Preparing for National Science and Engineering Week
Brrr… no clear skies tonight, its snowing!
February 2, 2009Preparing for 100 Hours of Astronomy!
April 2, 2009
Phew! Its early evening and I am breathing a sigh of relief, it might be one of the only free evenings I have in a long while with the run up to national science and engineering week that takes place annually every second week of March. So far I will be mainly science busking. Its not the usual thing I do as an astronomer but it will have a twist… Astronomy busking!!!! No, I won’t be playing the guitar badly and begging for money in the street, my bass playing days are over! I will be perfoming hands on experiments in schools during the week all with space themes to bring the excitement of the International Year of Astronomy to kids up and down the country.
With the approach of Leo over the horizon this evening and Comet Lulin coming into view in the next couple of hours it will be quite appropriate to be making dry ice comets as an activity, the best bit is making the mixture and getting soy sauce everywhere… not so pleasant to smell, but it makes great looking classroom comets!
I am also looking forward to David Levy giving a talk at Birmingham Astronomical Society on the 8th March, it will be two busy weeks indeed!
2 Comments
David Levy! Wish I could be there for that one!
Good luck with the classroom comets!
Dear,
The United Nations 62nd General Assembly proclaimed 2009 the International Year of Astronomy on 20 December 2007, and UNESCO was designated as the lead agency and focal point for the Year. As UNESCO category 2 Institute, Suzhou Center of World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region (WHITR-AP) will hold 2009 International Youth Camp on Astronomy and World Heritage in Suzhou, a perfect place in world-wide to observe total solar eclipse during July 17th to July26,2009.
The Summer Camp is open to all nationalities and young students between 16 years and 20 years old who interested in Astronomy and World Heritage. The objective of the Astronomy and World Heritage thematic camp is to teach youth some knowledge about Astronomy and World Heritage and give them a methodological framework for associated actions, to offer youth a precious opportunity to observe total solar eclipse with more than 5 minutes, to offer youth sharing different culture within a warm 80-person- family, to be a World Heritage Defender (Patrimonito) after 10-day’s World Heritage education.
Youth will study World Heritage and astronomy-related knowledge; learn World Heritage in Young Hand, which compiled by the UNESCO; observe five- minute- total solar eclipse; visit World Heritage the classical gardens of Suzhou; discuss hot topics such as World Heritage and Peace, World Heritage and Environment, World Heritage and Tourism; simulate declaration Ancient Chinese Astronomy sites as World Heritage on China Youth Astronomy Science Forum. The declaration will be shown on International Conference on Dynamic Solar Corona and its Impact on Space Weather and be submitted to World Heritage Center (WHC) of UNESCO. Mr. FANG Cheng, vice chairman of International Astronomical Union (IAU) is engaged as a technical advisor.
The qualified youth will get Patrimonito Certificate from the Chinese National Federation of UNESCO; excellent youth will also get the title of 2009 total solar eclipse volunteers from International Astronomical Union, the Chinese Astronomical Society, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Suzhou Municipal Government.
Organizers: China National Federation of UNESCO , World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region, the Chinese Astronomical Society
Sponsors: Suzhou Gardens and Landscaping Administration Bureau; Suzhou Center of World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region
Co-organizer:Landesschulbehörde of Lower Saxonie (Germany),Suzhou Foreign Language School; Suzhou Youth Astronomical Observatory
Time: July 17th to 26th, 2009
Charges: 380$, including 10 days accommodations, learning materials, visits and other expenses, excluding the round-trip cost from your country to Suzhou.
Guidelines:
1. Registration time is from February 1, to June 20, 2009 .
2. More informations at http://www.cnwh.org, http://www.whitr-ap.org and http://www.astronomy2009.org
Questions? Please contact: Ms. CAO Fengjiao Email: whitr_suzhou@yahoo.cn
Tel: +86-512-67552305 Fax: +86-512-67552505