| Summary: |
The tremendous progress made by Astronomy over the centuries has
been followed with much interest by the general public and yet, at
the same time, many issues arise in its interactions within our societies.
What is the actual rôle of Astronomy? The aim of this Symposium
is to provide a global, and at the same time detailed, view of the
very many activities that link Astronomy to our diverse cultures.
It should also be the right forum to discuss the ways these activities
can be improved upon, from the local to the international levels.
Bertrand Russell famously discussed the divorce between science
and `culture' back in 1957, and warned us of its consequences for
the survival of humankind. Since then, the gap has perhaps widened
even more and yet, at the same time, our societies have never been
so interested in scientific activities and in particular by Astronomy,
being increasingly aware of the progress made over the past decades.
Astronomers are well aware of their social responsibilities as scientists,
and engage in a wide spectrum of activities to bring Astronomy to
a larger public within their cultures, and in some cases around
the planet. Yet light pollution prevents more and more people to
watch the sky and be aware of the beauty of astronomical phenomena,
while artists continue to be inspired by them. The public success
of well-publicised discoveries, and space missions, should not however
mask some infamous overstatements, such as the case of the NASA
Mars meteorite, which may question the science communication tools
that have been used.
What is, therefore, the precise rôle of Astronomy within
our societies? How may astronomers influence, and are affected by,
the different cultures they live in? How Astronomy is perceived
by the different actors in our societies, from the general public
to governmental agencies through artists and students? Can astronomers
help reducing the waning interest that the younger generations of
students feel about science studies? What are the current efforts
in astronomy education across the planet, especially in developing
countries? Can we reach in better ways impaired or confined communities?
Can collaborations be improved with amateurs and be more cooperative
with their activities, along with those offered by the planetaria
world-wide? How can astronomical societies and science academies
help governmental agencies in deciding the policies that will affect
our societies?
These are some of the questions that will be addressed at the Symposium,
as it will be the forum to present the activities and efforts that
are taking place world-wide,besides the ones organised for 2009,
and ponder on the way to improve the multiple aspects and relations
that Astronomy has within our societies, our diverse cultures and
educations. Bringing together many representatives of the different
initiatives and activities developped in all these aspects, we seek
to prove a detailed panorama, so that we can further focus on the
efforts that remain to be made.
UNESCO, following its mandate as the specialised agency of the
United Nations in Science, Education and Culture, has helped tremendously
by endorsing the declaration of 2009 as the International Year of
Astronomy. Not only it is the ideal time to bring together all the
major actors that shape the rôle of Astronomy, but also UNESCO
is the proper place for such an international symposium to take
place.
Overall, this conference will therefore bring together most major
actors that succeed in ensuring that Astronomy is present at all
levels in Education, Society and Culture worldwide. These are precisely
the aims of UNESCO, and it is only right that this Symposium takes
place at their Headquarters in Paris during the International Year
of Astronomy.
In addition to the Symposium, an art exhibition is being organised,
so that the inspiration produced by astronomical phenomena can be
shared with the artists present at the Symposium.
|
