Status of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 in Belgium

1. Status of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 in Belgium R. Alvarez, ROB

2. The IYA2009 Generalities • Leading role of the IAU as a catalyst and coordinator: initiator and international leader of IYA2009 • Goal: global celebration of astronomy => « The Universe, Yours to discover » • UNESCO & UN (Dec. 2007) endorsement • Activities: • at all levels: international (« cornerstone projects »), national, regional and local • involvement of professional and amateur astronomers

3. The IYA2009 Organisational structure • 110 National Nodes • 19 Organisational Nodes: ESO, ESA, NASA, ASP, Europlanet, etc. • Organisational Associates (financial support): ESO, AAS, INSU, Canadian Astronomical Society, Sterrenwacht Leiden, Society for Popular Astronomy, etc.

4. The IYA2009 The SPoCs • SPoC: National Single Point of Contact • Belgium: R. Alvarez (<= Belgian National Committee for Astronomy) • Role of the SPoCs: • Form an « IYA2009 National Organising Committee » (=> Belgian Steering Committee) • Involve national professional societies and amateur astronomical societies • Inform the public and the press about the planned activities • Link between National Committee and IYA2009 Secretariat

5. The IYA2009 in Belgium The Steering Committee • List of contacted persons: • Professional astronomers (through BNCA) • Amateur astronomical societies (VVS, amateur clubs) • Public observatories (Volksterrenwachten, Sivry, etc.) • Science centers (Technopolis, Earth Explorer, Euro Space Center, Scientastic) • Stakeholders promoting science (JCW, Jeunesses Scient.) • Some space-related industries (VRI, Bruspace) • Authorities (Belspo, Senate) • => 72 people in the mailing-list • Steering Committee meetings: 18/06/07, 12/09/07, 05/12/07, 05/03/08

6. The IYA2009 in Belgium Role of the Steering Committee • Meet each others and exchange ideas • Share experiences, informations, facilities • Endorse local activities • Elaborate common/regional/national events • Implement (when applicable) the cornerstone projects • Discuss the promotional aspects (press releases, press conference, media partnership, etc.)

7. Cornerstone projects IAU Global events (1/3) • 100 Hours of Astronomy: 24 hours of live webcasts, observing events, star gazing (might coincide with a “Dark Sky Event”) => April 2nd – April 5th(J. Marteleur) • Galileoscope: easy-to-assemble telescope that can be distributed by the millions (A. Van der Eecken, F. Bove) • The Portal to the Universe: global astronomy web portal • Cosmic diary: professional astronomers’ blogs => 1 candidate from Belgium: Saskia Hekker (ROB)

8. Cornerstone projects IAU Global events (2/3) • From Earth to the Universe: (outdoor) exhibit of astronomical images (C. Janssen) • IAU/UNESCO Astronomy and World Heritage: promotion of sites or landscape forms connected with astronomy • She is an Astronomer: promote gender equality (Y. Nazé & P. Lampens) • Universe awareness: access to scientific culture for economically disadvantaged young children (S. Van Eck & G. Van de Steene)

9. Cornerstone projects IAU Global events (3/3) • Dark Skies Awareness: worldwide measurements of local dark skies, star parties, new lighting technologies, arts & storytelling, etc. (F. Pas) • Galileo Teacher Training Program: create by 2012 a world-wide network of certified Galileo Ambassadors, Master Teachers and Teachers (ESERO) • Developing Astronomy Globally: responds to the acknowledgement that astronomy needs to be developed in various countries that do not have strong astronomy communities

10. The IYA2009 in Belgium Planned activities (1/3) • Web-site (S. De Jonge - VVS) on-going • Galileo Galilei drama (R. Boninsegna) 3 companies interested • Foucault pendulum (A. Lausberg) no proper location • Astronomy olympiad (S. De Jonge) Fl / Wa / Senate • Special stamp edition (AL. Kochuyt) agreement from The Post • IYA2009 ambassadors (JM. Mengeot) list of possible names • Night of darkness (F. Pas) 2008: first common night Fl+Wa • Jongeren & Ruimtevaart (L. De Bie) first contacts with ESA

11. The IYA2009 in Belgium Planned activities (2/3) • Astronomical city tour (S. De Jonge) Fl /Wa • Ask for support (R. Alvarez) Belspo /Communities • Special « Science Connection » (J. Cuypers) on-going • Weekly astronomical files (R. Alvarez) on-going • Astronomy kits for schools (R. Lenaerts) on-going • Star gazing events (VVS, AEG, FFAAB) 3 dates vs 1+1+1 • Talks (Y. Nazé) Wa (Liège, Mons, Namur, Charleroi) / Fl • Travelling exhibition (F. Pas) need for support

12. The IYA2009 in Belgium Planned activities (3/3) • March 8: Women Day (Y. Nazé & P. Lampens) on-going • Implementation of UNAWE-Belgium (S. Van Eck) on-going • Thematic events (R. Alvarez) Erfgoeddad-Patrimoine / Binche carnival / Printemps des Sciences / Marcolini • Local projects (activity forms to fill in) • Apollo-11 event at the Euro Space Center • New ESO/ALMA planetarium show at ROB Planetarium • New observatory in Neufchâteau • Astro-Event 2009 in Oostende • Talks and Rallye des Mathématiques at FUNDP • Piano concert « The Planets » (Holst) at ROB Planetarium

13. The IYA2009 in Belgium Communication plan • Press releases: • December 2008: press release & press conference => list of activities, calendar of events • During the year: press releases related to national events • Each actor is encouraged to promote its own activities • Media partnership • Contacts with VRT & RTBF (« Tous sur Orbite »): no answer (yet) Next step: direct contact with TV program producer • Media group Corelio (Vers l’Avenir, Journal des enfants, Het Nieuwsblad, De Standaard) very interested in establishing a strong partnership (astronomical files, calendar of events, special edition for schools, etc.)

14. The IYA2009 in Belgium Next steps • Implementation of events • Working groups should keep working… • … in order to provide a (not so) preliminary calendar of events • Obtain the involvement of the authorities (Belspo, Senate, Communities) • Communication • Need for a strong improvement of the Belgian web-site « www.astronomy2009.be » • First common Press release in December : detailed agenda of activities • Press conference in December, together with the Press Release

15. The IYA2009 in Belgium Conclusions • Interesting list of potential projects • We need to make it really happen • Enthousiastic response from the amateur community • Today: opportunity to inform and involve the professional community • 2009 will come soon ... => Ideas, projects, all kinds of involvement welcome!