The International Year of Astronomy 2009

1. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 Science Mission Directorate Preliminary Planning Hashima Hasan, IYA Point of Contact NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate Denise Smith Space Telescope Science Institute Mary Dussault Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Marilyn Lindstrom and Doris Daou NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate Leslie Lowes Jet Propulsion Laboratory

2. Why We’re Interested • NASA’s current and future missions and research programs build on Galileo’s legacy of observation and discovery • IAU goals dovetail with NASA goals for education, and provide an opportunity to: • Strengthen existing interest in and use of education products and programs • Engage new audiences, partners, and traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities in education opportunities • Increase the connectivity and impact of our education portfolio • We can have a larger impact by working together

3. Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Contributions to the IYA • The science and technology, scientists and engineers, and facilities associated with SMD earth and space science missions and research programs • Experienced education and public outreach (E/PO) professionals that bridge the science and education communities, including both research and practice • A coordinated portfolio of SMD E/PO products, programs, and networks with national reach, including more than 5,000 events reaching millions of participants.

4. Initial Planning for the IYA 2009 • Community meetings held in 2006 with SMD education and public outreach (E/PO) program leads to define: • Preliminary goals and themes for SMD participation • Preliminary organization of SMD E/PO activities • Key points of contacts (POC) in place: • Hashima Hasan, NASA POC for IYA, and SMD Astrophysics Division E/PO Lead • Marilyn Lindstrom, SMD Planetary Science Division E/PO Lead • Doris Daou, SMD support for IYA • Denise Smith (STScI), Mary Dussault (CfA), and Leslie Lowes (JPL), SMD mission/research program E/PO coordination

5. What We Hope to Achieve From the perspective of the SMD E/PO community, an International Year of Astronomy provides an occasion to: • Bring modern science back into the cultural sphere, connecting history, culture, and science to convey the human and multidisciplinary aspects of science • Unify ground-based and space-based astronomy/planetary science for the public • Highlight the relationship between technology and discovery • Convey past, present, and future NASA contributions to the field • Share the benefits of exploring the solar system and the universe beyond • Draw public and government attention to astronomy/planetary science • Work together as a focused & unified community E/PO Community Meeting Outcomes

6. Making it Happen The approach includes: • Programs for a wide variety of audiences from diverse backgrounds • A collaborative infrastructure for organizing and evaluating efforts • Culminating event(s) and mechanisms to sustain public interest The SMD E/PO community envisions a multi-pronged approach that draws on an underlying philosophy of authentic partnerships between scientists and educators. E/PO Community Meeting Outcomes

7. Desired Outcomes • Authentic citizen observations for a significant fraction of the population, including the use of actual NASA data • Increased scientific literacy, including an awareness of the role of astronomy and planetary science • Increased interest in and support for science and science education • Increased awareness of astronomy and space science concepts, including common misconceptions • New connections and relationships that enable better coordination across and beyond NASA Through a coherent portfolio of thematic products and programs, we hope to achieve: E/PO Community Meeting Outcomes

8. Preliminary Planning: SMD E/PO Portfolio for IYA Coordinated professional development for educators based on key themes in national education standards Astrophysics E/PO Meeting Outcomes

9. Preliminary Planning: SMD E/PO Portfolio for IYA • Multimedia presentations • Planetarium trailers • Cart programs • Short floor activities • Scientist interviews Resources for the informal science education community E/PO Community Meeting Outcomes

10. Preliminary Planning: SMD E/PO Portfolio for IYA Authentic observing and data experiences for students, educators, and the public • Star parties • Online telescopes • Multiwavelength observing experiences • Data archives • Analyzing a small patch of the sky E/PO Community Meeting Outcomes

11. Maximizing the Impact • Professional organizations • Formal and informal science education networks • Broadcasters • Universities • Commercial companies We can maximize and sustain the impact of our activities by coordinating efforts with organizations and networks: E/PO Community Meeting Outcomes

12. Acknowledgements & Contacts Initial plans for SMD participation in the International Year of Astronomy stem from planning meetings held in Boston and Pasadena in 2006. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all involved: Astrophysics Division Community Meeting Co-Leads: • Mary Dussault, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics • Denise Smith, Space Telescope Science Institute Participants: • Beth Barbier, Goddard Space Flight Center • Lindsey Bartolone, Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum • Michael Bennett, Astronomical Society of the Pacific • Matt Bobrowsky, Space Telescope Science Institute • Cathy Clemens, Museum of Science • Lynn Cominsky, Sonoma State University • Larry Cooper, NASA Headquarters, Science Mission Directorate • Nahide Craig, University of California-Berkeley • Doris Daou, NASA Headquarters, Science Mission Directorate • Edna DeVore, SETI Institute • Bonnie Eisenhamer, Space Telescope Science Institute • Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science • Roy Gould, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics • Michael Greene, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Pamela Harman, SETI Institute • Hashima Hasan, NASA Headquarters, Science Mission Directorate • Anita Krishnamurthi, Goddard Space Flight Center • Kathy Lestition, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory • Jim Lochner, Goddard Space Flight Center • Jim Manning, Space Telescope Science Institute • Bryan Mendez, University of California-Berkeley • Phil Plait, Sonoma State University • Shannon Range, Stanford University • Erika Reinfeld, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics • Carole Rest, Space Telescope Science Institute • Frank Sienkiewicz, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics • Sarah Silva, Sonoma State University • Simon Steel, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics • John Stoke, Space Telescope Science Institute • Michelle Thaller, Spitzer Science Center • Bill Waller, Museum of Science

13. Acknowledgements & Contacts Initial plans for SMD participation in the International Year of Astronomy stem from planning meetings held in Boston and Pasadena in 2006. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all involved: Planetary Science Division Community Meeting Lead: • Leslie Lowes, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Participants: • Shari Asplund, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Rosalie Betrue, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Carla Bitter, University of Arizona • Erik Conway, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Kay Ferrari, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Eddie Gonzales, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Art Hammon, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Judy Martin, Center for Educational Technology • Shannon McConnell, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Michael Pence, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Maura Rountree-Brown, consultant • Stephanie Shipp, Lunar and Planetary Institute • Denise Smith, Space Telescope Science Institute • Anita Sohus, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Stephanie Stockman, GSFC/SSAI • Wendy Taylor, Arizona State University • Kay Tobola, Johnson Space Center • Rita Torres, Jet Propulsion Laboratory • Joe Wise, New Roads School Contacts: Hashima Hasan, hhasan@nasa.gov, NASA POC Marilyn Lindstrom, marilyn.lindstrom-1@nasa.gov Doris Daou, Doris.Daou-1@nasa.gov Denise Smith, dsmith@stsci.edu Mary Dussault, mdussault@cfa.harvard.edu Leslie Lowes, Leslie.L.Lowes@jpl.nasa.gov The Universe:Yours to Discover