Dear Colleagues,
The RAS has committed itself to support of the IAU Strategic Plan ‘Astronomy for the Developing World 2010 – 2020’, and has had useful meetings with Kevin Govender, Director of the S. Africa based ‘Global Office of Astronomy for Development’ (OAD – see below), which is spear-heading it. The Plan aims to use astronomy as a tool to stimulate development at primary, secondary and tertiary education as well as science research and the public understanding of science.
In the first instance the OAD is compiling a list of potential volunteers willing to contribute to capacity building activities viz
• Building Research Capacity and university education
# Schools for university students
# Long-term visits to institutes in developing countries
# Long-term institute twinning
# Inspirational lectures to students on astronomy and related technologies.
• Astronomy for Schools
# Teacher training courses
# Development and translation of educational material for children.
• Astronomy for the Public
# Inspirational semi-popular lectures on astronomy or related technologies
# Activities building on IYA2009 including stargazing and engagement with amateur groups
In addition to participation in the delivery or helping with the organization of activities there are several general areas in which volunteer assistance would be valuable, e.g. translation of the OAD website into other languages. The OAD is particularly interested in contacting expatriates from developing countries who are prepared to help carry out development activities in their countries of origin. Note that the strategic plan spans a ten-year period. Assessing the number of potential volunteers, will help the OAD to gauge the scale of possible activities, develop an effective organizational structure to run them and provide information for fund raising campaigns possibilities.
If you are willing to assist please complete the questionnaire at http://www.astronomyfordevelopment.org/index.php/volunteers.
In addition you can email info@astro4dev.org specifying as subject: “Call for Volunteers”
For its part, the RAS has set aside funds to facilitate visits, especially of younger UK based scientists, to developing institutions on projects approved by the OAD. We hope to announce details of the scheme in the near future. In addition, though separately from the OAD, we have helped the Afghanistan Astronomy Association to publish and distribute a primary school textbook in the 2 official languages, Dari and Pashto.
Regards
David Elliott
Executive Secretary
Royal Astronomical Society
Burlington House
Piccadilly
London W1J 0BQ
020 7734 3307
www.ras.org.uk
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The IAU Global Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD)
The IAU, in partnership with the South African National Research Foundation, recently established the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) at the SAAO in Cape Town, South Africa. The creation of the OAD is a significant milestone towards realising the decadal strategic plan “Astronomy for the Developing World, Building from the IYA2009″.
The vision for the OAD is simply expressed by its slogan “Astronomy for a better world.” It aims to use astronomy as a tool to stimulate development at all levels including primary, secondary and tertiary education, science research and the public understanding of science.
The OAD currently has two staff members and the search is underway for the third. We have issued a call for expressions of interest for institutions to host regional nodes, as well as a call for potential volunteers. Besides creating regional nodes, the OAD aims to set up three task forces to focus on (i) university education and research; (ii) young children and school education; and (iii) public outreach. In December 2011 a workshop will be held at the OAD for major stakeholders. The OAD will present its activities and an account of its progress at the IAU General Assembly in August 2012.