Plan Now for "Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2018"
Richard Fienberg AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force
This post is adapted from an International Astronomical Union announcement:
From 24 to 28 March 2018, Japan will host the world's largest conference on astronomy communication: Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2018 (CAP 2018). Professionals from science communication, informal education, planetariums and science centers, as well as professional and amateur astronomers, journalists, and creatives, are all invited to attend the event at the brand new Fukuoka City Science Museum to exchange ideas and best practices.
The Scientific Organizing Committee (SOC) is inviting proposals for presentations about lessons learned, resources, studies, and hands-on activities, all under the central theme of Communicating Astronomy in Today's World: Purpose and Methods.
Until 15 October 2017 proposals for oral presentations, posters, and workshops can be submitted via the contribution submission form in any of the following categories:
- Current Challenges in Astronomy Communication
- Best Practices in Public Outreach
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Empathy in Communicating Astronomy
- Astronomy Communication for a Better World
- The Media's Role in Astronomy Communication
- Using Multimedia, Social Media, Immersive Environments, and Other Technologies for Public Engagement with Astronomy
- Special Topic: Public Engagement Opportunities During the IAU Centennial Celebration
More details about these topics can be found on the CAP 2018 website.
Participants will also have the opportunity to put their own topics on the event agenda during the "unconference" slots. Networking activities will encourage learning from peers, identifying potential partners, and strengthening the bond between Asian-Pacific and international science communicators.
The SOC is also planning two special sessions:
- One session in which participants can ask for help or provide help to others on specific ongoing or future projects, and
- One session dedicated to the 2019 celebrations of the IAU centennial anniversary and 10 years since the International Year of Astronomy 2009.
See the CAP 2018 registration page for information about deadlines, registration fees, and hotel accommodations. Anyone who wants to submit a proposal for a presentation should first register in order to receive an Inquiry Number. You do not need to make a payment to receive this number.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) will offer grants to selected participants from around the world, while the Local Organizing Committee will provide additional grants to participants from Asian-Pacific developing countries to promote the professionalization of science communication in the region.
The CAP 2018 conference is organised by IAU Commission C2: Communicating Astronomy with the Public, in cooperation with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and Fukuoka City. This is the first time a CAP Conference will be hosted in Japan.
To stay up to date with the latest information about CAP 2018, please join the conference mailing list, follow the Facebook page, Twitter feed, and/or the hashtag #CAP2018.