HR: 1400h
AN: ED73B-08    [Abstracts]
TI: Meetings with the Universe
AU: * Rusin, V
EM: vrusin@ta3.sk
AF: Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Tatranska Lomnica, Tatranska Lomnica, 059 60, Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
AU: Svoren, J
EM: astrsven@ta3.sk
AF: Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Tatranska Lomnica, Tatranska Lomnica, 059 60, Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
AU: Husarik, M
EM: mhusarik@ta3.sk
AF: Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Tatranska Lomnica, Tatranska Lomnica, 059 60, Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
AB: One of the most characteristic traits of the current astronomical research is a huge amount of professional information and an ever-increasing flow of observational data, a substantial fraction of which comes in pictures so appealing to the general public. In 2007, a group of research scientists of the Astronomical Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences (Slovakia) got approved a project aimed at a specific transfer of astronomical data and knowledge to the general public -- a task of crucial importance especially this year, the IYA2009. The aim of the project is to popularise the field of astronomy to the wide public community and to increase the rudimentary astronomical knowledge of pupils and students of basic and secondary schools. One of the project's tasks is also to deepen such knowledge of teachers of physics, geography and natural sciences by organizing astronomy-focused meetings at a national level. It is important that the students and the wide public acquire information about practical applications of both astronomical and space research and see explicitly where a non-negligible part of the state budget from tax payers goes. This contribution highlights our experience being engaged in such activities and gives some tips for future developments this important professional-public relations.
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0830 Teacher training
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2009 Joint Assembly