What is iya 2009?

Answer 1

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery. Everyone should realise the impact of astronomy and other fundamental sciences on our daily lives, and understand how scientific knowledge can contribute to a more equitable and peaceful society. IYA2009 activities will take place locally, nationally, regionally and internationally. National Nodes have been formed in each country to prepare activities for 2009. These nodes will establish collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, science centres and science communicators to prepare activities for 2009. Already now, 135 countries are involved and well over 140 are expected to participate eventually. = About IYA2009 = The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) will be a global celebration of astronomy and its contributions to society and culture, highlighted by the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo Galilei. The aim of the Year is to stimulate worldwide interest, especially among young people, in astronomy and science under the central theme "The Universe, Yours to Discover". IYA2009 events and activities will promote a greater appreciation of the inspirational aspects of astronomy that embody an invaluable shared resource for all nations.

The IYA2009 activities will take place at the global and regional levels, and especially at the national and local levels. National Nodes in each country have been formed to prepare activities for 2009. These Nodes establish collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers, science centres, educators, and science communicators. = Goals and Objectives = Goals, Objectives, Evaluation The major goals of IYA2009 are to: # Increase scientific awareness. # Promote widespread access to new knowledge and observing experiences. # Empower astronomical communities in developing countries. # Support and improve formal and informal science education. # Provide a modern image of science and scientists. # Facilitate new networks and strengthen existing ones. # Improve the gender-balanced representation of scientists at all levels and promote greater involvement by underrepresented minorities in scientific and engineering careers. # Facilitate the preservation and protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage of dark skies in places such as urban oases, national parks and astronomical sites. IYA2009 will be evaluated by a qualitative and quantitative analysis of how well each objective, as implemented in hundreds of national, regional and global activities, has been reached. Data will be collected by online questionnaires after the completion of each activity. The IYA2009 Secretariat will coordinate the evaluation. A rigorous evaluation procedure will follow each of the four phases of the project: * I. Planning (2006-2007). * II. Preparation (2008). * III. Implementation (2009). * IV. Closing, follow-up, evaluation (2010). Goals

To: Objectives

To: Evaluation estimator 1. Increase the scientific awareness among the general public through the communication of scientific results in astronomy and related fields, as well as the process of research and critical thinking that leads to these results. • Make astronomical breakthroughs more visible in the daily lives of billions of people through all available means of c ommunication (TV/radio documentaries, newspapers, web pages, exhibitions, stamps, blogs, web portals, advertising campaigns etc).

• Facilitate individual astronomical observing opportunities. • The number of people "touched".

• Number of press clippings and readership.

• Number of people visiting national, regional and global webpages (webstats).

• Number of activities.

• Number of new products etc. 2. Promote widespread access to the universal knowledge of fundamental science through the excitement of astronomy and sky-observing experiences. • Enable as many laypeople as possible, especially children, to look at the sky through a telescope and gain a basic understanding of the Universe. • Number of laypeople, especially young people and children, viewing the Universe through a telescope at street astronomy events, star parties, professional observatory webcasts etc.

• Number of "cheap" new telescope kits produced, assembled and distributed. 3. Empower astronomical communities in developing countries through the initiation and stimulation of international collaborations. • Involve astronomical communities of the developing nations in the Year, thereby providing examples of how outreach and education is carried out in different parts of the world. • Number of participating developing nations as measured by the establishment of National IYA Nodes.

• Number of new international partnerships and joint programs formed.

• Number of people reached by new initiatives. 4. Support and improve formal and informal science education in schools as well as through science centres, planetariums and museums. • Develop formal and informal educational material and distribute all over the world.

• Conduct focused training of event leaders and presenters. • Number of participating teachers and schools.

• Number of educational materials distributed.

• Number of new event leaders and presenters trained. 5. Provide a modern image of science and scientists to reinforce the links between science education and science careers, and thereby stimulate a long-term increase in student enrolment in the fields of science and technology, and an appreciation for lifelong learning. • Popular talks by scientists of all ages, genders, races.

• Facilitate portraits - on TV, in web blogs, biographies - of scientists that break with the traditional "lab coat view" of scientists, showing the excitement of scientific discovery, the international aspect of scientific collaborations and portraying the social sides of scientists. • Number of popular talks.

• Number of scientist portraits.

Public response questionnaires.

• Evidence for penetration of astronomy into popular culture (media, web, TV, radio Talk Shows...) 6. Facilitate new, and strengthen existing, networks by connecting amateur astronomers, educators, scientists and c ommunication professionals through local, regional, national and international activities. • Connect as many individuals (named "IYA ambassadors") as well as organisations (amateur and professional) in networks, for instance by creating of new internal and external electronic communication infrastructures. These networks will become part of the heritage of IYA2009. • Number of National IYA Nodes.

• Number of new networks and partnerships formed. 7. Improve the gender-balanced representation of scientists at all levels and promote greater involvement by underrepresented minorities in scientific and engineering careers. • Provide access to excellent role models and mentors, formally and informally, and publicise them.

• Provide information about the female "dual-career" problem and possible solutions. • Number of active new role models and mentors.

• Number of new international partnerships, projects and activities. 8. Facilitate the preservation and protection of the world's cultural and natural heritage of dark skies in places such as urban oases, national parks and astronomical sites, through the awareness of the importance and preservation of the dark skies and astronomical sites for the natural environment and humanity heritage. • Involve the dark-sky community in the IYA2009.

• Collaborate on the implementation of the UNESCO and IAU "Astronomical and World Heritage" initiative.

• Lobby the organizations, institutions, as well as local, regional and national governments to approve preservation laws for dark skies and historical astronomical sites.

• Bring the issues of natural environment and energy preservation to the agenda of decision makers. • Number of activities and events related with the night sky protection.

• Number of countries/cities with the laws or guidelines for dark sky preservation.

• Areas protected by dark sky laws.

• Number of historical astronomical sites identified and protected under the UNESCO's World Heritage Convention. = The IYA2009 & the UN Millenium Development Goals = IYA2009 is, first and foremost, an activity for everyone around the world. It aims to convey the excitement of personal discovery, the pleasure of sharing fundamental knowledge about the Universe and our place in it. The UN Millennium Development goals form a blueprint agreed by every country and the entire world's leading development institutions. The inspirational aspects of the International Year of Astronomy embody an invaluable resource for humankind and aim to contribute to four of the UN Millennium Development goals. Help to achieve universal primary education

IYA2009 intends to add to the quality of primary education by providing access to basic astronomy to teachers and pupils all over the world. The night sky displays its wonders equally above all nations. We just have to provide the guides to understand what we see and discover. Providing equal chances to access knowledge will result in the development of international cooperation in scientific research and relevant applications, and in its broader effect will assist the developing world to match the western world. Help to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

An increase in scientific wealth has been shown to be associated with an increase in economic wealth in developing countries, thereby contributing to fight poverty, build capacity and good governance. The IYA2009 programme aims to empower astronomical communities in developing countries through the initiation and stimulation of international collaborations. These small steps can contribute to increasing the scientific, technological and economical wealth in developing countries. Promote gender equality and empower women

One of the IYA2009 goals is to improve the gender-balanced representation of scientists at all levels and promote greater involvement by underrepresented minorities in scientific and engineering careers. Gender equality is a priority concern of the whole scientific community regardless of its geographic location. The problems and difficulties are different in all regions and continents, so IYA2009 has initiated special programmes to meet local needs. Develop a global partnership for development

Development relies on several factors, including the use of basic science to develop and use practical applications adequately. IYA2009 will connect networks of professional and amateur astronomers and astrophysicists from all over the world, providing an opportunity to share all the valuable sources of knowledge they have. The aim of the Year is to channel the information obtained to the right development projects and applications. (Freddie Scrace is Cornish Representitive)

Answer 2

Iya 2009 typically refers to the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, which was designated by the International Astronomical Union to mark the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first use of the telescope for astronomical observations. It was a global initiative to promote astronomy and public awareness of the universe.