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South African Astronomical Observatory / Southern African Large Telescope
SALT Collateral Benefits Programme
Kevin Govender: [email protected]
African Science Communication ConferenceSouth Africa, 2009
– International Year of Astronomy Worldwide– IYA in South Africa– IYA in Africa– Developing Astronomy Globally
Overview
Millennium Development Goals
• GOAL 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger• GOAL 2: Achieve universal primary education• GOAL 3: Promote gender equality and empower women• GOAL 4: Reduce child mortality• GOAL 5: Improve maternal health• GOAL 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases• GOAL 7: Ensure environmental sustainability• GOAL 8: Develop a global partnership for development
War (slide 1 of 2)
War (slide 2 of 2)
Religions (slide 1 of 2)
Religions (slide 2 of 2)
Fundamentalism (slide 1 of 2)
Fundamentalism (slide 2 of 2)
THINK
Vision
Celebration
To help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day and night time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery
A global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo.
International Year of Astronomy 2009
Goals
Increase scientific awareness.
Promote widespread access to new knowledge and observing experiences.
Empower astronomical communities in developing countries.
Support and improve formal and informal science education.
Provide a modern image of science and scientists.
Facilitate new networks and strengthen existing ones.
Improve the gender-balanced representation of scientists at all levels and promote greater involvement by underrepresented minorities in scientific and engineering careers.
Facilitate the preservation and protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage of dark skies and historical astronomical sites.
International Year of Astronomy 2009
Global Cornerstone Projects
www.developingastronomy.org
Astronomy for all
www.100hoursastronomy.org
An event 400 years in the making
www.fromearthtotheuniverse.org
The beauty of science
www.whc.unesco.org
Universal Treasures
www.darkskiesawareness.org
Seeing in the dark
www.galileoscope.org
Millions looking at the sky
www.portaltotheuniverse.org
A one-stop universe of news
www.cosmicdiary.org
The life of an astronomer
www.sheisanastronomer.org
Breaking down misconceptions
www.galileoteachers.org
Teaching the Teachers
www.unawe.org
One place in the universe
Global Cornerstone Projects vs IYA Goals
www.astronomy2009.org
137 National Nodes
95 National Websites
33 Organisational Nodes
11 Cornerstone Projects
11 Special Task Groups
9 Special Projects
Thousands of people actively involved!
IYA2009 National Steering Committee
–Mathoto Thaoge-Lefyedi (Dept of Science and Technology)
–Kim de Boer (Square Kilometre Array SA / Karoo Array Telescope)
–Marion West (Hartbeeshoek Radio Astronomy Observatory)
–Lorenzo Raynard (SA Agency for Science and Technology Advancement)
–Peter Martinez (Astronomical Society of SA / Space Science Community)
–Kevin Govender (SA Astronomical Observatory / Southern African Large Telescope)
–Astronomy outreach stakeholder meetings
–Survey of astronomy education and outreach
–AstroNet email list
–Website www.astronomy2009.org.za
–Consolidation of astronomical resources
–AstroGuide
–AstroCD
–“Essential Astronomy” Outreach Training Workshops
–Astronomy to-do list
–Calls for proposals
Roadmap of IYA2009 in SA
FUNDRAISIN
G
–Astronomy content at every science festival/event
–Regular star parties across the country
–Telescopes in public venues
–DOE approved astronomy resources distributed nationally
–Astronomy “outreach kit” in all science centres (with workshopped staff)
–(telescope, laser, guidelines, software, reference material, etc)
–Telescopes in most Dinaledi schools
–National science week astronomy focus (Launch in Northern Cape)
–Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2010 in Cape Town, SA
Future IYA2009 in SA…
Sutherland Star Party
IYA2009 Launch at Eclipse
Astronomy in Africa (and developing regions)
Astronomy for Development
• Education (especially Maths and Science)
• Development of Research
• Public Understanding of Science
• Development of Partnerships
• Astro-tourism
African Facilities
SALT / SAAO HESS
HartRAO / MeerKAT
Theme
Vision
Astronomy for Education
The continent of Africa, with an ever-growing astronomy research community, united in the fields of education and outreach, working together and sharing resources, such that the people of Africa are educated, especially in the fields of science, engineering and technology.
A Plan for Africa
Core Missions
• Enhance the teaching and interest in Maths and Science in schools
• Enhance the teaching and research in astronomy in universities
• Increase the awareness and knowledge of science amongst the public
• Support and encourage an African network
A Plan for Africa
Principles
• Encourage collaboration both nationally and internationally.
• Support and enhance rather than reinvent programmes.
• Ensure adequate monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance.
• Development and support of human resources
• Ensure sustainability at every stage
A Plan for Africa
A plan for Africa by Africa
1. Algeria2. Angola3. Congo (Brazzaville)4. Egypt5. Ethiopia6. Gabon7. Kenya8. Lesotho9. Malawi10.Mauritius11.Morocco12.Mozambique
13. Namibia14. Nigeria15. Rwanda16. South Africa17. Sudan 18. Swaziland19. Tanzania20. Tunisia21. Uganda22. Zambia23. Zimbabwe
Working Group for Astronomy in Africa25 volunteers
Astronomy in Africa Survey
• ProfessionalUniversities, Academics, Astronomical Facilities
• PublicOutreach programmes, Astronomy in media, Astronomy and science in general culture
• SchoolsEducation programmes, Astronomy in classroom, Maths and science challenges
Astronomy in Africa Survey
Professional Public Schools
Nigeria Phase 2 Phase 1 Phase 1
Tanzania Phase 3 Phase 2 Phase 3
Rwanda Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 3
South Africa Phase 1 Phase 1 Phase 1
Malawi Phase 3 Phase 3 Phase 3
Uganda Phase 3 Phase 3 Phase 3
Morocco Phase 2 Phase 2 Phase 2
Kenya Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 2
Gabon Phase 3 Phase 2 Phase 3
www.developingastronomy.org
Goals
• Use the momentum of IYA to stimulate the establishment and enhancement of regional structures/networks around the world that would focus on the development of astronomy.
• Ensure sufficient reach and benefit of IYA and other cornerstones to developing regions.
Developing Astronomy Globally
www.developingastronomy.org
Focus Areas
IYA Cornerstone 11: Developing Astronomy Globally
Developing Astronomy Globally
www.developingastronomy.org
1. Professional development: This will address tertiary education, research training and research infrastructure in order to build professional astronomy research capacity within the country.
2. Development of public understanding of astronomy: This will target the general public and take the form of activities and events that stimulate an interest in astronomy. This focus area includes the development of an amateur astronomy community.
3. School-level education development: This will address primary and secondary education. It will focus on taking astronomy to the classroom (e.g. GHOU) and beyond (e.g. younger children through UNAWE) to stimulate an interest in Mathematics and Science amongst young people.
Levels of Astronomy Development
IYA Cornerstone 11: Developing Astronomy Globally
Developing Astronomy Globally
www.developingastronomy.org
“Phase 1” countries would be well established countries with links to the IAU and functioning astronomy research and outreach communities.
“Phase 2” countries would have existing astronomy research and outreach communities but remain in need of support in order to get astronomy well established.
“Phase 3” countries would have a non-existent astronomy community but show strong potential in the form of physics/mathematics research and outreach communities who are willing to drive the development of astronomy.
“Phase 4” countries would have a non-existent astronomy community and would have limited potential for the development of such a community i.e. no research or outreach communities.
Regional Development
Regions: (from IAU Commission 46)
Region 1: North AmericaRegion 2: Latin America (including Central America and the Caribbean)Region 3: EuropeRegion 4: Middle East and North AfricaRegion 5: Sub-Saharan AfricaRegion 6: Central AsiaRegion 7: Far East and South-East AsiaRegion 8: Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand)
IYA Cornerstone 11: Developing Astronomy Globally
Developing Astronomy Globally
www.developingastronomy.org
Regional Development
IYA Cornerstone 11: Developing Astronomy Globally
Developing Astronomy Globally
www.developingastronomy.org
International Office: headed by the co-ordinator - FTE
8 Regional Hubs: this would usually be a group of people in the region who have links with the IAU and a relatively well established astronomy programme
Country Nodes: each country should have a team of people addressing the development of astronomy in their country – this team could be the same as the IYA national nodes
Email Networks and Communication Structures: there would be 3 main networks that one would communicate with through email discussion lists, telecons, skypecasts, meetings, etc.:
• Regional Hubs• Country Nodes• Open network of individuals interested in development of astronomy
IYA Cornerstone 11: Developing Astronomy Globally
Phase 1 countries (Well established)
Phase 2 countries (In need of Support)
Phase 3 countries (Non-existent with strong potential)
Phase 4 countries (Non-existent with limited potential)
Professional development
- use as regional hub
- Link with IAU network- Student/researcher exchange programmes co-ordinated by regional hubs
- Provide guidance on student and research opportunities internationally (with clause to return to home country)- Combine with IAU Commission 46’s TAD/ISYA/WWDA programmes
- High level discussions with government departments of Science and Education- Explore astronomy status in neighbouring countries and likelihood of collaborations
Development of public understanding of astronomy
- use as regional hub
- provide training for local “champions”- feed public info and stories to champions regularly- train facilitators to run public events- link with relevant cornerstones (e.g. 100 Hours)
- training workshop on “communicating astronomy to the public” (involve IAU Commission 55)- link with activities of region- provide resources for public outreach
- High level discussions with government department of Science- Explore potential in neighbouring countries and likelihood of collaborating
School-level education development
- use as regional hub
- provide training for local “champions”- provide education resources and networks (link with Galileo Teacher Training and UNAWE Cornerstones for IYA)
- training workshop on “astronomy in the classroom”- link with activities of region- provide educational resources- introduction of astronomy into the school curriculum
- High level discussions with government departments of Science and Education- Explore potential in neighbouring countries and likelihood of collaborating
Developing Astronomy Globally
www.developingastronomy.org
Astronomy in Africa (and developing regions)
