sharing, all through a common interest in something basic and universal – sharing the sky.

For further information please contact:

Mike Simmons

President, Astronomers Without Borders

Chair, GAM2011 Working Group

mikes@gam-awb.org

+1 818 486 7633

Thilina Heenatigala

GAM2011 Coordinator

thilina@gam-awb.org

+94 716 245 545

Oana Sandu

GAM2011 Public Relations Coordinator

oana@gam-awb.org

+40 724 024 625

Kalpaneya Yatre - Journey of Imaginations: a 10-day astronomy festival

22 November 2010

Kalpaneya Yatre (Journey of Imaginations), a 10-day astronomy festival, will take place  between26 November - 5th December, 2010 in Bangalore, India. The festival is a collaboration between astrophysicists, artist-designers, science-educators, amateur astronomers and science communicators from Bangalore.

More information: http://kalpaneyayatre.org/

Mexican IYA2009 SPoC Silvia Torres-Peimbert wins the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science

22 November 2010

The L'Oréal-UNESCO prizes "For Women in Science" are awarded each year, successively in different fields of science, to five women scientists of the five continents: Africa and Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America. 

The Latin American laureate of the 13th Annual L’Oréal-UNESCO 2011 "For Women in Science Awards" is Professor Emeritus Silvia Torres-Peimbert from the Institute of Astronomy, Mexico City University (UNAM), Mexico. She was awarded the prize for her work on the chemical composition of nebulae, which is fundamental to our understanding of the origin of the universe. 

A native of Mexico, Silvia Torres-Peimbert obtained her PhD at the University of California Berkeley, USA. She then became Professor in the Faculty of Sciences and the Institute of Astronomy at UNAM. Today she is Emeritus Professor and since 2009 has been Coordinator of Physical, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences at the university. She is a member of the American Astronomical Society, the Academy of Sciences of the Developing World, and is a past Vice-President of the International Astronomical Union. She is the IYA2009 Single Point of Contact for Mexico.

Beyond IYA2009 Updates

20 November 2010

Radio interview on "African Cultural Astronomy"
Heru-Ka Anu, host of Chapters, Verse and Volumes - Literary Review Program holds a discussion with Astrophysicist and author Jarita Holbrook about her book entitled: African Cultural Astronomy. More information:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/herukaanu

Springer provides free access to selected Journals in Astronomy: http://www.astronomy2009.org/news/updates/1093/

Space and Time II: A theatre play about astronomy
in Staastheater Darmstadt , Germany
26 - 27 November 2010
Based on the performance of "Space and Time" for the "International Year of Astronomy" in 2009, now cidadania comes back with higher interaction with the audience, through theater and dance. A play in english language about astronomy and society. The audience is led through the stage by actors and dancers, video projections and live music, in a mixture of both performance and installation, confronted to some of the big questions we wish to find a answer. more information: www.cidadania-darmstadt.info

A new blog on Astronomy Communication and Outreach
The new blog attempts to provide practical advices and insights on different topics of astronomy public outreach.
More information: http://astronomycommunication.wordpress.com/

MEARIM-II: the 2nd Middle-East and Africa Regional IAU Meeting
Cape Town Ritz Hotel, South Africa     April 10-15, 2011
More information:http://mearim2.saao.ac.za

A new blog on Astronomy Communication and Outreach

20 November 2010

The new blog attempts to provide practical advices and insights on different topics of astronomy public outreach.

More information: http://astronomycommunication.wordpress.com/

Radio interview on "African Cultural Astronomy"

20 November 2010

Space and Time II: A theatre play about astronomy

15 November 2010

in Staastheater Darmstadt , Germany
November 26th - 27th November 2010

Based on the performance of "Space and Time" for the "International Year of Astronomy" in 2009, now cidadania comes back with higher interaction with the audience, through theater and dance.

A play in english language about astronomy and society. The audience is led through the stage by actors and dancers, video projections and live music, in a mixture of both performance and installation, confronted to some of the big questions we wish to find a answer.

more: www.cidadania-darmstadt.info

"An unique cooperation between science and art“
Frankfurter Rundschau

"Now nothing is as it used to be in the Staatstheater”
Darmstädter Echo

Springer provides free access to selected Journals in Astronomy

15 November 2010

From now till November 30th, explore Springer publications for free.

Choose from the Journals below:

National Nodes: 148
Organisational Nodes: 40
Organisational Associates:33
National Websites: 111
Cornerstone Projects: 12
Special Task Groups: 11
Special Projects:16
Official Products:8
Media Partners:22

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