Letters of Intent received in 2016

LoI 2018-305
Under one Sky: the IAU Centenary Symposium

Date: 20 August 2018 to 23 August 2018
Category: Non-GA Symposium
Location: Vienna, Austria
Contact: John Hearnshaw (john.hearnshaw@canterbury.ac.nz)
Coordinating division: Division C Education, Outreach and Heritage
Other divisions: Division A Fundamental Astronomy
Co-Chairs of SOC: John Hearnshaw (University of Canterbury)
Xiaochun Sun (Inst History Natural Science, CAS)
Chair of LOC: TBD ()

 

Topics

1. History of the IAU
2. Celebrating 100 years of astronomy and astrophysics
3. How the IAU has promoted astronomy through international collaborations and exchanges
4. Reminiscences of the IAU from past General Secretaries and Presidents, and other prominent astronomers.

 

Rationale

The 2018 General Assembly in Vienna is the best opportunity to mark the Centenary of the Union. Although the IAU was founded in July 2019, we believe that August 2018 will be the perfect time for this unique opportunity, as so many astronomers will be in Vienna at that time, and a large number will be interested in attending this Centenary Symposium to celebrate this significant milestone. We do not believe that a separate symposium in July 2019 would attract the same interest or have the same impact.

At this stage we have written to all past living IAU Presidents and all past IAU General Secretaries, and we have positive replies from the following to our invitation to give invited addresses at the centenary symposium:

Presidents: Ron Ekers, Catherine Cesarsky, Bob Williams, Norio Kaifu

General Secretaries: Jean-Claude Pecker, Derek McNally, Johannes Andersen, Hans Rickman, Oddbjorn Engvold, Karel van der Hucht, Thierry Montmerle.

The following past GS may also be present and participate in the symposium: Richard West, Jean-Pierre Swings, Immo Appenzeller, Ian Corbett, but were unable to give any assurance they could come.

We also plan to invite other prominent astronomers who have been active in the IAU in years past, including several past vice-presidents, but we will announce their names at the time of a full proposal.

Although our preference is for a 4-day symposium, we would consider a 2-day focus meeting if there is too much competition for a symposium. We feel the unique nature of this event fully justifies the allocation of a 4-day symposium.

In addition to talks during the day, we would organize an evening event to celebrate the IAU Centenary during the symposium, possible a banquet and/or a concert.