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Meet the astronomers. See where they work. Know what they know.


The Project:

The Cosmic Diary is not just about astronomy. It's more about what it is like to be an astronomer.

The Cosmic Diary aims to put a human face on astronomy: professional scientists will blog in text and images about their lives, families, friends, hobbies and interests, as well as their work, their latest research findings and the challenges that face them. The bloggers represent a vibrant cross-section of female and male working astronomers from around the world, coming from five different continents. Outside the observatories, labs and offices they are musicians, mothers, photographers, athletes, amateur astronomers. At work, they are managers, observers, graduate students, grant proposers, instrument builders and data analysts.

Throughout this project, all the bloggers will be asked to explain one particular aspect of their work to the public. In a true exercise of science communication, these scientists will use easy-to-understand language to translate the nuts and bolts of their scientific research into a popular science article. This will be their challenge.

Task Group:

Mariana Barrosa (Portugal, ESO ePOD)
Nuno Marques (Portugal, Web Developer)
Lee Pullen (UK, Freelance Science Communicator)
André Roquette (Portugal, ESO ePOD)

Jack Oughton (UK, Freelance Science Communicator)
Alice Enevoldsen (USA, Pacific Science Center)
Alberto Krone Martins (Brazil, Uni. S. Paulo / Uni. Bordeaux)
Kevin Govender (South Africa, S. A. A. O.)
Avivah Yamani (Indonesia, Rigel Kentaurus)
Henri Boffin (Belgium, ESO ePOD)

Festival Sains Antariksa 2009

Visiting Bosscha observatory

Visiting Bosscha observatory

IYA 2009 is only a month away, and before officially closed, my office organized activities, in the participation of this IYA 2009. The name of the activity is Festival Sains Antariksa 2009 (Space Science Festival). There were various activities, as usual, like years before, for young to high-school students. But unlike the previous years, for this year, there was a national competition for space science writing, with various themes: space weather, space debris, human and the universe, and about what the students expect from the space study in the school. As grand prizes, we provide telescopes for the winners.

There were about 50 students from around the provinces in Indonesia that follow this competition, and only 5 selected, one from Jakarta, two from Bandung, and two from Palembang (South Sumatra province). The festival was the final day, in which the finalist should presenting their writing. And after an exciting finale, the winner was selected. But the more important thing is, not about the competition, but to give the students idea about, the excitement to study our universe.

All the winners

All the winners

Besides, after the competition, the excitement must not be ended, instead the adventure just started, most of them never use telescope before; so, among the winners, they agreed to make a club of astronomy in their home town, and make their own network of astronomy club.

Here are the winners & the tittles:

#1
Name: Adli Rahmat Renhoran
School: SMAN 54, Jakarta
Title: Kisah dari Secerecah Cahaya Mercusuar di Tengah Lautan Malam yang Gelap [tr: The Tale from the Spark of Lighthouse in the Middle of Dark Night Sky].

#2
Name: M. Ali Setia Pratama, Aisyah Fatriani, Satria Marrantiza
School: SMA Plus Negeri 17, Palembang
Title: Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Minat Pelajar Dalam Pembelajaran Berbasis Antariksa (Studi Kasus Implementasi Pembelajaran Berbasis Antariksa di Kota Palembang) [tr: Level of Knowledge and interest of Students in the Study on the Space Science]

#3
Name: Fina Herlina Sari, Faradhina Astri Nabilla, Muthia Sativa Nuliati
School: SMAN Sumsel, Palembang
Title: Pentingnya Materi Keantariksaan Pada Kurikulum SMA [tr: The Importance of Space Science in the High School Curricullum]

#4
Name:  Aan Andrian, Nurcholis Ridha, Anshari Jiwa
School: SMAN 1 Cisarua, Bandung
Title: Sampah Antariksa, Sampah Kita Semua [tr: Space Garbage, Our Garbage]

#5
Name: Efa Khafifa Hidayat, Diva Teguh Respati
School: SMAN 13, Bandung
Title Di Balik Indahnya Pelita Fajar (Menguak Misteri Badai Matahari yang Mengancam) [tr: Behind the Beauty of Dawn Lantern (Revealing the mistery of threatening Solar Storm)].

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