International Year of Astronomy (IYA-

2009)

IYA-2009 Activities ArmeniaAreg Mickaelian

Astronomy and Society

Professional astronomy

Other sciences institutions

Cultural organizations

Astronomy and world heritage; UNESCO’s project

Amateur astronomy; observations & discoveries

Astronomical education; from school to Ph.D. degree

Popular astronomy; from children to everybody

Scientific tourism; Byurakan and around

Scientific journalism; astronomy and mass media

1. Increasing the prestige of astronomy in Armenia (meetings, mass media, etc.)

2. Public activities (amateurs, popular astronomy, educational matters, etc.)

Astronomy & World Heritage

IYA-2009 projects in Armenia

Areg Mickaelian, Chair (BAO/ArAS)

Elena Nikogossian, Secretary (BAO/ArAS)

Hayk Abrahamyan, Vardan Adibekyan, Mkrtich Gevorgyan, Satenik Ghazaryan, Kamo Gigoyan, Marieta Gyulzadyan, Artur Hakobyan, Davit Sargsyan, Lusine Sargsyan, Parandzem Sinamyan (BAO)

Jackline Martirosyan, Diana Antonosyan (YSU)

Lilit Verdyan (Association for women’s rights)

Astronomy teachers, students, pupils

Distribution of duties among the LOC members: mass media program, school program, publication program, Astronomy and World Heritage, etc.

IYA-2009 Armenian LOC

IYA-2009 in ARMENIA

Events: conferences, meetings, “100 hours of astronomy”, celebrations, concerts, exhibitions, etc.

Historical-astronomical heritage in Armenia

Astronomical education in Armenia

Internet (IYA webpage, “Portal to the Universe”, etc.)

Mass media program: TV, radio, press, Internet

School program: Olympiad, lectures at schools, teachers’ teaching, contests, visits to Byurakan Observatory, etc.

Publication: CD/DVDs, books, brochures, sky map, postcards, posters, calendars, souvenirs, etc.

IYA-2009 Armenian EventsDec, 2008 Armenia joined IYA-200923.01, Yerevan Start of the series of biographical articles about outstanding

Armenian astronomers at “Armenpress” News Agency website08.02, Yerevan ArAS webpage with lots of info on Armenian astronomy and IYA-

200928.02, Byurakan Meeting with journalists, 40 participants28.02-01.03 Wide broadcasting about IYA-2009 in the world and Armenia02.03, Byurakan M.A. Arakelian’s 80th and Ye.Terzian’s 70th anniversaries22.03, Byurakan “Astrophoto contest” of the Armenian Institute of Tourism students 30.03, Byurakan Meeting with representatives of touristic companies, 35 participants14.04, Byurakan Meeting with Ambassadors and representatives of international

organizations15.04, Yerevan IYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, YSU17.04, Yerevan Establishment of Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize 18.04, Yerevan Exhibition “Armenia: a Country of Ancient Astronomy” April Distribution of ESO’s “Eyes on the Skies” DVDs to schools26.04, Byurakan Armenian Astronomical School Olympiad, 40 participants30.04, Byurakan Meeting with architects, 35 participants04.05, Byurakan IYA meeting / seminar "IYA-2009 in the world and in Armenia”15.05, Yerevan IYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, YSU16.05, Yerevan IYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, Phys-Math school

IYA-2009 Armenian Events19.05, Yerevan Public lecture, Quantum school26.05, Yerevan Meeting between astronomers and historians / archaeologists10.06, Yerevan Publication/production of astronomical promotional materials19.06, Byurakan Young artists’ exhibition “The Universe and myself” and meeting

with professional artists, 200 participants01-08.07, Byurakan Third Byurakan Summer School for YSU students, 30 participants 01-17.07, Byurakan Summer Practice for YSU Department of Physics students, 15

participants06-08.07, Byurakan ArAS VIII meeting: Astronomy and Society, 100 participants July Discussion of creation of Astronomical Council in ArmeniaAugust Purchasing of Celestron FirstScope telescopes for schools18.09, Yerevan Astronomy Day in Armenia, public observations of amateur

astronomers22-23.09, Byurakan French-Armenian Workshop, 35 participants 25.09, Yerevan IYA-2009 meeting / seminar, YSU, 100 participants30.09, Byurakan Workshop in frame of International Conference CSIT-2009, 40

participants 01.10, Yerevan IYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, School #64, 60 participants15.12, Yerevan Opening of V.A. Ambartsumian's monument in Yerevan, 150

participants28.12, Yerevan IYA-2009 Closing Ceremony, NAS RA, 60 participantsDecember Start of Beyond-IYA activities (GTTP, etc.)

Astronomical Souvenirs and Promotional Materials

Journalists in ByurakanMeeting on IYA-2009 and scientific journalism matters, February 28, 2009, Byurakan

33 journalists:

4 TV, 6 radio, 9 newspapers and journals, 6 Internet media, 8 students

Presentation of the Armenian astronomy, Byurakan Observatory, IYA-2009, etc.

Discussion of IYA-2009 tasks, scientific journalism in general

Questionnaire with questions about astronomy and scientific journalism:insufficient attention to astronomy (science)? what is a constellations? etc.

27 publications and casts during the next days (Feb 28 – Mar 3)

Prizes for best publications on astronomy: mass media, TV, radio, press, Internet

Travel Agencies in ByurakanMeeting on scientific tourism matters, March 30, 2009, Byurakan Obs.

Discussion of scientific (astronomical) and regional tourism matters

Preparation of souvenirs, publication of postcards, calendars, etc.

Ambassadors in Byurakan

Reception of Ambassadors of Foreign Countries and Heads of other International Organizations in Armenia

Presentation of the IYA-2009 and its goals

Acquaintance with the 2.6m telescope of the

Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory

Meetings with ArchitectsApril: meetings with architects, presentation of the IYA-2009 and its goals, collaboration, discussion of world astronomical observatories and telescope buildings

Young Artists’ ExhibitionJune 19, 2009, Byurakan. Young Artists’ Exhibition and Contest “The Universe and Myself”; 250 paintings. Meeting with professional artists led by Union of Artists of Armenia. Joint jury by astronomers and artists. Excursion in the Observatory, meeting at conference hall (presentation of IYA-2009 activities, popular lecture, awards to 9 schools).

Third Byurakan Summer School for YSU students

July 1-8, 2009, Byurakan. Participants, lectures, events

Concert by Robert AmirkhanyanJuly 6, 2009, Byurakan. Concert by the famous Armenian composer Robert Amirkhanyan with the singer Seda Amir-Karayan.

ArAS VIII Annual Meeting “Astronomy and Society”

July 6-8, 2009, Byurakan. Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS) VIII Annual Meeting “Astronomy and Society”. Sessions on Astronomical Heritage, Astrobiology, Astronomical Education, talks on International Collaboration, Scientific Tourism, Scientific Journalism, etc. Guests from Academy, other institutions, UNESCO Armenian commission, sponsors, journalists, students. ArAS certificates to 16 founding members.

Astronomy and World HeritageMeeting with historians/archaeologists on historical-astronomical matters

Ambartsumian monument in Yerevan

December 15, Yerevan, near the YSU astronomical observatory, 200 participants

Astronomy for Students DVDA collection of useful information for students: textbooks (90), exercises, encyclopedia and dictionaries (8), papers, presentations (including from international summer schools), catalogs, software (including SciSoft VII), photos, movies, BAO, Ambartsumian, etc.

Organizers and Sponsors

Armenian Astronomical Society (ArAS)

Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO)

Armenian National Academy of Sciences (NAS)

Yerevan State University (YSU)

Armenian State Committee for Science (SCS)

Ministry of Education and Science

Ministry of Culture

UNESCO National Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Antares Holding (publishing company)

Armenpress news agency (information sponsor) 

Thank you for attention!