Summary of Meetings held regarding IYA2009
Contact us if you would like more information on any of these meetings
1. SKA/KAT Meeting
Date: 26 January 2007
Venue: SKA/KAT offices, Johannesburg
Main purpose: Co-ordination of Astronomy Outreach activities; IYA2009; UNAWE (meeting was called by Marina Joubert)
Attendees: Representation from the majority of the astronomy outreach community in SA
Main outcome: Establishment of an interim task team that was asked to co-ordinate 3 projects in South Africa:
- International Year of Astronomy 2009
- Universe Awareness Programme
- Development of a 5 Year strategy for Astronomy Outreach in SA
Immediate tasks of this team were:
- Gather ideas from the community regarding IYA2009
- Draw up survey document that would be used to gather outreach information from all astronomy related facilities
- Expand the contact list to as many people involved in astronomy in SA as possible
- Set up South African IYA2009 website
- Arrange next meeting of stakeholders
- Finalise the task team after proper consultation with the astronomy community
2. International Year of Astronomy SPOC
Meeting held in Germany with all single points of contact (SPOC)
details and presentations at http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/iya_eso/index.html
3. Astronomy Outreach Meetings - South Africa
During May, there were 2 similar meetings held in Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively regarding astronomy outreach in South Africa.
The Johannesburg meeting was be held on Monday 7th May 2007 at the SKA/KAT offices (17 Baker St, Rosebank)
The Cape Town meeting was be held on Friday 25th May 2007 at the SAAO offices (Observatory Road, Observatory)
The basic agenda for each of the meetings was the same:
1. Draft strategy for astronomy outreach in South Africa
2. IYA 2009 (http://astronomy2009.saao.ac.za)
3. Universe Awareness Programe (www.unawe.org - special guests included UNAWE Project Manager and members of the UNAWE International Steering Committee)
4. Finalisation/Formalisation of Steering committee
4. National IYA Steering Committee Meeting
Date: 2nd July 2007
Time: 09:30
Venue: SKA/KAT Offices, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Purpose: Consolidation of astronomy stakeholder meetings; discussion of draft IYA2009 business plan and budget
5. National IYA Steering Committee Meeting #2
Date: 22nd August 2007
Time: 09:30
Venue: SKA/KAT Offices, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Purpose: In-depth discussion of the IYA2009 business plan and budget following various iterations over email; finalisation of consolidated astronomy resource database structure
6. SPOCs meeting at CAP2007
Date: 8-11 October 2007
Venue: Eugenides Planetarium, Greece
Purpose: IYA2009 Single Points Of Contact (SPOC) from around the world met at the Communicating Astronomy with the Public Meeting. Visit international website for more information.
7. National Steering Committee meeting with Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation
Date: 4th December 2007
Time: 09:30
Venue: DST Offices, Pretoria
Purpose: This meeting was to discuss funding and present the business plan and budget. It was a generally positive meeting with a strong likelihood of governement funding. Suggestions for modifications to the plan were made. Individuals from this meeting were assigned to look further into making these modifications and to present a new version by early 2008. Funding allocations will be made before April 2008.
8. National Steering Committee meeting
Date: 25th January 2008
Time: 10:30
Venue: SAASTA Offices, Pretoria
Purpose: Main purpose: funding.
9. National Steering Committee meeting
Date: 28th March 2008
Time: 09:30
Venue: SAASTA Offices, Pretoria
Purpose: Funding.