Status of the International Year

1

• Status of the International Year
• of Astronomy 2009 in Belgium

R. Alvarez, ROB
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The IYA2009 Generalities

• Leading role of the IAU as a catalyst and
  coordinator initiator and international leader
  of IYA2009
• Goal global celebration of astronomy
• gt  The Universe, Yours to discover 
• UNESCO UN (Dec. 2007) endorsement
• Activities
• at all levels international ( cornerstone
  projects ), national, regional and local
• involvement of professional and amateur
  astronomers

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The IYA2009 Organisational structure

• 110 National Nodes
• 19 Organisational Nodes ESO, ESA, NASA, ASP,
  Europlanet, etc.
• Organisational Associates (financial support)
  ESO, AAS, INSU, Canadian Astronomical Society,
  Sterrenwacht Leiden, Society for Popular
  Astronomy, etc.

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The IYA2009 The SPoCs

• SPoC National Single Point of Contact
• Belgium R. Alvarez (lt Belgian National
  Committee for Astronomy)
• Role of the SPoCs
• Form an  IYA2009 National Organising Committee 
  
• (gt Belgian Steering Committee)
• Involve national professional societies and
  amateur astronomical societies
• Inform the public and the press about the planned
  activities
• Link between National Committee and IYA2009
  Secretariat

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The IYA2009 in Belgium The Steering Committee

• List of contacted persons
• Professional astronomers (through BNCA)
• Amateur astronomical societies (VVS, amateur
  clubs)
• Public observatories (Volksterrenwachten, Sivry,
  etc.)
• Science centers (Technopolis, Earth Explorer,
  Euro Space Center, Scientastic)
• Stakeholders promoting science (JCW, Jeunesses
  Scient.)
• Some space-related industries (VRI, Bruspace)
• Authorities (Belspo, Senate)
• gt 72 people in the mailing-list
• Steering Committee meetings 18/06/07, 12/09/07,
  05/12/07, 05/03/08

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The IYA2009 in Belgium Role of the Steering
Committee

• Meet each others and exchange ideas
• Share experiences, informations, facilities
• Endorse local activities
• Elaborate common/regional/national events
• Implement (when applicable) the cornerstone
  projects
• Discuss the promotional aspects (press releases,
  press conference, media partnership, etc.)

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Cornerstone projects IAU Global events (1/3)

• 100 Hours of Astronomy 24 hours of live
  webcasts, observing events, star gazing (might
  coincide with a Dark Sky Event) gt April 2nd
  April 5th (J. Marteleur)
• Galileoscope easy-to-assemble telescope that can
  be distributed by the millions (A. Van der
  Eecken, F. Bove)
• The Portal to the Universe global astronomy web
  portal
• Cosmic diary professional astronomers blogs gt
  1 candidate from Belgium Saskia Hekker (ROB)

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Cornerstone projects IAU Global events (2/3)

• From Earth to the Universe (outdoor) exhibit of
  astronomical images (C. Janssen)
• IAU/UNESCO Astronomy and World Heritage
  promotion of sites or landscape forms connected
  with astronomy
• She is an Astronomer promote gender equality (Y.
  Nazé P. Lampens)
• Universe awareness access to scientific culture
  for economically disadvantaged young children (S.
  Van Eck G. Van de Steene)

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Cornerstone projects IAU Global events (3/3)

• Dark Skies Awareness worldwide measurements of
  local dark skies, star parties, new lighting
  technologies, arts storytelling, etc. (F. Pas)
• Galileo Teacher Training Program create by 2012
  a world-wide network of certified Galileo
  Ambassadors, Master Teachers and Teachers (ESERO)
• Developing Astronomy Globally responds to the
  acknowledgement that astronomy needs to be
  developed in various countries that do not have
  strong astronomy communities

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The IYA2009 in Belgium Planned activities (1/3)

• Web-site (S. De Jonge - VVS) on-going
• Galileo Galilei drama (R. Boninsegna) 3 companies
  interested
• Foucault pendulum (A. Lausberg) no proper
  location
• Astronomy olympiad (S. De Jonge) Fl / Wa / Senate
• Special stamp edition (AL. Kochuyt) agreement
  from The Post
• IYA2009 ambassadors (JM. Mengeot) list of
  possible names
• Night of darkness (F. Pas) 2008 first common
  night FlWa
• Jongeren Ruimtevaart (L. De Bie) first contacts
  with ESA

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The IYA2009 in Belgium Planned activities (2/3)

• Astronomical city tour (S. De Jonge) Fl / Wa
• Ask for support (R. Alvarez) Belspo / Communities
• Special  Science Connection  (J. Cuypers)
  on-going
• Weekly astronomical files (R. Alvarez) on-going
• Astronomy kits for schools (R. Lenaerts) on-going
• Star gazing events (VVS, AEG, FFAAB) 3 dates vs
  111
• Talks (Y. Nazé) Wa (Liège, Mons, Namur,
  Charleroi) / Fl
• Travelling exhibition (F. Pas) need for support

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The IYA2009 in Belgium Planned activities (3/3)

• March 8 Women Day (Y. Nazé P. Lampens)
  on-going
• Implementation of UNAWE-Belgium (S. Van Eck)
  on-going
• Thematic events (R. Alvarez) Erfgoeddad-Patrimoine
  / Binche carnival / Printemps des Sciences /
  Marcolini
• Local projects (activity forms to fill in)
• Apollo-11 event at the Euro Space Center
• New ESO/ALMA planetarium show at ROB Planetarium
• New observatory in Neufchâteau
• Astro-Event 2009 in Oostende
• Talks and Rallye des Mathématiques at FUNDP
• Piano concert  The Planets  (Holst) at ROB
  Planetarium

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The IYA2009 in Belgium Communication plan

• Press releases
• December 2008 press release press conference
  gt list of activities, calendar of events
• During the year press releases related to
  national events
• Each actor is encouraged to promote its own
  activities
• Media partnership
• Contacts with VRT RTBF ( Tous sur Orbite )
  no answer (yet) Next step direct contact with TV
  program producer
• Media group Corelio (Vers lAvenir, Journal des
  enfants, Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard) very
  interested in establishing a strong partnership
  (astronomical files, calendar of events, special
  edition for schools, etc.)

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The IYA2009 in Belgium Next steps

• Implementation of events
• Working groups should keep working
• in order to provide a (not so) preliminary
  calendar of events
• Obtain the involvement of the authorities
  (Belspo, Senate, Communities)
• Communication
• Need for a strong improvement of the Belgian
  web-site  www.astronomy2009.be 
• First common Press release in December detailed
  agenda of activities
• Press conference in December, together with the
  Press Release

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The IYA2009 in Belgium Conclusions

• Interesting list of potential projects
• We need to make it really happen
• Enthousiastic response from the amateur community
• Today opportunity to inform and involve the
  professional community
• 2009 will come soon ...
• gt Ideas, projects, all kinds of involvement
  welcome!