Transcript Document 7344433

New system of science communication based
on the collaboration with a university and public
astronomical observatories in a regional area
Masami OKYUDO
Network in Wakayama, Education of Astronomy and Research,
Wakayama University
[email protected]
Astronomical group in Wakayama Pref.
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Public Astronomical Observatories and Planetariums
 Misato Observatory
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Kawabe Astronomical Park
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12-m planetarium, 1 curator, since 1981
Wakayama University
 Faculty of Education
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60cm telescope, 1 professor and 1 associate professor
Faculty of Engineering
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1 associate professor
Student Center for Independent Research in the Sciences
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50-cm telescope, 1 curator (part-time), since 1992
Wakayama Science Museum
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100-cm telescope, 11-m planetarium, 2 curators, since 1996
Oishi-Kogen Astronomical Observatory
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105-cm telescope, 3 curators, since 1995
1 professor
We held a workshop “WAKATEN” every month in the last 10 years.
Misato 1-m
Oishi 0.5-m
Misato 8-m Radio
Wakayama-U 0.6-m
Kawabe 1-m
Collaboration with Misato Obs. and Wakayama Univ.
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Practice for curator course at Misato Obs.
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Joint Research and Development
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After their practices, many students continued their studies at
the observatory
5 bachelor’s theses and 5 master’s theses in the past 5 years
Remote telescope using the Internet
Observation of minor planets, comets, etc.
8-m radio telescope for education
Fusion of the Art and Astronomy
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Music and Astronomy
Poem “TANKA” and Astronomy
Conversation between the Buddhism and the Astronomy
Appearance rate in newspapers
On Feb. 28, 2004
Obs., Univ. name
articles
curators /
researchers
months
articles/staff･month
Misato Obs., Misato Town
3750
4
104
0.822
Gunma Obs., Gunma Pref.
1980
12
59
0.342
Nishi-Harima Obs., Hyogo Pref.
4010
8
167
0.422
51200
170
191
0.159
National Obs., Japan
Another search using “Google” shows a similar result.
Present status of public astronomical
observatories and universities in Japan
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Public Astronomical Observatory
 Almost facilities established / managed only by “small” local
governments (town or village), because they need the dark night
sky.
 Fiscal crisis of the local governments
 Cut down their management costs and staff members
National universities
 Fiscal crisis of the government
 Corporatization, Privatization
 Local universities attach importance to the collaboration with local
governments, corporations and citizen in a regional area
Solution of the problem
 The collaboration with observatories and universities
Establishment of new system
“NewEar” Network in Wakayama, Education of Astronomy and Research
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Established at Center for Education and Research of Lifelong Learning,
Wakayama University on Sept. 5, 2005
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3 curator of Misato obs. were adopted as guest associate professors of the
university.
They can subscribe for many scientific research funds like the professor of
the university
The board of education, Wakayama Prefecture will join to “NewEar”
after 2007.
Future (2007~)
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Misato Observatory will be managed by 3 organizations,
Misato town, Board of education, Wakayama Pref. and
Wakayama University
Collaboration with the
school / lifelong education
Board of education,
Wakayama Pref.
Out reach / communication
activities of Astronomy
Training of science communicator
Misato obs
Tourism
resource
Misato Town
Wakayama University
Economic effect, Vitalization of a regional area
R&D
Education of Univ. students