Training and skill development for people who do astronomy outreach is important to our office. We share in this issue a number of opportunities to become better versed in sharing astronomy through a number of events, such as the Shaw-IAU Workshop, or to practise your skills, such as Proyecto ÁGORA. There are also a number of international outreach events, either at the beginning or end of their runs, with opportunities for involvement.
Lastly, our the first deadline for the Online Astronomy@Home Award is fast approaching — More information on how to be considered is included in this issue.
Wishing you clear skies and good health! Lina Canas & Izumi Hansen, on behalf of the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach (OAO) Team
1) Online Astronomy@Home Awards to Close Soon
The Online Astronomy@Home Awards will close to entries on 31 August 2020. These awards, created by the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, welcome applications for online projects in astronomy outreach that are responding to limitations caused by COVID-19. The second stage of submissions eligible for the awards ends on15 September 2020.
2) Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society Workshop
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is supporting the Dark and Quiet Skies for Science and Society workshop. Organised alongside the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of Spain, the virtual workshop will address mitigation of light pollution on research and human wellbeing. It will take place on 5-9 October 2020. Registration closes 30 September 2020.
The IAU Office of Astronomy for Education will host the Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education online this year. The workshop will be held on 6-9 October 2020 and is open to everyone in the astronomy education community.
The International Day of Light has released its 2020 report. The International Day of Light celebrates the many ways that light impacts earth, including how light impacts the science of astronomy. The OAO carried as part of our global outreach programmes for 2020 virtual campaigns on Dark Quiet Skies Awareness during the month of May.
The Global Space Opera (GSO) is accepting submissions from students around the world for their 2020 programme Energize. GSO brings together students from around the world to participate in a virtual, creative performance celebrating astronomy. Those who would like to participate should reach out to their country contact to see how they can best join in.
International Observe the Moon Night is an annual event that encourages people around the world to spend an evening observing the moon. This year’s event on 26 September 2020 encourages both virtual and physical meet-ups that adhere to local laws and safety guidelines.
The Network for Astronomy School Education is a multi-lingual teacher training programme in astronomy sponsored by the IAU. Training for specific countries have gone online and the NASE-Boxes online and other educational resources have become available. Teachers are strongly encouraged to implement outreach activities with their students in their local communities. Our NOCs from Togo and Senegal recently carried out NASE workshops in their countries.
More information on training and resources can be found here: www.naseprogram.org
Thank you to Beatriz García, Salma Sylla and Doh Koffi Addor and for sharing this information.
8) Proyecto ÁGORA
Proyecto ÁGORA is an initiative to bring astronomers into atypical places of learning, such as train stations, public squares or parks, to spontaneously speak about astronomy. The Spanish-English project is currently welcoming new participants.
Japanese:http://bit.ly/2xlNyCR
Translations are thanks to Akihiko Tomita, through the Astronomy Translation Network.
You can subscribe to the Japanese newsletter through the Japanese Amateur Astronomers Association (http://www.jaaa-astro.jp/jaaa-ml.html) or the Japanese Society for Education and Popularization of Astronomy (http://www.tenkyo.net/).
If you are interested in translating the IAU Outreach Newsletter into your language, please email public@oao.iau.org.
11) Contributions to the IAU Outreach Newsletter—looking forward to hearing from you in 2020
Here at the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach, we’re always looking for news about astronomical education and outreach events around the world. Please continue to share your stories with us in 2020! If you are organising large-scale events at a regional or international level, offering astronomy education or communication job positions, have any innovative projects or inspiring stories, looking for professional-amateur collaboration in astronomy, or have created any educational resources, let us know by sending an email to public@oao.iau.org.
You can send us your suggestions until the 4th (for issue #1) and the 17th (for issue #2) day of each month. We are looking forward to hearing from you.
