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BUILDING FROM IYA 2009 ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD: 2010 -2020

BUILDING FROM IYA 2009 ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD: 2010 -2020. George Miley, Leiden University. IAU Executive Committee Portfolio – Development and Education. Motivation for decadal strategic plan Why is astronomy important for development?

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BUILDING FROM IYA 2009 ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD: 2010 -2020

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  1. BUILDING FROM IYA 2009 ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD: 2010 -2020 George Miley, Leiden University IAU Executive CommitteePortfolio – Development and Education • Motivation for decadal strategic plan • Why is astronomy important for development? • Present state of world astronomy development • Present global astronomy development activities • IAU Draft Decadal Plan 2010 - 2020 • Vision and goals • Strategy • Implementation and funding

  2. MOTIVATION FOR DECADAL PLAN • Fostering astronomy in developing countries is important part of IAU mission • Educational activities of Commission 46 • IYA • Continue momentum of IYA and relevant cornerstone programs • The Universe- yours to discover • Rationalise coordinate and expand existing Commission 46 activities • Much achieved already with volunteers and relatively meager resources • Considerable potential for expansion • Exploit new opportunities in development and education • Internet, archives etc. • Prerequisite to external fund-raising • Needs credible plan with well-grounded justification

  3. ROAD TO STRATEGIC PLAN • 15 – 17 May 2007 • IAU EC decides to develop plan • 28 – 30 January 2008 • Brainstorm of stakeholders at IAU HQ • Reps of IAU and complementary global astronomy development programs • Rest of 2008 • Drafts and feedback • 7 April 2009 • Version approved by IAU EC • August 2009 • Resolutions of endorsement by IAU GA • Fostering astronomy in developing countries is important part of IAU mission • Access to knowledge about the Universe is birth right • Dissemination of astronomical knowledge is important task of IAU • Continue momentum of IYA and relevant cornerstone programs • The Universe- Yours to discover • Exploit new opportunities in development and education • Prerequisite to external fund-raising • Rationalise and coordinate diverse Commission 46 activities

  4. IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

  5. IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

  6. RATIONALE FOR ASTRONOMY TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS CULTURE AND SOCIETY SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

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

  8. STAGES OF ASTRONOMICAL RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTCountry classification – made together with John Hearnshaw • 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

  9. ASTRONOMY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENTPopulation (million) inhabiting countries in different development stages • 2/3 of world population inhabit countries with some developed astronomical research • Strong correlation with GDP (as to be expected) • Considerable disparity WITHIN some large countries

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

  11. GENERAL WORLD EDUCATION STATE Literacy etc • Considerable differencesbetween regions • Sub-Saharan Africa has most need for education

  12. PRESENT IAU GLOBAL ASTRONOMY ACTIVITIESDEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONCommission 46 (President: MagdaStavinschi)

  13. COMPLEMENTARY GLOBAL ASTRONOMY ACTIVITIES IN DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION • United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) • Planetaria and small telescopes to developing countries • Japanese Tripod/ODA Program • 7 telescopes, 20 planetaria to 22 developing nations • Robotic telescope network for education • Las Cumbres Observatory/ Faulkes Telescopes • Secondary Education • Hands-On Universe (HoU) (software and research projects) • Ages 11 - 18 • Primary Education – very young children • Universe Awareness (UNAWE) for very young disadvantaged children • Ages 4 – 10 • Talk by Carolina Ödman

  14. IAU STRATEGIC PLAN • Long-term vision • All countries participate at some level in astronomical research • Criteria of Group 1 and 2 countries • Astronomy developed or emerging • 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

  15. ELEMENTS OF PLAN • Integrated STRATEGIC PHASED approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • Mix dependant on stage of development • Coordination with complementary programs and amateur astronomer groups • Increase regional involvement • Better appreciation of special conditions and closer to the targets • Bottom-up approach • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Potential resources • ~ 10,000 IAU members (established professional astronomers) • Presently ~ 100 active • Postdocs and graduate students • Astronomy teachers, educational experts, outreach specialists • Amateur astronomers • Special role for expatriates

  16. ELEMENTS OF PLAN • Integrated STRATEGIC PHASED approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • Increase regional involvement • Better appreciation of special conditions and closer to the targets • Bottom-up approach • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Initiation of new programs • (Endowed) semi-popular lectureship program • Good lecturers • Inspirational topics of modern astrophysics • Long-term institute twinning • Developed institute provides expertise and advice • e.g. Building astronomy courses/ program at universities • At least 1 visit per year to developing department • Augmented by exchange program, if possible • 5-year commitment to guarantee sustainability • IAU would provide seed money

  17. ELEMENTS OF PLAN • Use IYA as springboard • Continue , rationalise and stimulate cornerstone projects • Developing science globally • Galileo teacher training program • UNAWE • She is an astronomer • Galileoscopes • Portal to the Universe • Other cornerstones where relevant • e.g. 100 hours of astronomy per year • Exploit IYA contacts • e.g. SPOCS, Organisational nodes

  18. ELEMENTS OF PLAN • Integrated STRATEGIC phased approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • Increase regional involvement • Better appreciation of special conditions and closer to the targets • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Initiation of new programs • Endowed semi-popular lectureship program • Institute twinning • Use IYA as springboard • Continue and stimulate relevant cornerstone projects • Exploit new possibilities • Internet • Robotic telescope networks • Archives of large astronomical facilities • Astro-buses

  19. TUNISIAN ASTRO-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 > 100,000 children! Idea could be exported to many countries

  20. ELEMENTS OF STRATEGIC PLAN • Integrated STRATEGIC phased approach • Education (primary, secondary, tertiary ), Research, Public outreach • Increase regional involvement • Enlarge number of active volunteers • Initiation of new programs • Use IYA as springboard • Continue and stimulate cornerstone projects • Exploit new possibilities • Internet • Robotic telescope networks • Archives of large astronomical facilities • Astro-buses • 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 • Location TBD (via AO)

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

  22. 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

  23. GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICE • TASKS INCLUDE: • Management coordination and evaluation of activities • Liaison with regional coordinators and nodes • Liaison with external organisations and programs • Administrative help and information • Pro-active coordination of fund raising • Organisation of oversight

  24. ANNUAL DIRECT COSTS

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

  26. HOW TO OBTAIN FUNDING? • ~ € 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

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

  28. CONCLUSIONS • IAU Strategic Plan will build on IYA success and continue IYA momentum • Astronomy can be important tool for sustainable international development • Considerable potential for expanding global astronomy development activities • Plan for substantial expansion during next decade, funding permitting • Funding feasible on the decadal timescale • Mutually beneficial to society AND astronomy • IYA > ICA THE INTERNATIONAL CENTURY FOR ASTRONOMY

  29. ADDITIONAL SP DISCUSSIONS DURING GA • Presentation and discussion of SP (SpS4) • Town hall meeting 7 August 12.45 – 13.45 • SpS4 10 August 11 am – 12.30 pm • NASL Lunch • 11 August 12 noon – 2 pm • Tickets from 10 am 7 Aug (IAU Office) • Closing Business Meeting • Resolutions of endorsement • Plan will be flexible and evolve in step with funding • http://www.iau.org/education/strategic_plan/ • Feedback miley@strw.leidenuniv.nl • Subject: “strategic plan”

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