1. Gemini and PIO in Brazil Mariângela de Oliveira-Abans Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia Brazilian NGO Gemini PIO Meeting, Hilo, Jul./Aug., 2003

2. Brazilian NGO 2 Main Issues Status in March 2002 Activities in 2002 Activities in 2003 Good intentions

3. Brazilian NGO 3 Status in March 2002 Teaching of Astronomy (ToA) »Nation-wide projects »LNA efforts Talks at schools, universities, workshops 1700 visitors to the OPD science fairs, exhibits, students, teachers Media contacts »Each university and institute »LNA’s activities Press releases Gemini PRs Media consulting School textbooks reviews

4. Brazilian NGO 4 Activities in 2002 Teaching of Astronomy »Talks at schools, universities, workshops, congresses, etc. »Student helping in school works and science fairs »Organization of the Winter School of Itajubá for teachers »Students and teachers at the OPD »First steps towards a BR/CL teacher exchange program Media contacts »Sci&Tech Ministry PIO Network »7 PR (G, planet alignment, Pluto’s occultation) »New Director’s empowerment (Dr. Albert Bruch) »Visit of Sci&Tech Minister »Requested reviews of electronic news and texts (G) »Info. on general astronomical phenomena »Gemini news, positions and fellowships (we are NGO)

5. Brazilian NGO 5 Activities in 2002 Other Activities »Review of electronic news and texts for amateur and IAU Com. 46 Brazilian representative’s publications »Public visitation at the OPD »Senior students and final projects on Observatories »Exhibit at the FRICI (Regional Industrial, Commercial and Touristy Fair of Itajubá) »Exhibit at the 54th. SBPC and 10th. Expociência »Exhibit at the I Display of Sci&Tech of Brazópolis »Max Faúndez-Abans is now the Brazilian Gemini Project Manager »LNA has increased the participation in G Newsletter »We have engaged a nation- wide claim against a law project to turn astrologist into a profession!!!!

6. Brazilian NGO 6 Activities in 2003 Media »3 PR »2 students with scholarships in PIO and ToA (MEGALIT) »New PIO and ToA web pages »TV and web news interviews on eta Carinae during blackout Gemini affairs »Training of LNA’s staff astronomers both in Gemini-N and Gemini-S instruments »Full support to Brazilian astronomers requesting G telescope time (Phases I and II) »Contribution to G Newsletter »Part of every institutional presentation

7. Brazilian NGO 7 Activities in 2003 Other activities »Review of MCT´s web pages on Gemini and SOAR »New PIO and ToA web pages »New institutional indicators of PIO activities »MCT´s exhibit at 11th Expociência/55th Annual Meeting of SBPC (Jul.) »II Sci&Tech Exhibition of Brazópolis (Oct.) »FRICI exhibition (Sept.) »Ann. Meet. Soc.Astr.Bras. (Aug.) »Talks in schools: 520 children from March to June »I am Brazilian liaison at PAEO SOAR

8. Brazilian NGO 8 Good Intentions Brazilian Gemini Press Releases (3 up to July’03) Increase of Gemini’s PIO and ToA influence on LNA’s activities Proposal: Gemini PIO 2005 Meeting in Brazil in April

9. The End www.lna.br mabans@lna.br

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