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Notes

26 March 2023 (Sunday)

Astronomy Day in Schools project is one of the activities of the WG of Astronomy Education Research & Methods, Comission C1: Astronomy Education and Development, Division C: Education, Outreach and Heritage, IAU. We have been having the quarterly on-line communication program on the occasion of equinoxes and solstices. This time, as the March equinox program, many students participated in the program, and practices from Japan, Thailand, Iran, Bulgaria, Romania were introduced. Tomita organized the program. The records will be archived at YouTube channel of the Astronomy Day in Schools project.

22 March 2023 (Wednesday)

I particiapted in the regular meeting on science education research in early childhood to lower-grade school years, the research group of KSRUG, organized by Kotani Takuya-san of Osaka Ohtani University, held at Harukas Campus of Osaka Ohtani University.

20 March 2023 (Monday)

Masago-kai, an association of the faculty staff of Faculty of Education, Wakayama University, held a ceremony held after the last faculty meeting of 2022 academic year to thank the staff who have contributed to Faculty of Education and who will retire at the end of this academic year. This year, Toyoda Michitaka-san, Naganuma Tadayoshi-san, and Tomita served as the Masago-kai organizers. We would like to thank many people who helped us in preparing for the ceremony.

19 March 2023 (Sunday)

I participated in the 3rd meeting of the Network for Astronomy School Education (NASE) with the theme of Bridge between Cultures held online. Celebrating the International Day of Light, the topic was “Light, Cameras and Life.”

16 March 2023 (Thursday)

I participated online in the doctoral dissertation presentation and workshop organized by the Group of Optical and Infrared Astronomers (GOPIRA), held at the Hongo Campus of the University of Tokyo. I also participated in the general meeting of GOPIRA, which was held online on March 15 during the 2023 Vernal Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan.

At the online communication meeting of Association of Women in Astronomy, Japan, I talked at a session of “Considering Paternity Leave with Women.”

I attended the online Quarterly Meeting of NAEC, National Astronomy Education Coordinator of each county, the network organized by OAE, the Office of Astronomy for Education, IAU, the International Astronomical Union.

13 (Monday) - 16 (Thursday) March 2023

I participated in the 2023 Vernal Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan held at Rikkyo University Ikebukuro Campus. The meeting was scheduled on March 13 to 15, I participated in person on 14 and 15, on line on 13 and 16. I served as one of the organizers of the Astronomy Education Forum held on March 14, participated in the Board Meeting on March 10 as the Director of Education, and made a presentation as the Director of Education at the General Assembly on March 15.

13 March 2023 (Monday)

I attended the fiscal year 2022 third meeting of the Osaka City Chuo Ward Government Conference as a committee member, held at the Chuo Ward Office, Osaka City, online.

12 March 2023 (Sunday)

I participated in the public lecture online; “Black Hole Physics and Stellar and Planetary Science: Observations of Black Holes and Planetary Exploration” at the 2023 Spring Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan, held at Rikkyo University Ikebukuro Campus. I also gave a speech as the astronomy education board member of the Astronomical Society of Japan.

9 March 2023 (Thursday)

Students of mainly 1st and 4th graders from Attached Elementary School, Faculty of Education, Wakayama University, visited Wakayama University. During their tour and activities, they came to the astronomical observatory atop the Faculty of Education building. I gave them a guided tour.

7 March 2023 (Tuesday)

I participated in the symposium, Diversity Research Environment Realization: Summary Symposium held online, hosted by Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka Kyoiku University, Wakayama University and Sekisui House Ltd.

1 March 2023 (Wednesday)

The academic year of 2022 Department of Science Education joint graduation research presentation was held at Department of Science Education, Faculty of Education, Wakayama University.

28 February 2023 (Tuesday)

I particiapted in the regular meeting on science education research in early childhood to lower-grade school years, the research group of KSRUG, held on line over zoom, organized by Kotani Takuya-san of Osaka Ohtani University.

27 February 2023 (Monday)

I talked with a title, “Trends in Astronomy Education Around the World: People who continue to push the limits,” on on-line seminar of Cosmo Girls, a community group of women interested in space.

16 February 2023 (Thursday)

I particiapted in the meeting on science education and STEAM education research and their international collaboration, the research group of KI-STEAM, held on line over zoom, organized by Kotani Takuya-san of Osaka Ohtani University.

13 February 2023 (Monday)

The graduation thesis presentation of the Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Education, Wakayama University, was held in the Biology Earth Science Laboratory Room.

8 February 2023 (Wednesday)

I attended the 4th meeting of the Osaka Science Museum Exhibition Renewal Review Committee held at the Osaka Science Museum as a member.

30 January 2023 (Monday)

27 January 2023 (Friday)

I participated in Devision meeting of Astronomy and Astrophysics and Division meeting of IAU, under the Committee of Physics, Science Council of Japan, as an observer. I serve chair of NAEC, National Astronomy Education Coordinator team, of Japan, under OAE, Office of Astronomy for Education, IAU, International Astronomical Union, endorced by the IAU Division of Science Council of Japan.

19 January 2023 (Thursday)

11 January 2023 (Wednesday)

I participated in the Science Council of Japan Public Symposium, “Current Status and Countermeasures for Gender Gap in Physics and Role of Physics Education,” online.

6 January 2023 (Friday)

I attended a meeting of Advisory Committee meeting of Kiso Observatory, Institute of Astronomy (IoA), University of Tokyo, held at Mitaka Campus of IoA. Then I visited the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the Astronomy data archive center, and the Office of Astronomy Outreach of the IAU.

24 December 2022 (Saturday)

The board meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan was held on line, and I participated in the meeting as the director in charge of astronomy education.

23 December 2022 (Friday)

Astronomy Day in Schools project is one of the activities of the WG of Astronomy Education Research & Methods, Comission C1: Astronomy Education and Development, Division C: Education, Outreach and Heritage, IAU. We have been having the quarterly on-line communication program on the occasion of equinoxes and solstices. This time, as the December solstice program, many students participated in the program, and practices from Japan, Thailand, Iran, India, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, Columbia,and Peru were introduced. Tomita organized the program. The records will be archived at YouTube channel of the Astronomy Day in Schools project.

17 December 2022 (Saturday)

For the Kaizuka City Children's Doctor Training Program, the astronomy program is running based at Zenbei Land, a telescope museum in Kaizuka City, and I am in charge of the program. Today was the final of this academic year, the 5th round of the program. Students from 5th to 7th grades and their parents participated in the program. Following the previous “GALAXY CRUISE,” an online citizen astronomy program developed at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the theme of today's one was to return to our home galaxy, the Galaxy, the Milky Way, using a planisphere kit developed by Zenbei Land. The participants drew and marked up the Milky Way, open clusters, diffuse nebulae of star-forming regions, and globular clusters, and to practice “seeing” the Galaxy through the distribution of these celestial objects in our sky.

15 December 2022 (Thursday)

13 December 2022 (Tuesday)

I participated in the 2022 Wakayama Prefecture Senior High School Student Science Presentation Conference held at Wakayama Big Whale, Wakayama City. The presentation session was also held as the 3rd meeting of the 2022 Koyo Senior and Junior High School Super Science High School Steering and Guidance Committee.

12 December 2022 (Monday)

I attended the fiscal year 2022 second meeting of the Osaka City Chuo Ward Government Conference as a committee member, held at the Chuo Ward Office, Osaka City.

11 December 2022 (Sunday)

I participated in 2022 annual meeting of Kinki branch of Japanese Society for Education and Popularization of Astronomy, held on line.

10 December 2022 (Saturday)

I visited Kokawa Senior High School, Wakayama, and participated in the joint workshop of KOKÔ-Juku, joint learning program of the school with Wakayama University and local community, as a university staff committee member of the Environment Working Group.

I attended on line the 14th lecture in the Japan Academy's Learning Recommendations Series, “Learn the History of the Universe and the History of Life and Think about the Future of Civilized Society,” by Dr. Masanori Iye.

7 December 2022 (Wednesday)

I participated in the OAO-JWST Workshop on image processing held on line which related to the NASA's Astrophoto Challenges.

I attended the 3rd meeting of the Osaka Science Museum Exhibition Renewal Review Committee held at the Osaka Science Museum as a member.

5 December 2022 (Mondday)

2 December 2022 (Friday)

I participated in the meeing of early childhood environment rating scale, led by Dr. Reiko Uzuhashi, held on line.

30 November 2022 (Wednesday)

I participated in Space Education Advisory Committee of Wakayama Prefecture Education Board, held on line, as one of the committee member.

27 November 2022 (Sunday)

I particiapted in the 3rd of the seminar series, held on line, the second half of “Scale Development Workshop: for those who need help with questionnaire design and statistical processing,” organized by the Next Generation Planning Committee, Society of Japan Science Teaching.

25 November 2022 (Friday)

I participated in music class and science class sessions of the annual Open Education Conference of Attached Elementary School, Faculty of Education, Mie University, held on line.

24 November 2022 (Thursday)

I had half an hour star-watching event and half an hour star tour in the room using the simulator Mitaka for 5th graders of Shikago-kita elementary school, Wakayama City, at two day-camp at Kada International Exchange Youth Center. Ohata Hazuki-san and Fumino Itsuki-san, seiminar students, joined and observed the activity.

19 November 2022 (Saturday)

I attended the Memorial Lecture of Dr. Edward Stone on the occasion of his selection as a Visiting Scholar of the Japan Academy, on line.

17 November 2022 (Thursday)

I participated in “Online Science Class Conference Group” organized by Tosa Sachiko-san of Faculty of Education, Niigata University.

15 (Tuesday) - 17 (Thursday) November 2022

I participated in the fourth Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organized by the Office of Astronomy for Education, the Internationa Astronomical Union. The workshop was broadcast via internet using the Hopin system.

14 November 2022 (Monday)

I attended the 2nd meeting of the 2022 Koyo Senior and Junior High School Super Science High School Steering and Guidance Committee held at Wakayama Prefectural Koyo Senior High School, Wakayama City.

13 November 2022 (Sunday)

I particiapted in the 3rd of the seminar series, held on line, the first half of “Scale Development Workshop: for those who need help with questionnaire design and statistical processing,” organized by the Next Generation Planning Committee, Society of Japan Science Teaching.

11 November 2022 (Friday)

Wakayama Shin-ai High School (39 of 1st grade of senior high school students and 3 of teachers) visited Wakayama University for a university tour. I was in charge of the class for the students together with Isoai Tatsuya-san, a 4th grade student of the Astronomy Seminar, with the theme of “Exploring the Law of Harmonies of the Universe with Spring and Equation: Experiencing Kepler's Third Law.”

8 November 2022 (Tuesday)

On the occasion the total lunar eclipse and Uranus occultation during the eclipse, an astro-party was held at Astroomical Observatory of Faculty of Education, Wakayama University, atop the faculty building. The images were relayed on the internet and enjoyed by many people on campus. This total lunar eclipse also served as a research project for senior high school students from all over the country in Japan to calculate the distance to the Moon from the parallax of the Moon. I obtained data for the research project as well.

6 November 2022 (Sunday)

YouTube channel of the Astronomy Day in Schools project is now open. The Astronomy Day in Schools (ADiS) project is a project by the sub WG of Astronomy Day in Schools, under the WG of Astronomy Education Research & Methods, the Commission C1 of Astronomy Education and Development, the Division C of Education, Outreach and Heritage, of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Paulo Bretones in Brazil and Tomita in Japan serve the co-chairs of the project, and the project is organized by many members of contributors.

5 November 2022 (Saturday)

I participated in the 2022 annual meeting of Kinki branch, Society of Japan Science Teaching, online.

28 October 2022 (Friday)

22 October 2022 (Saturday)

8 October 2022 (Saturday)

I participated in Koyasan University Education Symposium, held at Kawachi-Nagano City Cultural Hall.

6 October 2022 (Thursday)

I attended the 2nd meeting of the Osaka Science Museum Exhibition Renewal Review Committee held at the Osaka Science Museum as a member.

2 October 2022 (Sunday)

I participated in the annual meeting and lecture of Kyodai UchuKai, the gathering of people related to Department of Astronomy, Kyoto University, as one of the staff, held on line.

30 September 2022 (Friday)

Astronomy Day in Schools project is one of the activities of the WG of Astronomy Education Research & Methods, Comission C1: Astronomy Education and Development, Division C: Education, Outreach and Heritage, IAU. We have been having the quarterly on-line communication program on the occasion of equinoxes and solstices. This time, as the September equinox program, many students participated in the program, and practices from Japan, Thailand, Iran, Bulgaria, Romania, and Egypt were introduced. Tomita organized the program.

29 September 2022 (Thursday)

I visited Kanaoka-Minami Junior High School, Sakai City, where I observed the class by Ohkubo Shuto-san of our astronomy seminar doing his on-site teacher training there.

24 (Saturday) - 25 (Sunday) September 2022

I participated in the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Japan Science Teaching (2022 Annual Meeting) held online.

22 September 2022 (Thursday)

21 September 2022 (Wednesday)

I visited Attached Junior High School, Faculty of Education, Wakayama Unviersity, where I observed the classes by Fujikawa Ryutaro-san and Fumino Itsuki-san of our astronomy seminar and Yasuda Ryutaro-san of graduate school of professional development in education doing their on-site teacher training there. I also observed a trainee Ohata Hazuki-san's activity at Attached Elementary School.

17 (Saturday) - 18 (Sunday) September 2022

I participated in the 46th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Science Education (2022 Annual Meeting) held online (the meeting was scheduled on September 16 to 18). I participated in the topic research session “Identification of Issues on the subject ‘science’ and future prospects for the subject,” which was the second year of the series, as a member of the research group led by Agata Hidehiko-san of National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

14 (Wednesday) - 15 (Thursday) September 2022

I participated online in the CAP (Communicating Astronomy with the Public) Conference 2022, held at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and also distributed online as a hybrid format (the conference was scheduled on September 12 to 16). The results by the Wakayama University Astronomy Tourism and Astronomy Education team were presented in an e-poster.

13 (Tuesday) - 14 (Wednesday) September 2022

I participated in the 2022 Autumn Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan held at Niigata University Igarashi Campus (the meeting was scheduled on September 13 to 15). I chaired the sessions on Astronomy Education, Outreach, and Others, served as one of the organizers of the Astronomy Education Forum, participated in the Board Meeting on September 13 as the Director of Education, and made a presentation as the Director of Education at the General Assembly on September 14. In addition, I also participated in the Public Lecture “New Developments in Astronomy” held on September 11, by giving a welcome speech online as Director of Education (the Public Lecture was held in person at the Niigata Civic Plaza Hall).

6 September 2022 (Tuesday)

I visited Attached Elementary School, Faculty of Education, Wakayama Unviersity, where I observed the class by Ohata Hazuki-san of our astronomy seminar doing her on-site teacher training there.

I participated in the diversity training of Wakayama University, “Domestic violence, dating DV, and the support system at university” held on line.

4 September 2022 (Sunday)

I participated in the 84th Tokyo Section Meeting of the Oriental Astronomical Association held at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

3 (Saturday) - 4 (Sunday) September 2022

I participated in the first in-person study session of “Curriculum Research on Comprehensive and Fundamental Compulsory Science Subject with STEAM Philosophy” (led by Agata Hidehiko-san of National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(B)) was held at the Korakuen Campus of Chuo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.

2 September 2022 (Friday)

I participated in the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan Seminar, titled “Is the ring image of the M87 black hole real? --- Results of an independent analysis of the EHT open data” by Miyoshi Makoto-san, held on line.

29 August 2022 (Monday)

I participated in the meeing of early childhood environment rating scale, led by Dr. Reiko Uzuhashi, held on line.

28 August 2022 (Sunday)

I gave a lecture on astronomy and space to Star Study Group in Kansai, one of the Osaka-based astronomy clubs. The lecture was titled “The World's Movement of Astronomy Education and Cultural Astronomy.” The lecture was held at Karita Land Improvement Memorial Hall (Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City).

27 August 2022 (Saturday)

In the Kaizuka City, Children's Doctor Training Program starting this year, the astronomy program will be based at Zenbei Land, a telescope museum in Kaizuka City, and I will be in charge of the program. Today was the 1st round of the program. Students from 5th to 7th grades and their parents participated in the program. Today's theme was “How to use lenses to make a telescope.”

21 (Sunday) - 22 (Monday) August 2022

I participated in the 76th annual meeting of Japan Society of Earth Science Education and Earth Science Education national meeting of Japan 2022, and the 9th International Conference on Geoscience Education (IX GeoSciEd), held in Matsue City, Shimane, Japan.

17 (Wednesday) - 19 (Friday) August 2022

The 36th Annual Meeting of the Astronomy Education Meeting and the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Education and Popularization of Astronomy held at Campus Plaza Kyoto, Kyoto City.

16 August 2022 (Tuesday)

In the Kaizuka City Children's Doctor Training Program starting this year, the astronomy program will be based at Zenbei Land, a telescope museum in Kaizuka City, and I will be in charge of the program. I visited the Zenbei land for a meeting to prepare for the project.

11 August 2022 (Thursday, Mountain Day)

Together with five undergraduate students from the Astronomy Seminar of the Faculty of Education, Wakayama University, we were in charge of the astronomy activity at the Mountain Day event “Astronomy Activity” held at the Child and Childcare Plaza of Chuo Ward, Osaka City.

4 (Thursday) - 8 (Monday) August 2022

I participated in the 31st General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, held at Busan, Republic of Korea. I especially attended the Division Day of the Division C, presented the recent result of the Astronomy Day in Schools project, and also served as the chair. I also discussed with the colleagues on the Astronomy Day in Schools project, of which I am one of the co-chairs.

1 August 2022 (Monday)

I served one of the organizing members of the on-demand and real-time symposium, “ ‘Exploration’ and ‘Discovery’ from infancy” organized by KSRUG, the research group of science education research in early childhood to lower-grade school years, led by professor Kotani Takuya-san of Osaka Ohtani Univeersity, held on line and broadcast from Osaka Ohtani University Harukas Campus, Osaka City.

27 July 2022 (Wednesday)

At the Juvenile Training School, Uenoyama Sachiyo-san, a master graduate of the Astronomy Seminar at the School of Education, Graduate School of Wakayama University, together with undergraduate students of the Astronomy Seminar, we were in charge of a special class on the theme “Let's feel the universe with the sound of Arpa.”

I attended on line the fiscal year 2022 first meeting of the Osaka City Chuo Ward Government Conference as a committee member, held at the Chuo Ward Office, Osaka City.

25 July 2022 (Monday)

18 July 2022 (Monday, Marine Day)

I attended 12th High School Students Astronomy Activity Presentation, as one of the commentators, held on line.

15 July 2022 (Friday)

I attended the 1st meeting of the Osaka Science Museum Exhibition Renewal Review Committee held at the Osaka Science Museum as a member.

13 July 2022 (Wednesday)

I attended the 1st meeting of the 2022 Koyo Senior and Junior High School Super Science High School Steering and Guidance Committee held at Wakayama Prefectural Koyo Senior High School, Wakayama City.

12 July 2022 (Tuesday)

I gave a lecture at the 5th Create Lab Seminar held at Osaka Prefectural Kozu Senior High School, Osaka City, under the title “What kind of work is astronomy research?”

7 July 2022 (Thursday)

I participated in the 2022 annual general assembly of Sora Tourism, Tourism Local Activation Project by Sora Tourism Promotion Council, held on line.

5 (Tuesday) - 6 (Wednesday) July 2022

I participated in the Kiso Observatory Schmidt Symposium 2022 (hybrid of Kiso Observatory on site and on line through zoom) on line.

4 July 2022 (Monday)

Ryushokan Bookstore, Osaka City, welcomed Ono Masahiro-san of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and held an talk event, “Let's explore NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory with Ono Masahiro-san!” as the 290th Gathering with Writers of Ryushokan Bookstore, held at the multi-purpose hall of the bookstore. I participated in the event, and on this occasion, I introduced a book by Noda Sachiyo san, “Stories about Universe to Read Before Going to Bed at Night,” Soshisha Publishing, which I have helped with.

28 June 2022 (Tuesday)

Astronomy Day in Schools project is one of the activities of the WG of Astronomy Education Research & Methods, Comission C1: Astronomy Education and Development, Division C: Education, Outreach and Heritage, IAU. The quarterly on-line communication events on the occasion of equinoxes and solstices have been organized by ITAU, Iranian Teacher's Astronomy Union, and SINA, Student's International Network for Astronomy, in Iran. This time, titled “Celebration of Tirgan,” practices from Iran and Japan, Thailand, Romania, Bulgaria were introduced.

23 June 2022 (Thursday)

20 June 2022 (Monday)

18 June 2022 (Saturday)

I participated in the on-line meeting, “Joint Research Activities on ‘Integration of Theory and Practice’ at Hyogo University of Education, Presentation of academic year 2021 Results, Exploration for the Bridging Programs.”

I participated in the third round of “Earth Science at Home,” an on-line event hosted by the Japan Society of Earth Science Education, “Try It! Teaching material you are interested in, Mitaka.”

13 June 2022 (Monday)

12 June 2022 (Sunday)

I participated in “Fireworks where Psychology meets Chemistry and Cultures: Fireworks Symposium and Workshop,” held at Osaka Shoin Women's University, Osaka. The symposium and workshop was also registered as International Day of Light 2022 event.

31 May 2022 (Tuesday)

I visited Kokawa Senior High School, Wakayama, and gave a lecture to about 40 10th-graders, with a title, “A Window to the World from Kokawa: Astronomy Education.”

30 May 2022 (Monday)

I participated in Space Education Advisory Committee of Wakayama Prefecture Education Board, held at Kushimoto-Koza Senior High School, Kushimoto Town, Wakayama, as one of the committee member.

21 May 2022 (Saturday)

The board meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan was held on line, and I participated in the meeting as the director in charge of astronomy education.

15 May 2022 (Sunday)

I participated in the 75th annual meeting, academic year 2022 meeting, of Japan Society of Research on Early Childhood Care and Education, held on line.

I participated in the 26th annual meeting, academic year 2021 meeting, of CSERS, Counsil of Science Education Related Societies, titled “How the GIGA School Initiative will change science classes: Exploring ways to use the ICT crisis in science classes,” held on line.

13 May 2022 (Friday)

9 May 2022 (Monday)

7 May 2022 (Saturday)

I talked with the title of “Communicatoin to connect with people around the world on June solstice,” at Pre-Service Teacher Training Division of Association of Science Education.

23 April 2022 (Saturday)

I visited Kokawa Senior High School, Wakayama, and participated in the organizing committee of KOKÔ-Juku, joint learning program of the school with Wakayama University and local community, as a university staff committee member of the Environment Working Group.

8 April 2022 (Friday)

Go to Notes in academic year of 2021.

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Email: atomita@wakayama-u.ac.jp