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

• 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

George Miley, Leiden University

IAU Executive CommitteePortfolio – Development and Education

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

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

TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS

SCIENCE AND

RESEARCH

CULTURE AND

SOCIETY

IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

ASTRONOMY

TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS

SCIENCE AND

RESEARCH

CULTURE AND

SOCIETY

IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

ASTRONOMY

OPTICS High-precision adaptive

optics

COMPUTERS Fastest hardware Complex software

ELECTRONICS Most sensitive

detectors Fastest clocks

SPACE Satellites Miniaturization

Precision

PHYSICS Laboratory of extremes

Making heavy

elements

CHEMISTRY

Producing organic

molecules

BIOLOGYBuilding blocks of

life

MATHEM-ATICS Abstract thought

INSPIRATION

Career in science and technology

ANTHRO-POLOGY

Ancient civilizations Our roots

HISTORYEvolution

of Universe Our roots PERSPECTIV

E IMMENSITY OF UNIVERSE Tolerance and

global citizenship

TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS

SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

CULTURE AND SOCIETY

RATIONALE FOR ASTRONOMY

ASTRONOMY AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ASTRONOMY

Primary Education

Secondary Education

Tertiary Education

Science public

outreach

Research

Excites Stimulates imagination

Introduces science

Inspires Gateway to sciences

Stimulates career in science and engineering

Analytic skillsWork in international teams

Preparation for careersin technology & management

Most approachable scienceWide interest

Inexpensive entry to visible world-class researchand cutting-edge technology

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

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

ASTRONOMY RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT

• Considerable differences between regions• Sub-Saharan Africa is least developed

No. of countries

GENERAL WORLD EDUCATION STATE

• Considerable differences between regions• Sub-Saharan Africa has most need for education

Literacy etc

PRESENT IAU GLOBAL ASTRONOMY ACTIVITIESDEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

Commission 46 (President: Magda Stavinschi)

PROGRAM GROUP

PURPOSE ACTIVITY CHAIR

World Wide Development of Astronomy (WWDA)

Initial contact with developing country

Visits

Scientific lectures

John Hearnshaw

Teaching for Astronomy Development (TAD)

Stimulate astronomy education at university level

Visits

National schools for undergraduates

Ed Guinan and Larry Marschall

International Schools for Young Astronomers (ISYA)

Stimulate young researchers in developing countries

Regional schools for graduate students

Jean-Pierre De Greve

Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE)(now being set up)

Stimulate teachers in developing countries

Develop and translate material for teachers.

Regional schools for teachers

Rosa Ros

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD SOME ELEMENTS OF DECADAL PLAN

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

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

ANNUAL DIRECT COSTS

Astronomy for universities and research

Visits Training schools Institute twinning

€ 300,000

Astronomy for Schools Training schools € 100,000

Public outreach Endowed lectures € 100,000

5 regional node institutes

5 x € 30,000 € 150,000

Regional coordinator support

5 x € 15,000 € 75,000

IAU Global development office

DirectorAdministrative assistant

€ 250,000

COMMITMENT BY IAU IAU BUDGET FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

General Assemblies10%

Scientific Activities27%

Educational Activities

10%

Executive Committee

16%

Secretariat/Admin37%

General Assemblies15%

Scientific Activities24%

Educational Activities

17%

Executive Committee

17%

Secretariat/Admin27%

2007 - 2009 2010 - 2012

10% 17%€ 144,000 annually

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

IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN • Flexibly

– In step with available funding

• Establishment of GDO has priority– Fund-raising and coordination

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

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”