Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-v5vhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-03T05:16:39.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Before OAD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2019

Alan H. Batten*
Affiliation:
2594 Sinclair Road, Victoria, B.C., Canada, V9N 1B9 email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

OAD, the Office of Astronomy for Development, one of the most significant innovations within the IAU, was created at the XXVII General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2009 and opened in 2011. The new office brought together and strengthened several activities of the IAU aimed at helping astronomers in developing or isolated countries to keep in touch with their colleagues elsewhere and up-to-date with the developments in our science. Those activities were mediated through the old commission structure by Commission 38 (Exchange of Astronomers) and Commission 46 (Astronomy Education and Development) which oversaw the International Schools of Young Astronomers (ISYA), the Visiting Lecturer Programme (VLP) and Teaching for Astronomy Development (TAD). In addition, Jorge Sahade, during his term as IAU President (1985–1988), formed the Working Group for the Promotion and Development of Astronomy, as a sub-committee of the Executive Committee, and asked the present writer, then a Vice-President, to act as chair. That Working Group (later renamed the Working Group for the Worldwide Development of Astronomy, WGWWDA) operated within the context of the already existing services of the IAU and in cooperation with the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). In this paper, the writer gives an account of the activities of the WGWWDA both during and between General Assemblies, until the year 2000, shortly after which he relinquished responsibility for them.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2019 

References

Batten, A. H. 1992, in Trans. Int. Astron. Union, 12, ed. Bergeron, J., Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 365366Google Scholar
Batten, A. H. 1995, in Highlights of Astronomy, 10, ed. Appenzeller, I., Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 663680CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Batten, A. H. 1998, in Highlights of Astronomy, 11B, ed. Andersen, J., Kluwer Academic Press, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 883934Google Scholar
Batten, A. H. (ed.) 2001, Astronomy for Developing Countries, Special Session of XXIV IAU General Assembly, ASP Conference Series, San Francisco, U.S.A., pp. xviii + 376CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Batten, A. H. 2002, in Highlights of Astronomy, 12, ed. Rickman, H., ASP Conference Series, San Francisco, U.S.A., pp. 753780Google Scholar
Chamcham, K., 2001, see reference to Batten, 2001, pp. 5964CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hearnshaw, J.B. 2019, this volume, pp. 374387Google Scholar
Percy, J. R. 2005, in Highlights of Astronomy, 13, ed. Engvold, O., ASP Conference Series, San Francisco, U.S.A. pp. 10171072Google Scholar
Perek, L. (ed.) 1967, Trans. Int. Astron. Union, 13A, Reidel, D., Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. xxiixxiiiGoogle Scholar
Rieu, N. Q. 2001, see reference to Batten, 2001, pp. 255265CrossRefGoogle Scholar