Photoelectric Photometry Newsletter

Symposium on Amateur-Professional Partnership in Astronomy

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), as part of its first-ever joint meeting with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) and the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO), is organizing a major symposium on "Amateur-Professional Partnership in Astronomy Research and Education", to be held at the University of Toronto, Canada, July 5-7, 1999.

Astronomy already benefits enormously from the active contributions of amateur (volunteer) astronomers, and there are exciting possibilities for the future. "Thanks to burgeoning, affordable technology, amateur astronomers today have unprecedented opportunities for making substantial and innovative contributions to science, and to the public's understanding of astronomy," says Leif J. Robinson, Editor-in-Chief of Sky and Telescope, the world's leading astronomy magazine. "Partnering between amateurs and professionals has had a long and successful history; enhancing such partnerships benefits everyone," he says. The goal of this symposium is to expand the quantity, quality, and variety of amateur-professional partnerships. Through its published proceedings and other follow-ups, it will serve as a guide and resource for partnerships for many years to come.

The program will include presentations by successful partnerships in many areas of astronomy research - techniques such as imaging, photometry and spectroscopy; science such as sky surveys; the discovery of asteroids, comets, novae, supernovae and other variable stars; observations of these and other phenomena, including the sun, moon, planets, and meteors; and occultations. How and why do these partnerships work? How could they be improved and extended? The program will also examine frontier areas of amateur research, including ones which connect with NASA's "Origins" program, and with its "Great Observatories". The revolution in astronomical imaging and computing enables the amateur to contribute to frontier science in asteroids and comets (especially Near-Earth Objects), planetary imaging, cataclysmic variables including supernovae and gamma-ray bursters, and even SETI - the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence.

Amateurs already make important contributions to both formal (school) and informal education, through national programs such as the ASP's Project ASTRO, and the annual " Astronomy Day". There is the potential - and the need - for amateurs and professionals to increase their education activity ten-fold. Science literacy is low; science education is a national priority; and astronomy has a special appeal to students at all levels. The symposium program includes an overview of astronomy education, and panel discussions on "astronomers in the classroom", on extra-curricular astronomy, and on working with the print and electronic media which are so influential. How can amateur and professional astronomers, planetariums and science centers, schools and universities, national observatories, governments and the media form educational partnerships which enhance each others' efforts? How can the observational activities of amateur astronomy be transformed into hands-on science for schools? How can young people be attracted to amateur astronomy - and to science in general?

The symposium will be of interest to everyone who wishes to encourage and facilitate productive partnerships between amateurs and professionals in astronomical research and education, or who participates in such partnerships, or who might want to do so. For more information, contact the ASP, 390 Ashton Avenue, San Francisco CA 94112; e-mail meetings@aspsky.org; www.aspsky.org A range of reasonably-priced accommodations will be available. There will be a registration fee, which will include a copy of the proceedings of the symposium.