International Collaboration Strategies for the International Astronomical Union's 100th Anniversary Celebrations (IAU100)
- Paper number
IAC-19,E5,5,5,x49998
- Author
Ms. Bethany Downer, Canada, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Dr. Jorge Rivero Gonzalez, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Mrs. Lina Canas, Japan, International Astronomical Union (IAU)
- Coauthor
Dr. Pedro Russo, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Coauthor
Mr. Sze-Leung Cheung, Japan, International Astronomical Union (IAU)
- Coauthor
Dr. Ewine van Dishoeck, The Netherlands, International Astronomical Union (IAU)
- Coauthor
Ms. Nelly Ivanova, The Netherlands, Leiden University
- Year
2019
- Abstract
In 2019, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The IAU’s mission is to promote safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The organisation has over 13,500 members who are active in professional research, education and outreach in astronomy. To commemorate this centenary milestone, the IAU has organised a year-long celebration (IAU100) to increase awareness of a century of astronomical discoveries and to support the use of astronomy as a tool for education, development and diplomacy under the central theme "Under One Sky". The goals of the IAU100 include increased awareness of progress and excitement in astronomy over the past century, to support and improve an inclusive, egalitarian and diverse astronomy community, and to increase awareness of exciting developments in the next 100 years of astronomy. Throughout 2019, thousands of activities for IAU100 have taken place at local, regional, national and global scales in over 100 countries. This paper will highlight the large-scale events that were organised as part of IAU100 to discuss the successful means by which the IAU100 conducted meaningful and widespread outreach and collaboration throughout the centennial celebrations. This includes the 100 Hours of Astronomy global project, during which more than 1200 separate astronomy activities in 86 countries were conducted from 10-13 January 2019, and the IAU100’s global celebration of the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in July 2019. The Dark Skies for All project, which aims to raise awareness of the preservation of quiet and dark skies in tandem with the UNESCO Day of Light, will also be discussed to illustratrate how the IAU100 engaged with other international events to conduct its activities. Other projects include the Name ExoWorlds initiative, that offered the opportunity to all nations to each name one exoplanet, and the dissemination of the open-source Above and Beyond exhibition, that showcases the past century of astronomical discoveries, that will illustrate means of successful educational content distribution. This paper will discuss experience in best practices and reflections of the IAU100 Secretariat in terms of outreach and public engagement, with a particular focus on communication and collaboration with astronomical organisations and national nodes around the world that facilitated the success of IAU100 throughout 2019. The author will provide recommendations for the success of future large-scale astronomical activities for societies and organisations in terms of collaboration, impact and outreach.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,E5,5,5,x49998.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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