International Year of Astronomy (IYA-2009) IYA-2009 Activities Armenia Areg 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 Events Dec, 2008Armenia joined IYA , YerevanStart of the series of biographical articles about outstanding Armenian astronomers at “Armenpress” News Agency website 08.02, YerevanArAS webpage with lots of info on Armenian astronomy and IYA , ByurakanMeeting with journalists, 40 participants Wide broadcasting about IYA-2009 in the world and Armenia 02.03, ByurakanM.A. Arakelian ’ s 80 th and Ye.Terzian ’ s 70 th anniversaries 22.03, Byurakan“Astrophoto contest” of the Armenian Institute of Tourism students 30.03, ByurakanMeeting with representatives of touristic companies, 35 participants 14.04, ByurakanMeeting with Ambassadors and representatives of international organizations 15.04, Yerevan IYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, YSU 17.04, YerevanEstablishment of Viktor Ambartsumian International Prize 18.04, YerevanExhibition “Armenia: a Country of Ancient Astronomy” AprilDistribution of ESO’s “Eyes on the Skies” DVDs to schools 26.04, ByurakanArmenian Astronomical School Olympiad, 40 participants 30.04, ByurakanMeeting with architects, 35 participants 04.05, ByurakanIYA meeting / seminar "IYA-2009 in the world and in Armenia ” 15.05, YerevanIYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, YSU 16.05, YerevanIYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, Phys-Math school

IYA-2009 Armenian Events 19.05, YerevanPublic lecture, Quantum school 26.05, YerevanMeeting between astronomers and historians / archaeologists 10.06, YerevanPublication/production of astronomical promotional materials 19.06, ByurakanYoung artists’ exhibition “The Universe and myself” and meeting with professional artists, 200 participants , ByurakanThird Byurakan Summer School for YSU students, 30 participants , ByurakanSummer Practice for YSU Department of Physics students, 15 participants , ByurakanArAS VIII meeting: Astronomy and Society, 100 participants JulyDiscussion of creation of Astronomical Council in Armenia AugustPurchasing of Celestron FirstScope telescopes for schools 18.09, YerevanAstronomy Day in Armenia, public observations of amateur astronomers , ByurakanFrench-Armenian Workshop, 35 participants 25.09, YerevanIYA-2009 meeting / seminar, YSU, 100 participants 30.09, ByurakanWorkshop in frame of International Conference CSIT-2009, 40 participants 01.10, Yerevan IYA-2009 meeting / public lecture, School #64, 60 participants 15.12, YerevanOpening of V.A. Ambartsumian's monument in Yerevan, 150 participants 28.12, YerevanIYA-2009 Closing Ceremony, NAS RA, 60 participants DecemberStart of Beyond-IYA activities (GTTP, etc.)

Astronomical Souvenirs and Promotional Materials

Journalists in Byurakan Meeting 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 Byurakan Meeting 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 Architects April: meetings with architects, presentation of the IYA-2009 and its goals, collaboration, discussion of world astronomical observatories and telescope buildings

Young Artists’ Exhibition June 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 Amirkhanyan July 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 Heritage Meeting with historians/archaeologists on historical-astronomical matters

Ambartsumian monument in Yerevan December 15, Yerevan, near the YSU astronomical observatory, 200 participants

Astronomy for Students DVD A 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!