The "Cape Declaration about STARTEC"

 

1. Preamble

 

We, as educational representatives of some of the largest and most advanced astronomical facilities in the world, meeting in February 2001 at the South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, agree that:

 

á       Scientific endeavour is a fundamental human activity, increasingly influencing our lives and producing innumerable benefits.

á       Astronomy is a basic science with roots in every human culture. It possesses an exceptional potential to attract public interest and elevate science literacy around the world.

á       Large, state-of-the-art astronomical facilities have a special capacity for generating new knowledge. Representing beacons of human creativity, they have become public icons of science and technology.

 

In our common point of view, this implies that we have a responsibility to assume a leading role in astronomy education and public outreach.

 

Consequently, based on our combined, considerable experience in this field, we propose to establish the "STate-of-the-ARt Telescope Educational Collaboration (STARTEC)" within the framework described below.

 

2. The STARTEC Framework

 

2.1 The Vision

 

The world's large state-of-the-art astronomical facilities play a significant role in expanding the frontiers of knowledge. They therefore bear a responsibility to enhance the awareness of all people regarding our place in the Universe and the importance and relevance of scientific endeavours. STARTEC represents the education and outreach efforts of these facilities.

 

2.2 Mission Statement

 

By sharing resources and expertise, members of STARTEC will enhance their individual education and public outreach activities and better carry the excitement of astronomy to a wider audience throughout the world.

 

2.3 Objective and Goals

 

Our objective is to establish a Forum for the exchange of resources and expertise, with the following main goals:

 

1.           To inspire the general public to appreciate and support astronomy

2.           To inspire and prepare future generations of scientists, engineers and technicians

3.           To discuss and, when appropriate, respond to issues affecting science education

4.           To use the collective visibility and prestige of the STARTEC members to achieve a better interface with the media and so improve science literacy and awareness

5.           To improve public awareness of the threats of air and light pollution, radio interference and space debris and gain support for the preservation of the global astronomy environment

6.           To leverage resources and funds to achieve greater impact

7.           To foster collaborations among members, e.g., teacher exchanges, media events

8.           To improve our own Education and Public Outreach (EPO) efforts through professional development, such as networking

9.           To provide examples of effective EPO programs

10.       To encourage and assist EPO programs for future large astronomical facilities

11.       To provide a model for EPO collaborations among large research facilities in other scientific disciplines.

 

3. Implementation plan

 

3.1 Name and logo of collaboration

 

The participants agree that the following name/acronym will be used:

 

STARTEC =

STate-of-the-ARt Telescope Education Collaboration

 

A logo for STARTEC will be designed as soon as possible. It will use normally available fonts and will reproduce well in B/W and also in small format.

 

3.2 Leadership

 

It is agreed that Sandra Preston will lead the group for the present. This includes "secretarial" duties. She will ensure frequent communication among the group members.

 

3.3 Membership

 

It was decided to adopt the following criteria for membership:

 

á       State-of-the-art research observatory with extensive EPO program

á       At least 1 full-time EPO employee

 

At this moment, the membership is equal to the participation in the present meeting, i.e.,

 

                           Arecibo, ESO, Gemini, HST/Origins Education Forum, IAC/GTC, Jodrell Bank/PPARC, McDonald/HET, NRAO SAAO/SALT

 

In addition, these should be reconfirmed now (unable to participate in this meeting):   

 

Keck, Subaru

 

The group further decided to invite now:    

 

Chandra

 

The group wishes to remain reasonably small during the set-up process, but it would be considered to invite others fulfilling the above criteria to join later.

        

3.3 First presentations of STARTEC

 

The participating organisations will announce their collaboration within STARTEC at various expo/events in their respective areas. A joint expo panel will be designed and used. Each organisation should forward approximately 200 copies of their brochure(s) to be available at each of these events.

 

The following are identified at this moment:

 

         EAS (Munich, Sept. 2001)

         EWST (Geneva, Nov. 2001)

         AAS (Washington, Jan. 2002)

         IAC ("Communication", Feb. 2002)

        

3.4 Proceedings

 

A written paper of the talks given must be submitted for inclusion in the proceedings by end of February 2001. It should consist of 500 Ð 2500 words.

 

3.5 Next meetings of STARTEC

 

Impromptu invitations were received from Peter Michaud (Hawaii), Ian Morison (UK), Richard West (Garching), Daniel Altschuler (Arecibo)

 

The group decided to hold its next meeting at Arecibo on Friday/Saturday December 7-8, 2001. Another will be held at a time and place to be decided at that meeting. It was also decided to meet at the time of the IAU GA in Sydney (August 2003 at IAU GA).

 

3.6 Initial Responsibilities and Actions

 

It is agreed that

 

Terry Teays will set up mailing list (exploder) + bulletin board

 

Case Rijsdijk will submit a report about STARTEC to IAU Comm. 46

 

Sandra Preston will work with Daniel Altschuler and Jose Alonso on the preparations for the Arecibo meeting

 

Richard West will prepare a joint expo panel that can be taken over and used by all members: for this he will receive by April 1st from the others a picture with good resolution (300 dpi TIFF or whatever; final format about A4) + caption (100 words) about their individual organisations. A draft expo panel will then be circulated (pdf) for comments Ð the final version to be printed at ESO by May 1st and sent to all participants for use in their expos/events.

 

Case Rijsdijk and Peter Michaud will help Sandra Preston to prepare the proceedings of this meeting

 

Frank Cianciolo will make up the website and host it at the McDonald Observatory

 

Terry Teays will co-ordinate the making of the logo, receiving input from other members and also from his own group

 

3.7 Signed Agreement

 

It was agreed to sign the present declaration now, but also to prepare a more official MOU before the next meeting, eventually to be signed by the directors of the participating institutes.

 

This MOU should include a commitment for travel money for the group members to participate in meetings, etc. Each institute would also ensure that at least one of their EPO staff will attend each meeting; this would preferably be the same EPO person, at least during the set-up of the collaboration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signed at SAAO (Cape Town, South Africa) on February 18, 2001

 

JosŽ L. Alonso

(NAIC/Arecibo Observatory)

 

Daniel Altschuler

(NAIC/Arecibo Observatory)

 

Frank Cianciolo

(McDonald Observatory/HET)

 

Luis Cuesta Crespo

(IAC/GTC)

 

David G. Finley

(NRAO)

 

Mary Kay Hemenway

(McDonald Observatory/HET)

 

Peter Michaud

(Gemini Observatory)

 

Ian Morison

(Jodrell Bank Observatory/PPARC)

 

Sandra Preston

(McDonald Observatory/HET)

 

Case Rijsdijk

(SAAO/SALT)

 

Terry Teays

(STScI/Origins Education Forum)

 

Richard M. West

(ESO/VLT)