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IAU STRATEGIC PLAN “ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD ” BUILDING FROM IYA 2009

IAU STRATEGIC PLAN “ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD ” BUILDING FROM IYA 2009. GEORGE MILEY Leiden University. IAU Executive Committee. Why astronomy for capacity building? Present IAU activities - education and development Vision goals and strategy of plan

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IAU STRATEGIC PLAN “ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD ” BUILDING FROM IYA 2009

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  1. IAU STRATEGIC PLAN “ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD”BUILDING FROM IYA 2009 GEORGE MILEY Leiden University • IAU Executive Committee • Why astronomy for capacity building? • Present IAU activities - education and development • Vision goals and strategy of plan • Implementation and present status http://iau.org/static/education/strategicplan_091001.pdf

  2. WHY ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD?

  3. TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS

  4. TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

  5. ASTRONOMY AS SCIENCE • Inexpensive laboratories for studying laws of physics under extreme conditions: • Largest energies (~ 1061 erg). • Largest densities 1018 kg/m3. • Most tenuous vacuum • Largest sizes > 10 million light years • Frontier science do-able from anywhere in world

  6. TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS CULTURE AND SOCIETY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

  7. TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS CULTURE AND SOCIETY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

  8. HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE Everythingcame out of the Big Bang!!

  9. TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS CULTURE AND SOCIETY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

  10. TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS CULTURE AND SOCIETY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

  11. PRE-IYA IAU CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES Commission 46 (President: Rosa Ros)

  12. IAU COMMISSION 46 PROGRAM GROUPTEACHING FOR ASTRONOMY DEVELOPMENT (TAD)Present Co-Chairs Ed Guinan and Larry Marschall • Assist in development of astronomical education • Visits, development of courses, sponsoring of national schools • Oriented towards university education RECENT COUNTRIES TARGETED BY TAD TAD SCHOOL MONGOLIA 2008

  13. IAU CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES (PRE-IYA)Commission 46 (President: Rosa Ros) BUILDING RESEARCH CAPACITY

  14. NEW IAU CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES(Pre-University Education)

  15. NEW IAU CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES(Pre-University Education)

  16. ASTRONOMY EDUCATION PROGRAM WITH SOCIAL GOALSUNIVERSE AWARENESS Programme that Exposes DISADVANTAGED young children (4 – 10) to INSPIRATIONAL aspects of astronomy “UN-AWE” * Bottom-up network * ~ 500 dedicated multidisciplinary experts * in ~ 40 countries

  17. UNAWE - MOTIVATION • Ages 4 - 10 are crucial for child development • Beauty and size of the Universe excite young children • Gives perspective – stimulates tolerance and sense of world citezenship • Gateway to science and rational thought • Most need for economically disadvantaged children • Combat fanaticism "Fanatic ethnic, religious or national identifications are difficult to support when we see our planet as a fragile, blue crescent fading to become an inconspicuous point of light against the bastion and citadel of the stars. “ CARL SAGAN

  18. EARTH FROM SATURN (CASSINI) EARTH FROM SATURN (CASSINI)

  19. MOTIVATION FOR IAU DECADAL PLAN • Fostering astronomy in developing countries is important part of IAU mission • Continue momentum of IYA and relevant cornerstone programs • “Building from IYA 2009” • e.g. Developing astronomy globally • Plan for Astronomy Education and Outreach in Africa • Rationalise and coordinate diverse existing Commission 46 activities • Much achieved already with volunteers and relatively meager resources • 10,000 members + postdocs + PhD students etc. • Cannot be expanded further purely on voluntary basis • Exploit new opportunities in development and education • Prerequisite to external fund-raising

  20. IAU STRATEGIC PLAN • Long-term vision • All countries participate at some level in astronomical research • All children exposed to some knowledge about astronomy as part of their education • Goals for 2010 – 2020 • Raise the level of astronomy in as many countries as possible by one or more category, while maximising the size of the population affected. • Work to include aspects of astronomy in primary and secondary education of as many children as possible

  21. ELEMENTS OF PLAN - 1 • Integrated STRATEGIC PHASED approach (e.g. IYA Cornerstone “Developing astronomy globally) • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach

  22. ELEMENTS OF ASTRONOMY FOR DEVELOPMENT Excites Stimulates imagination Introduces science Gives perspective Inspires Gateway to sciences Stimulates career in science and engineering Most approachable science Wide interest Inexpensive entry to visible world-class research and cutting-edge technology Analytic skills Work in international teams Preparation for careers in technology & management

  23. STAGES OF ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT • Developed Group 1A • 4 IAU Members per million • Developed Group 1B • 0.5 - 4 IAU members per million • Participate in or host front-line facilities • Emerging Group 2 • 0.5 - 4 IAU members per million • Do not yet participate in or host front-line facilities • Developing Group 3 • Not yet national member of IAU, but > 1 individual IAU members • Potential developing Group 4 • No astronomers as yet, but well-developed tertiary education • Underdeveloped Group 5 • No astronomers. Tertiary education not yet well-developed

  24. STAGES OF ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT • Developed Group 1A • 4 IAU Members per million • Developed Group 1B • 0.5 - 4 IAU members per million • Participate in or host front-line facilities • Emerging Group 2 • 0.5 - 4 IAU members per million • Do not yet participate in or host front-line facilities • Developing Group 3 • Not yet national member of IAU, but > 1 individual IAU members • Potential developing Group 4 • No astronomers as yet, but well-developed tertiary education • Underdeveloped Group 5 • No astronomers. Tertiary education not yet well-developed TARGET FOR STIMULATING RESEARCH GROWTH TARGET FOR STIMULATING RESEARCH GROWTH TARGET FOR INITIATING RESEARCH GROUPS TARGET FOR STIMULATING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

  25. ELEMENTS OF PLAN - 2 • Integrated STRATEGIC PHASED approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • New Comm. 46 Program Group for primary and secondary education • Coordination with complementary programs and amateur astronomer groups • Increase regional involvement – Regional nodes • Better appreciation of special conditions and closer to the targets • Bottom-up approach

  26. ASTRONOMY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT • Considerable differences between regions • Sub-Saharan Africa is least developed No. of countries

  27. GENERAL WORLD EDUCATION STATE Literacy etc • Considerable differences between regions • Sub-Saharan Africa has most need for education

  28. ELEMENTS OF PLAN - 3 • Integrated STRATEGIC PHASED approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • New Comm. 46 Program Group for primary and secondary education • Coordination with complementary programs and amateur astronomer groups • Increase regional involvement – Regional nodes • Better appreciation of special conditions and closer to the targets • Bottom-up approach • Special attention to Sub-Saharan Africa • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Potential people resources • ~ 10,000 IAU members (established professional astronomers) • Postdocs and graduate students • Astronomy teachers, educational experts, outreach specialists • Amateur astronomers • Mobilize expatriates

  29. ELEMENTS OF PLAN - 4 • Integrated STRATEGIC phased approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • Increase regional involvement • Special attention to Sub-Saharan Africa • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Initiation of new programs • Endowed semi-popular lectureship program • Also astronomy-related technology • Long-term (sustainable) institute twinning • Use IYA as springboard • Continue and stimulate relevant cornerstone projects • e.g. Developing science globally, Teacher training, UNAWE, Galileoscopes • Build on IYA networks (SPOCS etc) • Exploit new possibilties • Internet • Archives of large astronomical facilities

  30. USEFUL EDUCATIONAL TOOLS – 1ASTRO-BUS • Innovative activity of La Cité des Sciences, Tunis. • Transports small telescope + mini-planetarium + exhibition. • Inspiring children throughout Tunisia, even in remotest villages. • During 2008 > reached 150,000 children! Idea could be exported to many countries

  31. USEFUL EDUCATIONAL TOOLS – 2

  32. USEFUL EDUCATIONAL TOOLS – 3 ROBOTIC TELESCOPE NETWORKS • Faulkes Telescope Project • Las Cumbres Observatory • For use by schools

  33. USEFUL EDUCATIONAL TOOLS – 4 Small telescopes and planetaria donated by Official Development Assistance (ODA) of JAPAN Astronomical Equipment (reflecting telescope and accessories) Planetarium • 7 telescopes, 20 planetaria to 22 developing nations

  34. ELEMENTS OF STRATEGIC PLAN - 5 • Integrated STRATEGIC phased approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • Increase regional involvement • Special attention to Sub-Saharan Africa • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Initiation of new programs • Use IYA as springboard • Continue and stimulate cornerstone projects • Exploit new possibilities • Internet • Archives of large astronomical facilities • Astro-buses • Galileoscopes • Robotic telescope networks • Creation of small professional IAU Global Development Office (2FTE) for coordination • Essential to facilitate expansion of activities, realise potential and demonstrate professional management for fund givers • e.g. IYA, UNAWE

  35. ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD SOME ELEMENTS OF DECADAL PLAN

  36. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN • Flexibly • In step with available funding • Establishment of GDO/OAD has priority • Fund-raising and coordination

  37. PRESENT STATUS • AO for Global Astronomy Office of Development • Letters of intent – 31 December 2009 • Overwhelming response: ~ 40 submitted • Proposals - 28 February 2010 • 20 submitted • Selection by IAU Executive Committee (10 people) May 2010 • Confidential independent ranking, telecon discussion • 2010 face-to-face meeting Baltimore :11 – 13 May • Recruitment of Director • Iteration of strategy • Announcement of opportunity for regional nodes • Fund raising for activities

  38. IAU BUDGET FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES 2007 - 2009 2010 - 2012 10% 17% € 144,000 annually

  39. IAU STRATEGIC PLAN “ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD” http://iau.org/static/education/strategicplan_091001.pdf • Long-term vision • Goals for 2010 – 2020 • Strategy • Build on IYA momentum and cornerstones • Integrated strategic phased approach • Increase regional involvement (bottom-up) • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Initiate new types of activity • Advance UN Millennium Goals • Exploit new tools and opportunities • Create small “Office for Astronomy Development” • Implementation roadmap • Fundraising possibilities Culture Technology INSPIRATION “Exploring the Universe for the benefit of humankind” Science

  40. ANNUAL DIRECT COSTS

  41. FUNDING ACTIVITIES • ~ € 1M per year needed for IAU programs and coordination • Larger amount (> € 10M) needed for complementary programs (primary, secondary education) • Ambitious but feasible goal for decade as whole • Small voluntary levy on astronomical projects and institutes in developed countries (~0.7%?) • (Voluntary?) “development levy on IAU membership dues • In-kind contributions from host institutes • International and national foundations • Multinational companies operating in developing countries • International and regional development agencies

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