|
|
|
|
News
01.09.04 Working Group on Communicating Astronomy
An active Working Group on Communicating Astronomy (http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/)
with the Public is the first and probably most important creation
of the Division as a whole. The WG has been coordinating the writing
of a Washington Charter (http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/washington_charter/)
which says, essentially, that reporting back to voters and taxpayers
about what we are doing with their money and why is the responsibility
of every astronomer, not just education and public outreach officers.
The WG has received endorsements for the Charter from the professional
associations of astronomers in Canada, the UK, and Denmark and
from the Commission on Astrophysics of the International Astronomical
Union. Endorsement from the major American professional society
is expected soon. The WG is also involved in the organization
of a June, 2005 meeting on Communication to be held at ESO and
will be planning activities at the 2006 IAU GA in Prague. To see
the Washington Charter, go to http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/washington_charter
To learn more about the Working Group, and perhaps volunteer to
help with
its activities, go to http://www.communicatingastronomy.org
01.09.04 World Year of Physics activities for
2005
Another, and less happy, current activity is opposition to a plan
from the committee organizing the World Year of Physics activities
for 2005. They have proposed that a very large number of organizations
and individuals shine lights upward to "circle the world"
at a particular time. The contribution to light pollution from
this single activity would be small, but it would set an unfortunate
precedent, and Div. XII, along with the IAU Officers, the Astronomical
League, the International Dark Sky Association, and others, has
communicated its firm disapproval. The project has, as a result,
been somewhat modified. Go to http://www.wyp2005.at/glob1-light.htm
to see what is currently planned.
01.09.04 Launch of the web page of IAU Division XII -
Union-Wide Activities.
|
|
