News
GTTP news
First GTTP Session for Portuguese Speaking African Countries
The Galileo Teacher Training Programme (GTTP) team in Portugal, still in the scope of IYA2009 national plan of activities and with the support of Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, has promoted the first GTTP training session for Portuguese speaking African countries (PALOP is the acronym in Portuguese). The session had 6 participants from: Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique and São Tomé and Prince. The Portuguese team was composed by astrophysicists and Galileo Teachers (GT). During one week the group had the opportunity to be exposed to several different types of tools and resources starting from the very simple ones, with very simple material ending with a robotic telescope observing session.
FETTU wins IYA2009/Mani Bhaumik Prize – GTTP gets 3rd prize
The International Year of Astronomy 2009/Mani Bhaumik Prize for Excellence in Astronomy Education and Public Outreach has been awarded to From Earth to the Universe (FETTU). This award recognises FETTU’s important contribution in improving public awareness of astronomical achievements, and in stimulating the use of astronomy for the promotion of scientific education and culture in 2009.
Three additional projects from the very high quality field were selected as runners-up in the contest. The first runner-up is Around the World in 80 Telescopes with The Galileoscope and Galileo Teacher Training Program sharing the second runners-up prize, for their outstanding contributions to all aspects of education during IYA2009.
GTTP 2010 – Call for Proposals
The IAU and UNESCO has earmarked a certain amount of funding to support IYA2009 related projects and activities in developing regions. This call for proposals comes via the GTTP cornerstone and is thus targeted at providing seed funding and basic support in order to stimulate teacher training workshops in developing regions. Note that although this funding is aimed specifically at “developing countries”, exceptions with appropriate motivation will be accepted – the main concern simply being who the beneficiaries would be. Proposals should also be in alignment with the IYA2009 goals and more specifically the GTTP goals.
New deadline for submition: March 25th 2010
GTTP Inquiry – Astronomy Education Survey
The Galileo Teacher Training Program (GTTP) was born as a cornerstone of IYA2009 but its legacy will continue long after the end of 2009, as it is now an official educational program of the IAU (International Astronomical Union) and part of the “IAU Decadal Strategic Plan”.
We are now asking some input from the community in order to understand the best way to move GTTP forward in the years to come. Please take some time and fill in this form with the requested information.
Dark Skies Ranger Program
The Dark Sky Awareness (DSA) and the Galileo Teacher Training Program (GTTP) are cornerstones of the International Year of Astronomy. The main goal of DSA is to raise the level of public knowledge about adverse impacts of excess artificial lighting on local environments and help more people appreciate the ongoing loss of a dark night sky for much of the world’s population. GTTP’s goal is to create a worldwide network of teachers trained in the effective use and transfer of astronomy education tools and resources into classroom science curricula.
Both programs decided to launch a joint effort: “Dark Skies Ranger Program”, for the new school year joining both cornerstones goals. Students will enhance their awareness of the growing light pollution problem, learn how to assess this problem and at the same time engage in the use of the science research method and techniques to evaluate it.
GTTP London Taster-Day
Leilak Education and the Faulkes Telescope Project invite London-based teachers of science at secondary school to register to attend a Galileo Teacher Training Program Taster-Day Workshop to be held at The Royal Astronomical Society, London, on the 26th October 2009. A limitednumber of places are available for this hands-on workshop.
Limited places – register now