IYA2009/Mani Bhaumik Prize for Excellence in Astronomy Education and Public Outreach

 

Throughout 2009, thousands of astronomy education and public outreach events are taking place in all countries and organisations participating in the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). These events, and the many professionals, amateurs and volunteers that are organising and implementing them are assisting in fulfilling the goals and objectives of IYA2009, helping to make it the most successful astronomy communication project ever undertaken.

It is impossible to acknowledge all the activities that took place and all those who made them possible. But, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Mani Bhaumik, IYA2009 Patron, we now have the opportunity to reward some of the most interesting IYA2009 projects and activities through the IYA2009 Prize for Excellence in Astronomy Education and Public Outreach

Objective: Promote public understanding of science and astronomy.

Description: The Prize will reward a person, project, organisation, or institution which in 2009 has made a major contribution toward improving the public awareness of astronomy, and stimulating the use of astronomy for the promotion of scientific education and culture at large.

Prize: The total sum awarded is 6500 Euros divided in 3 prizes: a winner (3500 Euros) and 2 runner-ups (1500 Euros each), accompanied by a certificate.

Eligibility: Eligible are individuals or teams of astronomers, amateur astronomers, enthusiasts, communicators, educators  and any others who have made an outstanding contribution to education and/or public communication of astronomy via any medium or activity, during IYA2009. Works in any of the languages of the National Nodes will be considered. However, a report in English (maximum five pages) of the work must be submitted.

Applications:  Individual applications must be submitted to the relevant IYA2009 National or Organisational Node who will do a first screening and select only one entry to submit to the IYA2009 Secretariat via the form below.

The submission form must be written in English and should be sent to the IYA2009 Secretariat (iya2009@eso.org) before 15 January 2010.

Any projects submitted after this date will not be considered.

Selection of a winner: A selection committee will be set up to judge the projects submitted and to establish a list of finalists. This committee will be composed of two members of the IYA2009/IAU EC WG, Dr. Mani Bhaumik or someone appointed by him, and a renowned science communicator/scientist; it will select its own chair.

A winner and 2 runner ups will be selected. Further awards or recognitions will be made at the discretion of the jury.

The winners will be chosen according to all or some of the following criteria:

Evaluation criteria applicable to IYA2009/Mani Bhaumik Prize for Excellence in Astronomy Education and Public Outreach

 Quality

 Relevance and impact

 International added value
  • Adequacy, competence and innovativeness of the means invested in the activity

 

  • Accuracy, appropriateness and soundness of the scientific content

 

  • Evaluation strategy, implementation and results

 

  • Cost-effectiveness
  • Effectiveness of the activity in raising the profile of astronomy, seen through the eyes of the intended publics, including promotion of the event and production of resources

 

  • Capability of the project to address the IYA2009 goals and objectives

 

  • Legacy
  • Capability of the project, activity or event to offer a model for its transposition into different cultural backgrounds

 

  • Capability of the project, activity or event to open new lines of thought and trigger subsequent initiatives in a wider context

 

 

Evaluation scores will be awarded for each of the criteria, and not for the sub-criteria. The sub-criteria are issues which the expert should consider in the assessment of that criterion.

Each criterion will be scored out of 5. Half marks can be given.

The scores indicate the following with respect to the criterion under examination:

  1. The proposal fails to address the criterion under examination or cannot be judged due to missing or incomplete information
  2. Very poor. The criterion is addressed in a cursory and unsatisfactory manner.
  3. Poor. There are serious inherent weaknesses in relation to the criterion in question.
  4. Fair. While the proposal broadly addresses the criterion, there are significant weaknesses that would need correcting.
  5. Good. The proposal addresses the criterion well, although certain improvements are possible.
  6. Excellent. The proposal successfully addresses all relevant aspects of the criterion in question. Any shortcomings are minor.

 

Announcement of the award: The winner and the runner ups of the award will be contacted by the end of January 2010. Following this, a press release announcing the names of the recipients will be distributed among the worldwide media, with particular emphasis on the media in the country in which they work. The prize(s) will be delivered to the winner(s) during the Conference Dinner at the Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2009 Conference in March 2010, in Cape Town, South Africa. The winner(s) will be invited to be present and give a talk on this occasion.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY IYA2009 NATIONAL OR ORGANISATIONAL NODES CAN SUBMIT PROJECTS

Please download the Submission Form here:

http://www.astronomy2009.org/static/resources/Prize_submission_form.doc

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.