On the initiative of Prof. Yervant Terzian (Cornell University, NY, USA), a Project of Astronomical Lectures in the schools of the Republic of Armenia (RA) was conducted by ArAS on November 21-25, 2016. Since astronomy is not a primary subject at RA schools, this project was a chance to partially compensate this gap. High schools, including some specialized schools were selected by the RA Ministry of Education and Science (MES), one from each province and others from Yerevan. The lectures were organized either in specialized classrooms with participation of at least 30 pupils, and in some cases in the school halls with participation of up to 200 people. Altogether 27 lectures were given by 5 astronomers and Sona Farmanyan, expert in Cultural Astronomy:

• Dr. Areg Mickaelian, BAO Leading Research Associate, ArAS Co-President, Project Manager of the Armenian Virtual Observatory (ArVO), Director of IAU SWCA ROAD
• Dr. Ararat Yeghikian, BAO Senior Research Associate
• Dr. Susanna Hakopian, BAO Senior Research Associate, Coordinator of IAU SWCA ROAD TF1 Universities and Research
• Dr. Marietta Gyulzadian, BAO Research Associate and Teacher of Astronomy and Physics at Yerevan Physics-Mathematics Specialized School, Leader of the Armenian team at the International Astronomical Olympiads (IAO)
• Avetik Grigoryan, former BAO researcher (1983-1992), at present Head of the Space Group of Republican Technical Creativity Center of RA Ministry of Education and Science
• Sona Farmanyan (Cultural Astronomy), Coordinator of IAU SWCA ROAD TF3 Astronomy for the Public

     

A general presentation on “Wonders of the Universe” (PowerPoint file) was prepared, which included information on the history and modern state of astronomy, its present developments, achievements of BAO led by the outstanding scientist Viktor Ambartsumian and other famous astronomers, and a lot of beautiful pictures from the Universe. As agreed beforehand, all lectures were organized in classrooms with projectors.

A number of promotional materials were distributed to the schools libraries, teachers and pupils. ArAS and BAO publications were used as well and some were published and produced in frame of this project. The following materials were distributed:

• Brochure “Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory” (2011, in Armenian) by Areg Mickaelian, a visiting card of our main astronomical centre
• Photo booklet “Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory” (2012) with a collection of photos from BAO (territory, buildings, telescopes, etc.)
• Book “Victor Ambartsumian” (2008, in Armenian, Russian and English), compiled by Elma Parsamian, devoted to Ambartsumian’s life and activities with memoirs of well-known scientists, Ambartsumian’s students, colleagues and contemporaries
• Proceedings of the conference “Relation of Astronomy to Other Sciences, Culture and Society” (2015, in Armenian), a book presenting astronomy as a leader in inter- and multi- disciplinary sciences
• DVD “Viktor Ambartsumian” (2010, in Armenian, Russian and English) with a full collection of data on our great scientist (biography, his books and papers, articles about him, photos, movies, etc.)
• DVD “Astronomy for Schools” (2014, in Armenian, Russian and English) reproduced in frame of this project and containing a lot of necessary materials for the school astronomy: digitized textbooks and problem books, exercises, encyclopedia and thesauri, popular astronomical software, photos and movies, information on BAO, Viktor Ambartsumian and other famous Armenian astronomers, as well as the popular CD “3D Atlas of the Universe”
• Lunar calendars 2017
• BAO and ArAS souvenir pens

One of the goals of the project was the discovery of talented pupils interested in astronomy. We will maintain further contacts with them and follow their further growth as potential future scientists. For this, special forms were prepared and distributed in schools as feedback from this project. Hundreds of pupils have filled in and returned these forms with their contact data. On behalf of ArAS we acknowledge FAR and RA MES for their support and look forward for further activities.

To remind, ArAS School Lectures program runs since 2012 and so far, in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 we have visited 66 schools (some of them several times) in Yerevan, Armenian provinces and Artsakh and have delivered 95 lectures. Our lecturers have been: Avetik Grigoryan, Marietta Gyulzadian, Susanna Hakopian, Haik Harutyunian, Gohar Harutyunian, Areg Mickaelian, Elena Nikoghosyan, Hovhannes Pikichian, Ararat Yeghikian, and Sona Farmanyan.