IYA2009 Developing Astronomy Globally: Update

11 June 2009

In April 2009 the IAU and UNESCO provided funding to support IYA2009 related projects and activities in developing regions. A call for proposals was sent out to Single Points of Contact around the world via the Developing Astronomy Globally Cornerstone. The aim was to provide seed funding and basic support to stimulate astronomy activities in developing regions.

The response was overwhelming. There were 38 applicants who responded to this call. The selection committee waded through an impressive list of quality proposals that included astronomy education workshops for teachers, the recording and preservation of indigenous astronomy knowledge, the production of school astronomy education resources in local languages and many more.

Twelve proposals were selected from the following countries: Macedonia, Nepal, Uganda, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Gabon, Rwanda, Uruguay, Tajikistan. Selections were made based on project alignment with the IYA2009 goals, more specifically the Developing Astronomy Globally goals, and based on needs as indicated by the Global Astronomy Survey.

The Global Astronomy Survey is conducted under the Developing Astronomy Globally Cornerstone. It aims to gauge the status of astronomy activities in developing countries and act as a baseline with which to measure astronomy development in these countries into the future.

Further information on the Developing Astronomy Globally Cornerstone and on the Global Astronomy Survey can be found on the website www.developingastronomy.org.

 

Organisational Associates:
ESO AAS INSU CAS STRW NOVA STFC SCNAT SPA NRC MEC CNES DLR ESA JAXA NAOJ APL PS ESF ISRO ICRAN NLSI NOT U Cluster NASAEAS ASI NRAO CEA  KASI EAE SPA AUI CROSCI


The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is endorsed by the United Nations and the International Council of Science.