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IYA2009 UK Update

IYA2009 UK Update. Ian Robson. Top-level organisation. Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) the lead organisation Initial seedcorn funding (£2k) approved Single Point of Contact agreed (self) Chair of the UK IYA2009 Working Group agreed (self) Report directly to RAS Council

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IYA2009 UK Update

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  1. IYA2009 UK Update Ian Robson

  2. Top-level organisation • Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) the lead organisation • Initial seedcorn funding (£2k) approved • Single Point of Contact agreed (self) • Chair of the UK IYA2009 Working Group agreed (self) • Report directly to RAS Council • Web-link established and user forum in place

  3. Kick-off Meeting • Kick-off meeting on October 6th 2006 • 13 organisations represented – ranging from amateur societies, education, museums, through to funding agency (PPARC). The ‘uniformed groups (scouts guides), the producers (professional astronomers and observatories) were not represented • Presented the ‘overview’ and requested organisations to consult with the managing bodies and grass-roots members and come back with ideas for UK events and ‘global’ events before Garching meeting today • Strong hint of financial support from PPARC for events – looking to see consolidation of ideas and themes.

  4. UK ideas • ‘MoonWeek 2009’ (National Astronomy Week) late March early April to: • Focus activity on observations of the Moon and Saturn • coincide with 400th anniversary of Thomas Harriott telescopic observations of the Moon in July 1609 – events, observations, • Family day-event and exhibiton etc at Syon House • A telescope in every secondary school – very ambitious and complex, two contrasting ideas currently – one needs prototyping • Card telescopes for museums/planateria/VCs • Magazines and cartoons for children

  5. Notes, questions and thoughts • Would there be a single focus (like Galileo) cf Einstein for Year of Physics? • Could we use the confusion between astronomy and astrology to our advantage? • 2009 is also Darwin year, which could be big competition within the UK • If we want a special postage stamp set we need to act very quickly • Must capitalise on the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing • The longest solar eclipse takes place (albeit in China) • Jupiter is not well placed in 2009, but Saturn is • Space should also be included in ‘astronomy’ • Use the current ‘Science Festivals’ and events and expand and re-focus • Local science festivals spring up and could be useful venues • Major ‘alternative events’ like Glastonbury should be considered as a potential audience • Alternative audiences, such as ‘proms’ at stately homes might also work as events, especially with Holst themes • National launch event must have something special as a hook for the media • Robotic telescopes should be in a much stronger position by then

  6. Next steps • Use this meeting as a springboard to energise the communities – next UK meeting is on March 14th • Have not yet involved the professional community – will tackle at the National Astronomy Meeting (April 16-20)

  7. Problems so far • Inertia – hard to ‘drive’ the organisations • Some of the organisations do not seem to have pushed the question down to their grass-roots – maybe timing? • The education side is going to be very difficult to crack

  8. Global ideas • 24-hours around the world via great observatories – TV spectacular featuring the icons (telescopes, spaceprobes and people) of astronomy, linked with expanded culture, science, technology for local consumption

  9. Observations • Interesting publicity just seen for the ‘polar year’ and IHY within the UK • Do we need a ‘Royal’ patron ? • Need to gear up feeding into CAP2007 – this could be a very good incentivising focus

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