Slide1 : The International Astronomical Union
Programs for supporting the
teaching of astronomy
in developing countries
Thailand and Laos
January 2007
John Hearnshaw
University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Chair of IAU Comm. 46
Program Group for
the Worldwide Development of Astronomy
Slide2 : Mt John location – where
are we? On the SW shore of
Lake Tekapo
Mackenzie basin
The geometrical centre
of the South Island
Latitude 43º 59.2' S
Longitude 170º 27.9' E
Altitude 1032 m
above sea level
Slide5 : The observatory from the air Mt John as seen from a hang-glider, looking north over Lake
Alexandrina. The 1-m telescope is in the foreground.
Slide6 : The McLellan 1-m reflector The McLellan telescope’s dome is 8 m
in diameter. The telescope was installed in 1986.
Slide7 : The McLellan
1-metre telescope Testing on campus 1985 After installation MJ 1986
Slide8 : MOAtel completed – October 2004
Slide9 : MOAtel – the telescope on
opening day, 1 December 2004
Slide10 : IAU: International Astronomical Union
Founded 1919
Head office/secretariat in Paris
Holds General Assemblies every three years
Sponsors other conferences:
regional meetings
symposia
colloquia Orion nebula
Slide11 : IAU members:
65 adhering countries (incl. Thailand from 2006)
about 9100 individual members
The adhering countries pay membership dues
from their national academies to the IAU,
depending on country size and number of
astronomers.
Individual membership is free, but restricted
to professional astronomers (normally about
3 years since PhD and active in research/teaching) spiral galaxy NGC 1232
Slide12 : IAU executive committee The committee comprises:
President: Catherine Cesarsky (France, ESO)
General Secretary: Karel van der Hucht (Netherlands)
President-elect: Robert Williams (USA)
Assistant general secretary: Ian Corbett
(Germany, ESO)
Six vice presidents (from Brazil, China, Netherlands,
Italy, South Africa, USA)
Two advisors (from Australia and Norway) north polar star trails
Slide13 : The IAU has 12 Scientific Divisions:
Division I: Fundamental Astronomy
Division II: Sun and Heliosphere
Division III: Planetary Systems Sciences
Division IV: Stars
Division V: Variable Stars
Division VI: Interstellar Matter
Division VII: Galactic System
Division VIII: Galaxies and the Universe
Division IX: Optical and Infrared Techniques
Division X: Radio Astronomy
Division XI: Space and High Energy Astrophysics
Division XII: Union-Wide Activities IAU Divisions Mt John Observatory, New Zealand
1-metre telescope
Slide14 : Commissions and working
groups (or program groups) The IAU has 37 specialized commissions.
Several commissions are grouped together
in each Division.
Each covers one particular branch of astronomy
The commissions may have working groups or
program groups responsible for particular tasks
within that branch of astronomy. 60-cm telescope at Mt John, New Zealand
Slide15 : IAU Commission 46:
Astronomy Education
and Development Commision 46 is within Division XII for Union-
wide matters.
Comm. 46 president: Magda Stavinschi (Romania)
Commission 46 has nine program groups
World-wide Development of Astronomy (WWDA)
Teaching Astronomy for Development (TAD)
Collaborative programs (CP)
International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA)
Exchange of Astronomers (EA)
Exchange of books and journals (EBJ)
Newsletter
Public education during solar eclipses
National liaisons infrared image of
the Galactic centre (ESO)
Slide16 : Some IAU Comm. 46 officers, at General Assembly in Sydney, Australia, in July 2003. Left to right: J. Fierro (Mexico), J. Pasachoff (USA), S. Isobe (Japan), J. Percy (Canada), D. McNally (UK)
Slide17 : The Program Group for the
World-wide Development
of Astronomy PGWWDA chairperson: John Hearnshaw (New
Zealand)
PGWWDA identifies countries with the potential
to develop astronomy education and research.
PGWWDA visits countries interested in increasing
contact with IAU and reports back to IAU EC and
to Commission 46 president
PGWWDA will encourage follow up with work
of TAD, ISYA, EA Milky Way in infrared at 12, 25
and 60 μm with IRAS satellite
Slide18 : 30 Doradus nebula in LMC Program Group Teaching
Astronomy for Development TAD chairpersons: Larry Marschall & Ed Guinan (USA)
TAD assists developing countries with astronomy
education and research at university level
TAD sends visiting lecturers, and provides
travel funds for graduate students and visiting
scientists
During 2000-2006 TAD was active in Central
America, Vietnam, Morocco, Philippines,
Nigeria
TAD is planning support for Vietnam, Mongolia,
Nicaragua, Philippines from 2007 Pleiades star cluster
Slide19 : Program Group:
The International School
for Young Astronomers (ISYA) ISYA chairperson: Michele Gerbaldi (France)
Each school brings together some dozens (30-40;
> 33% foreign) of astronomy graduate students
(MSc, PhD level) for lectures and practical work
Language used is English
Recent ISYA held in Cuba (1989), Malaysia (1990),
Morocco (1990, 2004), China (1992), India (1994),
Egypt (1994), Brazil (1995), Iran (1997), Romania
(1999), Thailand (2001), Argentina (2002),
Mexico (2005), Malaysia (March 2007) Trifid nebula, M20 globular cluster, 47 Tuc
Slide20 : Program Group for the
Exchange of Astronomers (EA) EA chairpersons: John Percy (Canada),
Kam Ching Leung (USA)
EA awards air fares for visiting astronomers
to work in other countries for visits of at least
3 months
EA does not pay living costs
EA has recently supported exchanges for
astronomers from India, Korea, Nigeria, Egypt,
San Salvador, Argentina, Russia, Australia etc.
Recent host countries have been China, USA,
Mexico, Canada, India, several European
countries spiral galaxy in Andromeda, M31
Slide21 : The importance of astronomy
education (courtesy of Fraknoi and Percy) Astronomy education is important because:
Astronomy has influenced our history and culture
through its practical applications and its
philosophical and religious implications.
Astronomy has practical applications to navigation,
timekeeping, calendars, climate.
Astronomy has advanced mathematics, science
and technology.
Astronomy deals with our place in time and space;
with cosmic roots, and the origins of Earth and life.
Astronomy reveals a vast, varied and beautiful
universe.
Slide22 : The importance of astronomy education (continued) Astronomy harnesses curiosity, imagination and a
sense of shared exploration and discovery.
Astronomy is the ultimate interdisciplinary subject.
Astronomy attracts young people to science and
technology and can promote public understanding
of science.
Astronomy (unlike many sciences) can be enjoyed
as a hobby.
Astronomy puts our planet into perspective – especially
issues of the environment and overpopulation.
Astronomy education promotes an awareness of the
history of ideas in science. 1.8-m Japan-NZ alt-az
telescope at Mt John, NZ
Slide23 : The Astronomy Education Review is an electronic
journal/website that provides a meeting place for all
who are engaged in astronomy and space science
education, in either formal or informal settings.
Other astronomy links
for astronomy teachers Astronomy Education Review
(http://aer.noao.edu)
Slide24 : United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
(http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/)
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
(UNOOSA) is the United Nations office responsible
for promoting international cooperation in the
peaceful uses of outer space.
Assists developing countries in space technology
and development.
Head office in Vienna, Austria United Nations Office
for Outer Space Affairs
Slide25 : Astronomical Society
of the Pacific http://www.astrosociety.org
Founded 1899
Head office in San Francisco
Supplies many educational
maerials to teachers (slides, CDs, video tapes,
posters) from Astroshop
Publishes Mercury magazine
Publishes many IAU publications, including
IAU symposia, IAU Transactions
Slide26 : Astronomy picture of the day Astronomy picture of the day
(http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html)
Website with excellent new pictures every day
Many pictures from NASA, and
Hubble Space Telescope
Every picture has a brief explanation
Ideal resource for teachers and educators
Rosette nebula, NGC 2237
Slide27 : Hubble Space
Telescope website http://hubblesite.org/
Latest news, picture gallery and discoveries
from the Hubble Space Telescope
Slide28 : Amazing space website http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/
Hubble website run by Space Telescope Science
Institute
The Formal Education Group of the Space
Telescope Science Institute's Office of Public
Outreach
Promotes the science and majestic beauty of the
universe for use in the classroom Hubble Space telescope deep field: about 1500
galaxies to mag. ~30, some over 1010 yr old.
Exposure time 10 days
Slide29 : THE END η Car Horsehead
nebula Crab
nebula M51 Trifid nebula