June 2009 Archives

IYA2009 Astrophotography Opportunities

The Earth and Sky Photo Contest on Dark Skies Importance

Deadline September 21, 2009

This photography contest is open to any amateur photographer of any age, anywhere in the world. The theme of this contest is "Dark Skies Importance." Photos must combine some elements of the night sky (e.g., stars, planets, the Moon or celestial events) set against the backdrop of a beautiful, historic, or notable location or landmark somewhere in the world.

Photographs must be taken during 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, and submitted by September 21, 2009. Winners will be announced on October 31, 2009. Details on this program, including the site to submit photos, can be found at www.darkskiesawareness.org.

Capture the Colorful Cosmos with MicroObservatory Robotic Telescopes

July - September 2009

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), NASA, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) are collaborating on the "Capture the Colorful Cosmos" astrophotography project. This program will give the public online access to the CfA's MicroObservatory robotic telescopes, to take photographs of astronomical objects, and use image processing tools the same way that professional astronomers do.

Participating museums, nature centers, libraries, and other informal education organizations will run public workshops that result in exhibitions of original visitor-created astrophotography displays. These images and displays will be featured not only at the participating institutions, but also on ASTC, IYA, and NASA websites.

For Informal Educators: ASTC will host an online workshop in July 2009 about how to implement Capture the Colorful Cosmos.

See details at: www.universeforum.org/iyacosmos/

Smithsonian Photography Initiative

June 2009 theme is "Seeing Other Worlds"

The Smithsonian Photography Initiative invites the public to contribute images and stories to "click! photography changes everything" (click.si.edu), an online exhibit that explores how photography influences every aspect of people's lives. The June 2009 focus is "Seeing Other Worlds." How does micro- and macro- photography (e.g. from microscopic bacteria to galaxies far beyond the earth) change our perception of the world and our place in it?

Selected entries will be added to the "click!" web site, and may be eligible to receive a copy of the book "At First Sight: Photography and the Smithsonian."

June 4, 2009

Earth's rocks and other materials provide a record of its history. Our solar system formed from a vast cloud of gas and dust 4.6 billion years ago. Earth's crust has two distinct types: continental and oceanic.

These and other concepts are the major ideas of Earth science that all citizens should know, according to a newly released report--Earth Science Literacy Principles: The Big Ideas and Supporting Concepts of Earth Science--funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported Earth Science Literacy Initiative (ESLI).

Even modest changes to Earth's systems have had profound influences on human societies and the course of civilization, according to the report. Understanding these systems and how they interact is vital for our survival, the report states.

"The Earth sciences have never been more important than they are today," says Robert Detrick, director of NSF's Division of Earth Sciences. "It's important that every citizen have knowledge of the fundamental concepts of Earth science such that he or she may make informed and responsible decisions about public issues--from climate change to energy, from natural resources to earthquake hazards.

"The Earth Science Literacy Initiative is a very important effort to convey this information about Earth science to the general public."

Earth science literacy is especially important at this time in history, echoes the report: "There are many challenges facing humanity--dwindling energy and mineral resources, changing climate, water shortages--directly relating to the Earth sciences. There are many difficult decisions that governments, local and national, will have to make concerning these issues. How well humans survive the twenty-first century will depend on the success of these decisions."

Earth Science Literacy Principles provides a summary of the major ideas in earth science for policy makers, educators, students and the general public.

The report complements the efforts of ocean, climate and atmospheric scientists, educators and others to define the ideas and concepts essential for a geoscience-literate public.

Earth Science Literacy Principles was developed through an online workshop held in May 2008, and a writing workshop held in July 2008.

The workshops brought together scientists from across the earth sciences, including mineralogists, petrologists, sedimentologists, paleontologists, geophysicists, geomorphologists, biogeochemists, volcanologists, geohazards specialists and hydrologists, among others.

The document has undergone review by leading scientists on each of the topics. Major geoscience and earth science education professional organizations have endorsed the report.

"Because of its validity, authority and succinct format, Earth Science Literacy Principles will be influential in a wide variety of scientific, educational and political domains," says Michael Wysession, chair of ESLI and a geoscientist at Washington University in St. Louis. "New textbooks and curricula are already being developed using the report."

As principle 9.9, the final one of the report, states, "An Earth-science-literate public, informed by a current and accurate understanding of the Earth, is critical to the promotion of good stewardship, sound policy and international cooperation."

For humans--and the planet on which they live--earth science literacy is a prerequisite to a successful future.

- NSF -

Earth Science Literacy Initiative and Link to Report: http://www.earthscienceliteracy.org/