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Galaxy Forums 2011
The theme of these forums is "Galaxy 21st Century Education" which is designed to advance general science education throughout the world.
Read about Galaxy Forum Architecture 2010-2015.
Download the "21st Century Education" Hawai‘i Island Galaxy resources handout produced by ILOA. Professionally produced Galaxy Forum DVDs featuring Hawaii Island Galaxy Educator Pioneer Dr. Kumiko Usuda of Subaru Telescope are also available -- please contact us to get a copy.
Selected speakers make various presentations on the topic of our Galaxy and others, with teachers, science educators, students and astronomers of all kinds and interested members of the community in attendance.
An interactive panel discussion follows the presentations.
Confirmed:
* Galaxy Forum 2011 USA: Saturday, 2 July 2011, 9:30-11:30am at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA (See below for more details)
* Galaxy Forum 2011 India: Nationwide Event in Bangalore; Monday-Tuesday, 8-9 August 2011
* Galaxy Forum Kansas: Saturday, 20 August 2011 at the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center
* Galaxy Forum Europe, Prague: Saturday, 10 September 2011 at the Czech Technical University
* Galaxy Forum New York: Friday, 23 September 2011 at Scarsdale High School
* Galaxy Forum Africa, Cape Town: Friday, 7 October 2011 at the South African Astronomical Observatory
To be Confirmed:
* Galaxy Forum China, Beijing: Thursday, 8 December 2011 at the National Astronomical Observatory Chinese Academy of Sciences
* Galaxy Forum Japan, Tokyo: Saturday, 10 December 2011 at the Miraikan: National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Galaxy Forum USA:
Saturday, July 2, 2011, 9:30 - 11:30am at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose California
Past Galaxy Forums 2011
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Galaxy Forum China 2011 - Shanghai:
- World-renowned artist Jon Lomberg of Galaxy Garden, Hawaii Island, "The Galaxy Garden of Hawaii"
- Professor Ye Shuhua, Former Director of SHAO, "Newly Discovered Planets and the Possibility of Life in our Galaxy"
Saturday 14 May, 1-4pm at the Shanghai Science Hall
Over 500 people enjoyed the presentations by:
- Steve Durst of the International Lunar Observatory Association, "The ILOA Galaxy First Light Imaging Program"
- SHAO representative TBD on Astronomy Education Program
Galaxy Forum 2011 Canada: Sunday, 3-5pm, 10 April at the MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, BC.
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Special Galaxy Astrophysics presentation by Levon Pogosian of SFU
"The Universe Outside Our Galaxy"
'Exploring and Mining the Galaxy' by John Chapman,
'Science Education: From Atoms to the Stars' by Sophie Lavieri
Galaxy Forum Hawaii 2011 Kona
Saturday 29 January, 9:30-11:00am at the Onizuka Space Center,
Special Presentation:
Native Hawaiian Cultural Practicioners Ali‘i Kimo Pihana and Koa Rice: Hawai‘i Culture and Galaxy 21st Century Education
A DVD of the presentation will be available soon.
Special 'Galaxy Star Awards' were given to Jon Lomberg of Galaxy Garden and Una Burns of West Hawaii Exploration Academy.
Galaxy Forums 2010
Galaxy Forum Hapuna
Thursday 16 December, 4-5:30pm at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort
Special Presentation:
Native Hawaiian Cultural Practicioners Ali‘i Kimo Pihana and Koa Rice: Hawai‘i Culture and Galaxy 21st Century Education
Guests included Hawaii Island Galaxy Education pioneers and special invited guests.
Galaxy Star Awards were presented to Kimo, Koa and Kumiko Usuda of Subaru Telescope
Galaxy Forum Japan
Saturday 4 December 1:00pm-5:00pm at Miraikan (Japan's National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation).
- Dr. Toshihiro Handa, Kagoshima University Faculty of Science, Dept. of Physics: Study of Astrophysics of the Milky Way Galaxy as a Template for Other Galaxies
- Tomonori Hayakawa, Science Communicator, Miraikan: Miraikan Science and Astronomy Activities. (221 KB)
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program. (4.44 MB)
Download the Galaxy Forum Japan flyer here.
Galaxy Forum Oahu
Tuesday 16 November 4:15 - 6pm at The Bishop Museum Planetarium, Honolulu
Download the Galaxy Forum Oahu flyer here.
Presentations:- Mary Beth Laychak, Canada France Hawaii Telescope: Galaxy Research and Education at Canada France Hawaii Telescope [to be published soon]
- Mike Shanahan, Director of Bishop Museum Planetarium [Planetarium presentation]
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program. (4.44 MB)
Mahalo to the O‘ahu teachers who particiated: Debra Gochros (‘Ewa Makai Middle School), Lina Fukuda (Adjunct Instructor, Leeward CC) and Lillian Yanagawa (Kalani High School).
Galaxy Forum Europe -- Prague
Saturday 2 October from 10am-12pm at Stefanik Observatory
Download the Galaxy Forum Europe -- Prague flyer here.
Presentations:
- Jean-Luc Josset, Space-X: [to be published soon]
- Yuki Takahashi, University of California at Berkeley: Galactic Astronomy from Antarctica (7.56MB)
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program. (4.27 MB)
Galaxy Forum Kansas -- Hutchinson
Saturday 28 August, 2pm - 4pm, at the Kansas Cosmosphere. This was the 2nd Galaxy Forum in Kansas.
Left to Right: Steve Durst (ILOA / Space Age Publishing), Prof Meyers (WSU), Dr. Nicholas Solomey (WSU), Elias Jordan, Senator Stephen Morris (President of the Kansas Senate), Jeanette Steinert (Ad Astra Kansas)
Download the Galaxy Forum Kansas 2010 announcement here (337 kb PDF).
Press coverage:- Deep Space, 25 August, The Hutchinson News
- Senator: Space project would be a plus, 21 August at HutchNews.com
- Senate President Morris to Speak at Science Event, 18 August at Kansas station WIBW
- Cosmic ray research may hit Kansas, 9 May 2010 at Kansas.com
- Elias Jordan, Kansas Astronomical Observers: How to Interest Students in Astronomy
- Dr. Nicholas Solomey, Wichita State University: Auger North: The science behind Kansas’ proposed cosmic ray observatory (6.42 MB)
- Senator Steve Morris, President of the Kansas Senate: Promoting Auger North, Science Education and the Economy
Galaxy Forum China -- Beijing, China
Saturday 14 August at the Beijing Planetarium 23m Dome in Beijing, China 4:10pm - 6:30pm.
This is the 3rd Galaxy Forum in China, with others planned in 2011 and beyond. Special thanks to Beijing Planetarium Director Jin Zhu, BJP Astronomy Educator Ziping Zhang and the BJP staff for their robust and generous planning, support and hosting of the Galaxy Forum event.
Click here to download English and Chinese press release (886 KB).
Presentations:- Jon Lomberg, Space Artist, founder of Galaxy Garden: “Galaxy Garden: The World’s First Living Model of the Milky Way Galaxy" and "The Voyager Golden Record: A Portrait of Humanity"
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program [with Chinese translations]. (4.27 MB)
Galaxy Forum India -- Bangalore, India
Monday 9 August at the Nehru Planetarium in Bangalore, India 9:30am - 4:30pm. Over 100 attendees, including ~50 teachers and educators.
Special thanks to Nehru Planetarium Director Chandrakant Shukre, Prof UR Rao, BS Shylaja, PG Galgali, HR Madhusudan and KK Kutty for helping to organize, promote and host the event in Bangalore.
Reach for the stars - and the planetarium tells you how, Daily News and Analysis, Mumbai, 10 August 2010.
Click here to download PDF announcement (13KB)
Presentations:- Dr. CS Shukre, Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium: Bangalore Association For Science Education (BASE)
- Prof UR Rao, Chairman, Bangalore Association for Science Education (BASE): Excitement in Astronomy (2.65 MB)
- Dr. CS Shukre, on behalf of Dr. Tarun Deep Saini (IISc), Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium: Our Place in the Milky Way and Beyond (3.52 MB)
- BS Shylaja, Associate Director Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium: The Milky Way — Our Galaxy (3.53 MB)
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program (4.16 MB)
Included panel discussion on "Perspectives on Astronomy Education in India."
Galaxy Forum USA -- San Jose, California
4 July 2010 at the Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose, California, 9:30am - 11:30pm.
Click here to download PDF announcement (97KB)
Presentations:- Dr. Randolf Klein, UC Berkeley: The Galactic Matter Cycle and Star Formation (4.62 MB)
- Pamela Harman, SETI Institute ASSET Program: Teaching Astrobiology (1.61 MB)
- Ryan Nurmela and Michael Finnegan, Quantum Camp: Comprehending Quantum
- Patrick Hamill, Department of Physics & Astronomy, San Jose State University: A Lunar Earth Observatory (19.6 KB)
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program (4.23 MB) and Galaxy Enterprise in the 21st Century: Pioneering Businesses With Galactic Aspirations (920 KB)
Galaxy Forum Hawai‘i -- Hilo
23 May 2010 at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hilo, Hawaii Island 10:30am - 12:30pm.
Click here to view the announcement or download the PDF flyer.
The final of three 2010 Hawaii Island Galaxy Forum events was substantial in content with robust presentations from East Hawaii education, astronomy and Hawaiian culture specialists.
In attendance were a few local teachers and educators as well as interested member of the general public.
The Hawaii Tribune Herald wrote two stories on the Galaxy Forum Hilo event:- Speakers Illuminate our Galaxy, Hawaii Tribune-Herald , 22 May 2010
- Get to Know Your Place in the Universe at Galaxy Forum, Hawaii Tribune-Herald , 21 May 2010
- Shawn Laatsch, Planetarium Director, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center: Milky Way Galaxy Planetarium presentation
- Dr. Kumiko Usuda: Education Outreach Scientist, Subaru Telescope: Teaching Galaxy Education in Hawai‘i's Classrooms (6.15 MB)
- Peter Michaud, Public Information and Outreach, Gemini Observatory: Gemini Astronomy and Galaxy Research (3.56 MB)
- Kimo Pihana & Koa Rice: Hawaiian Culture and Galaxy Education (2.66 MB)
Local videographer Brad White taped the event and will be producing another DVD of Dr. Usuda's excellent Galaxy Education talk for distribution to teachers to add to their science unit.
Galaxy Forum Hawai‘i -- Waimea
18 March 2010 at Canada France Hawaii Telescope headquarters in Waimea, Hawaii Island 5:30pm - 7:30pm
- Mary Beth Laychak: Education Outreach Astronomer, Canada France Hawaii Telescope: Public Outreach and Galaxy Research at CFHT (2.09 MB)
- Kimo Pihana, Native Hawaiian Cultural Practicioner / ILOA Director: Kumulipo the Creation of the Universe (1.81 MB)
- Steve Durst / Joseph Sulla: ‘Galaxy Moon:’ ILO Galaxy First Light Imaging Program International Lunar Observatory Association (2.63 MB)
Says Mary Beth Laychak: "Everyone who attended really seemed to enjoy the forum. I had several excellent conversations afterwards with some very interested people."
- Jim Johnson, Hawaii Dept. of Education teacher, Navigator
- Marc Saks, teacher / administrator, Hualalai Academy
- James Stewart, retired educator
- Jesse Tarnas, student, CFHT summer intern
- members of the general public
Click here to see "Galaxy Forum Hawaii 2010 -- Waimea" announcement.
Galaxy Forum 2010 Hawaii -- Kona
30 January 2010 at Onizuka Space Center at Kona International Airport, Hawaii Island; 10:30am - 12:30pm
Click to read "Stellar academics: Forum stresses importance of astronomy education" West Hawaii Today, 31 January by Chelsea Jensen.
Dr. Kumiko Usuda, Education Outreach Scientist of Subaru Telescope, gave an excellent and spirited presentation on How to Teach Galaxy Education to Students (11 MB), from preschool thru college.
A DVD of Galaxy Forum Kona was filmed and produced by Hawai‘i Island Video. ILOA is distributing these DVDs to teachers around the Island for their classrooms.
In attendance:- West Hawaii Explorations Academy high school science teacher Una Burns
- Innovation Public Charter School middle school science teacher Megan Dehning
- Onizuka Space Center Director and Educator Nancy Tashima
- Hawaii Island / State Representative Cindy Evans (North Kona, South Kohala)
- Videographer Brad White
- ILOA Directors Steve Durst and Charles Bohannan
- Members of the general public, including a few young students
Click here to see "Galaxy Forum Hawaii 2010 -- Kona" announcement.
Galaxy Forums 2009
Click here to see Galaxy Forums 2008.
2009:
Galaxy Forum China - Beijing
8 October 2009 at the Beijing Planetarium, 2:00 - 5:00 pm, room 507
Presentations:- Jin Zhu: Director, Beijing Planetarium: Intro to Astronomy Education at Beijing Planetarium and in Mainland China (650 KB)
- Hans Starlife: "Cosmica" and Astronomy / Galaxy community outreach and education (3.86 MB)
- Zhou Xu: Dome A Antarctica Astronomy and Galaxy Research (6.98 MB)
- Steve Durst: ILO Galaxy First Light Imaging Program (4.19 MB)
- Panel discussion with attendee/participant interaction, with theme "Galaxy Education in the 21st Century"
Galaxy Forum Canada -- Vancouver: 2009 Paul Sykes Lecture in Astronomy
27 September 2009 at the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre, 3:00 pm, Vancouver, Canada
A Galaxy Forum-related event, sponsored by ILOA and in partnership with the Vancouver Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and the H.R. Macmillan Space Centre.
Presentation by:
Neil Turok, Director of Cosmology at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Dr. Turok reveals two models: one in which the Universe began at the Bang, and the other in which the Bang was a violent event in a pre-existing Universe. The competition between these models lies at the heart of many deep questions about the Universe, and about our ultimate ability to understand it.
Dr. Turok has worked with Dr. Stephen Hawking and also founded the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences. He co-authored the popular science book “Endless Universe: Beyond the Big Bang” with Princeton physicist Dr. Paul Steinhardt.
Galaxy Forum Workshop Mauna Kea - Hawai‘i Island, Hawai‘i, USA
Download the Hawaii Island Galaxy Forum 21st Centruy Education Flyer. (322kb PDF)
Saturday 29 August 9:30am - 11:30, Mauna Kea Presentation Hale (directly under the Visitor's Center)
The focus of this meeting was to engage Hawaii Island's teachers, education advocates and astronomers to plan and implement 21st Century Galaxy Education and awareness in Hawaii's local schools and classrooms--elementary and secondary, public and private.
Present were Helene Hale, James Kimo Pihana, teachers from Hilo, Kona, and Waimea, Kumiko Usuada of Subaru telescope and ILOA Executive Directors.
Topics include:- How can "Getting to Know Our Place in the Universe" inspire, engage and influence the minds of keiki (children) in our classrooms?
- How can we integrate Native Hawaiian culture into 21st Century Galaxy Education?
- How can Galaxy / Astronomy Science and Galaxy Education materials be integrated into the K-12 standards-based education system?
- How can Hawai’i Island educators utilize the world-class resources of science and astronomy on this island?
Galaxy Forum Kansas - Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday 22 August 9:30am - 11:30, Kansas Cosmophere and Space Center
Speakers (you can download their presentation in PDF format):- Jeanette Steinert, Ad Astra Kansas Initiative
- Joel Walker, Kansas Cosmophere and Space Center
- Fred Gassert, Jerelyn Ramirez and Joe Castor, Kansas Astronomical Observers, Wichita: Our Place in the Milky Way (Image credit courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech) (778kb)
- Mike Ford, NASA Fermi-GLAST educator: The Monster in the Middle — How We Study Galaxies’ Black Holes (1.6MB)
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: "International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program" (2.13MB)
The event continued with a spirited panel discussion on advancing and enhancing general science education in Kansas.
Galaxy Forum Kansas also featured an "Additional Stellar Event" featuring an Astronaut presentation at the Cosmosphere marking the 25th anniversary of the maiden launch of Space Shuttle Discovery.
Click here to download the Galaxy Forum Kansas program handout.
Galaxy Forum USA - San Jose, California
Saturday 4 July 9:30am - 11:30, The Tech Museum of Innovation
Speakers (you can download their presentation in PDF format):- Chris Mckay, Planetary Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center "Human Exploration of the Moon & Mars: To Boldly Stay" (2.24MB)
- Jon Lomberg, Art Director for Carl Sagan’s "Cosmos"; Hawai‘i Island Artist: "The Galaxy Garden of Hawaii: Opportunities for Participation"
- Fred Bourgeois, Google Lunar X Prize FREDNET Team Founder & Leader: One People, One Planet (602KB)
- Doug Vakoch, SETi Institute, Director of Interstellar Message Composition
- Yvonne Clearwater, NASA Project Manager and Principal Investigator, NASA Ames Research Center: "New Media Innovation in Galaxy Education"
- Steve Durst, Space Age Publishing Company, International Lunar Observatory Association – Founder: "International Lunar Observatory (ILO) Galaxy First Light Imaging Program" (2.04MB)
Click here to view the Galaxy Forum USA 4 July annoucement and download the flyer.
Galaxy Forum Hawaii - Hilo
Sunday 17 May 10:30am - 12:30, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
The Galaxy Forum Hawaii – Hilo attracted about 30 people to the Classroom Conference Room at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center at "Astronomy Row" in Hilo, Hawaii Island.
Teachers and educators representing Hilo schools were in attendance, and some participated in the follow-up panel discussion. This includes:- Hilo High School: Serena Nishihara (Kumu Serena)
- Waiakea High School: Eric Hagiwara
- Dept. of Education: Dr. Orloski
- Leilehua Yuen and Ali‘i Kimo Pihana, "Native Hawai‘i Astronomy and Cosmology"
- Shawn Laatsch, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center: Planetarium Galaxy Presentation
- Robert Fox, PISCES and UH Hilo Astronomy Department:
- Kumiko Usuda, Subaru Telescope: "Make Your Own Milky Way Models"
- ILOA: "International Lunar Observatory Galaxy First Light Imaging"
The event concluded with a lively panel discussion on advancing and enhancing general science education in Hawai‘i
Also in attendance were supportive members of the general public.
Special thanks to Helene Hale for her time and particiaption at this pioneer Hawaii Island event.
Click here to view the Galaxy Forum Hawaii -- Hilo webpage and download the flyer.
Galaxy Forum Hawaii - Waimea
Photo credit David Corrigan
Thursday, 19 March, 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Parker School
The Galaxy Forum Hawaii – Waimea attracted about 30 people to Parker School.
Teachers representing various West and North Hawaii schools were in attendance, and some participated in the follow-up panel discussion. This includes:- Honoka‘a High School: John Dustin
- Waimea Middle School: Jade Bowman
- Parker School: Maren Oom
- Hawaii Preparatroy Academy: Dr. Kristal Blacksmith
- Konawaena High School: Jim Wiley
- Moana Pihana: Opening Chant
- Steve Durst, ILOA: "Introduction to Galaxy Education in the 21st Century"
- Ali‘i Kimo Pihana: "Native Hawai‘i Astronomy and Cosmology"
- Jon Lomberg: "The Galaxy Garden as a Model for Galaxy Education"
- Jean-Charles Cuillandre, Canada France Hawaii Telescope: "Our Milky Way Among the Galaxies"
- Joseph Sulla, ILOA: “International Lunar Observatory Galaxy First Light Imaging”
Special thanks to David Corrigan of Big Island Video News for video coverage of the event.
Click here to view the Galaxy Forum Hawaii -- Waimea webpage and download the flyer.
Galaxy Forum Hawaii - Kona
Saturday, 31 January, 10 am - noon at the Onizuka Space Center.
The Galaxy Forum Hawaii – Kona, the first of its kind in Hawaii, was an exciting and successful event. Onizuka Space Center Curator Nancy Tashima opened the doors to the community for the event, which attracted about 30 people and filled the theater to capacity.
Presenters included:- Jon Lomberg -- "The Galaxy Garden as a Model for Galaxy Education" link: http://GalaxyGarden.net
- Kumiko Usuda (Subaru Telescope) -- "Make Your Own Milky Way Models"
- Tonomori Usuda (Subaru Telescope) -- "The Mystery of Galactic Supernovae"
- Steve Durst (ILOA / Space Age Publishing Company) -- "International Lunar Observatory Galaxy First Light Imaging"
A special thank you goes to teacher Una Burns of West Hawaii Explorations Academy for her participation.
2008:
Galaxy Forum China - Beijing
25 October 2008 at the Beijing Planetarium, 3:00 - 5:00 pm.
Presentations:- Steve Durst: ILO Galaxy First Light Imaging Program (6.39 MB)
- Maohai Huang: Galaxy Research and the Herschel Space Telescope
- Dongni Chen: A Garden of Galaxies
Galaxy Forum Canada - Vancouver
26 July 2008 @ MacMillan Space Center, Vancouver, 9:30 - 11:30 am
Presentations:- UR Rao
- Levon Pogosian: Our Universe – Today & Tomorrow
- Steve Durst: ILO Galaxy First Light Imaging Program (6.39 MB)
- Dan O`Connor: Galaxy Facts (1.65 MB)
- Yuki Takahashi: Galaxy Observer's Guide to the South Pole (1.95 MB PDF)
- Kimo Pihana
Galaxy Forum USA - Santa Clara, California
4 July 2008 - Santa Clara CA, USA
Click here to download 1st Announcement. (264 KB PDF)
- Jon Lomberg: The Galaxy Garden of Hawaii
- Yuki Takahashi: Galaxy Observation from the South Pole (2.2 MB PDF)
- Steve Durst: ILO Galaxy First Light Imaging Program (6.39 MB PDF)
- Donald Goldsmith: The Dark Side of the Milky Way (1.0 MB PDF)