Photoelectric Photometry Newsletter

Amateur-Professional Partnership in Astronomical Education and Research

July 4-7, 1999 University of Toronto, Canada

Introduction. Astronomy - more than any other science - benefits enormously from the active contributions of volunteers - "amateur astronomers" who bring a high degree of skill, experience, and dedication to astronomy. They contribute to astronomical research through the discovery and measurement of variable stars and comets, the study of aurorae, meteors, sunspots and solar flares, and in many other ways. They contribute to both public and school education in astronomy. Professional astronomers and educators should encourage and facilitate their work. This is the goal of this symposium - to develop effective partnerships between amateur and professional astronomers and educators. It builds on a one-day session, at the June 1997 meeting of the American Astronomical Society, and several recent amateur-professional meetings organized by the AAVSO. This symposium, and its proceedings, are intended to be the definitive resource for amateur-professional partnership in astronomy.

The Symposium. This symposium will include three days of review lectures, con- tributed oral and poster papers, formal and informal discussions. The invited speakers will include professional astronomers and educators who are known for their expertise in facilitating the work of amateurs, and amateur astronomers and educators who are knowl- edgeable, experienced leaders in their field. Most will come from North America, but there will be outstanding contributors from abroad. All participants will be encouraged to con- tribute to the symposium by presenting poster papers, and participating in the discussions. In total, we expect about 150 participants - professional and amateur astronomers, edu- cators at many levels, even undergraduate and graduate students. The symposium will be preceded by a half-day session on "The History of Amateur-Professional Partnership in Astronomy", and by other facets of the 1999 Joint Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP), the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC), and the AAVSO. The theme of the overall meeting is Partners in Astronomy.

This symposium will enhance amateur-professional partnership in many ways: by devel- oping closer links between the organizations and individuals engaged in such partnerships, and by increasing the knowledge base of the leaders and participants in these partnerships through the papers and discussions at the symposium, and in the proceedings.

The Proceedings of the symposium will be edited by John R. Percy, and published in the ASP Conference Series, which is famous for producing high quality proceedings at very reasonable price. It will include all of the reviews, contributed oral and poster papers, discussion, and resource lists.

The Venue. The University of Toronto is internationally known for its work in astro- nomical research and education. It provides a pleasant, low-cost venue for the symposium. A volunteer Local Organizing Committee is in charge of the overall organization of the meeting. The ASP will provide professional registration services.

For more information, contact John R. Percy, Erindale Campus, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L IC6; e-mail: jpercy@erin.utoronto-ca.