Autumnal Equinox 2007 News on IYA2009 in Canada

Goal:  To offer an engaging astronomy experience to every person in Canada, and to cultivate partnerships that sustain public interest in astronomy.

Act Now! If you think that 2009 is so far away you need not give it any thought for another year (if then), you are wrong! Opportunities for individuals – students, professors, retirees – to initiate personal involvement in things they enjoy doing that can have widespread impact during 2009 and beyond are limited only by your imagination. And many such possibilities need ground work laid in the next few months, not in Fall-Winter 2008.

For Canada, as for the world, this year-long education and public outreach event offers an outstanding opportunity to engage many different audiences, all of whom have a stake in what we professional, student or amateur astronomers, enjoy doing: revelling in the majesty of the heavens. IYA2009 offers untold opportunities to increase awareness of our work, successes, projects and aspirations; and through them to advance science literacy, encourage youth – urban, rural, well off or at risk - to prepare for the S&T careers that underpin our economy, and to bridge many different sectors of Canadian society through innovative partnerships.

Success within Canada depends upon each CASCA member committing to contribute in some way. Ideas and contributions from younger members are especially welcome. Some examples where early efforts can pay off handsomely:

- CASCA’s EPO Committee is developing plans for a national lecture series featuring outstanding researchers in Canada who are also excellent communicators to the general public. The idea is to identify 6-8 such people and fund-raise to help offset the costs of implementing the programme. Such lectures could be the culmination of a series of IYA lectures and open house activities at your institution involving your staff and students in partnership with local amateur astronomers in star parties or exhibits accompanying each lecture. Your institution may already have funding in place for distinguished lectures, and IYA presents a strong argument for filling the lectureship with an astronomer, perhaps in partnership with, e.g., a science centre in your area.

- Major music, drama and art organizations are planning their 2009 activities now. If you enjoy such activities approach a local group you admire to explore how they could become involved in IYA2009: responses to date from such efforts indicate there is a lot of interest in partnering with astronomers, both professional and amateur, in such ventures. And if you have personal contacts within national arts and cultural organizations, let us know: together we may be able to create high visibility, national programmes that reach many Canadians beyond your community.

- You can use your local contacts with science and nature centres, amateur astronomy groups, local schools, community organizations like Scouts and Guides, 4-H, etc. to build awareness of IYA 2009 and the myriad possibilities to improve or create partnerships that enrich your community.

- Do you enjoy an evening out in a local pub? How about laying the ground work for “science in the pubs” events in your community during 2009 and beyond? There are guides available for how to set them up.

Through personal interests over the summer several of us on the IYA Canada Committee have explored some of these in our own communities. Responses have been extremely positive, revealing widespread interest in collaborations and providing exciting links with the formal and informal education communities. We can provide information, offer advice and help you: just ask.

Updates since Summer Solstice:

Notable among the activities since we last reported are:

· A team of volunteers from the RASC and science centres, particularly the Montréal Planetarium, has created a website. While we will not officially launch the site until we have a significant event (sometime in 2008), it is now available for use by our communities as we plan and develop our programmes. See www.astronomy2009.ca  or www.astronomie2009.ca.

· The RASC has submitted a PromoScience proposal to NSERC to develop bilingual outreach material for distribution at the hundreds of star parties and outreach events throughout Canada during 2009.

· As a first, critical step towards a national programme involving First Nations and Inuit peoples in IYA2009, our Cape Breton University partners established a partnership with their local Membertou First Nation (Aboriginal community partner) and Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources (Aboriginal science partner). From that springboard they are reaching out to Nova Scotia First Nations and thence to contacts with the national Assembly of First Nations.

· The Victoria Symphony Orchestra has committed to develop a programme for presentation in schools and the public based upon Galileo and the music of the era, as well as programming for a quartet to take into schools in partnership with local amateur astronomers and NRC’s Centre of the Universe Starlab Planetarium, and a performance of Holst’s The Planets with astronomical images as a visual backdrop

· The Program Working Group has converged on a set of national programme goals that will figure prominently on our website to stimulate sponsorships and participation by you as well as our partners across Canada. As well, there is a list of ideas that individuals or groups may find well matched to their interests or those of their communities

Please join us by initiating engagement in IYA planning now within your institution and community, and sharing your resulting insights.

Jim Hesser on behalf of the IYACC:

Cheryl Bartlett (Aboriginal Committee co-chair)

Jeffery Crelinsten (The Impact Group)

Jayanne English (CASCA EPO)

Jim Hesser (NRC, CASCA)

Peter Jedicke (RASC)

Rémi Lacasse (FAAQ)

Pierre Lacombe (Programme Committee co-chair)

Phil Langill (Programme Committee co-chair)

Lindsay Marshall (Aboriginal Committee co-chair)

Bob McDonald (CBC)

Ruth Ann Chicoine (CSA)

John Percy (CASCA EPO)

Andy Woodsworth (NSERC)

Scott Young (RASC & Science Centres)