News
Inspiring Stars bridging event in Austria
April 20, 2018
“Inspiring Stars” is an itinerant international exhibition promoted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to highlight and promote inclusive initiatives at outreach, didactic, and professional level for the equal participation in science using astronomy. The exhibition will premiere during the IAU General Assembly 2018 in Austria, from 20-31 August and was preceded by an inception activity on April 16, 2018, in Vienna.
Image I: Experiencing colour through sound, was one of the resources showcased for the first time during the Inspiring Stars debut event, by Allyson Bieryla, Harvard University. (Photo Credit: IAU)
This pre-event event gathered 35 people from both the IAU and the Hilfsgemeinschaft, an Austrian non-profit-organisation in support of the blind and visually impaired. This first initiative in the local Austrian community served as incentive to the participation of the Austrian community in the main "Inspiring Stars" event.
The event focused on a dialogue with the local Austrian special needs educators and science enthusiasts, and members of the Executive Committee of the IAU, including the IAU General Secretary-Elect Teresa Lago and President-Elect Ewine van Dishoeck. Additionally, all participants were able to experience interactive displays showcasing resources from around the world, including tactile planets, books and posters (Spain & USA), multisensorial optical telescope (USA), tactile telescope model (Japan), sonification of hydrogen spectra (South Africa) and others.
Image II: The dialogue between astronomers, and Austrian educators and science enthusiasts focused on how to unite both groups. (Photo Credit: IAU)
Image III: Inspiring Stars showcased educational, outreach and research resources from around the world to promote egalitarian participation in science. (Photo Credit: IAU)
Image IV: The dialogue between astronomers, and Austrian educators and science enthusiasts focused on how to unite both groups. (Photo Credit: IAU)
Image V: The dialogue between astronomers, and Austrian educators and science enthusiasts focused on how to unite both groups. (Photo Credit: IAU)
About Inspiring Stars
“Inspiring Stars” is a collaborative initiative in which resources related to astronomy research, communication and education are collected via an open call and combined in an interactive exhibition. Inspiring Stars will broaden the horizons of children, parents, teachers and astronomers by showcasing assistive tools and inclusive practices. It aims at eliciting a chain reaction of committed engagement for the egalitarian participation of people with disabilities. Being inclusive both in goals and practices, the exhibition will develop itself along with the environments it visits, assimilating best practices from around the world and highlighting different local initiatives, therefore strengthening global ties between the communities.
About Hilfsgemeinschaft
The Hilfsgemeinschaft – the Austrian Association in support of the blind and visually impaired is an independent non-profit organisation founded in 1935. With more than 4,300 members, it is Austria’s oldest and largest self-help organisation to improve the conditions and standards of living of its clients. The Hilfsgemeinschaft is almost entirely funded by donations and voluntary financial contributions.
About the IAU
The IAU has more than 10,000 active members in 98 countries worldwide, and its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. “Inspiring Stars - IAU inclusive world exhibition” is a joint venture by the IAU Secretariat, the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development and the IAU Office for Astronomy Outreach. With “Inspiring Stars” the IAU intends to go further in its existing actions for the promotion of inclusion focussing on the egalitarian participation in Science.
Links
Inspiring Stars | Hilfsgemeinschaft
Contacts
Maria Rosaria D’Antonio | Head of IAU Administration | Paris, France | Tel: +33 1 43 25 83 58 | Email: dantonio@iap.fr
Piero Benvenuti | General Secretary, International Astronomical Union | Paris, France | Tel: +33 1 43 25 83 58 | Email: iau-general.secretary@iap.fr