Annual Report 2011 Max Planck Institute for Astronomy

22 I. General
I.4 Educational and Public Outreach and the new “Haus der Astronomie”
Training the next generation of scientists and communicating
astronomy to the public has a longstandig tradition
on the Königstuhl. The “Haus der Astronomie” (HdA),
a new center for education and public outreach, whose
establishment had been decided in December 2008, has
been finally erected on the Campus of the MPIA during
2011. The new institution will amplify and strengthen
the efforts of all Heidelberg astronomers directed to
this goal.
Students come from all over the world to the MPIA to
carry out research for their diploma or doctoral thesis.
A majority of these students are formally enrolled at the
University of Heidelberg. In turn, a number of scientists
at the MPIA have adjunct faculty status at the University
Undergraduate students can get a first taste of scientific
work at the MPIA. The Institute offers advanced
practical courses or enables the students to participate in
“mini research projects”. These last about two months
and cover a wide range of questions, including the analysis
of observational data or numerical simulations, as
well as work on instrumentation. These practical courses
offer the students an early, practically oriented insight
into astrophysical research and are an excellent preparatory
step for a later diploma or doctoral thesis.
The International Max Planck Research School
(IMPRS) for Astronomy and Cosmic Physics, which
was established by the Max Planck Society and the
University of Heidelberg, started in 2005, and offers
PhD students from all over the world a three-years
education under excellent conditions in experimental
and theoretical research in the field of astronomy and
cosmic physics. It is supported by the five astronomical
research institutes in Heidelberg. After a successful
evaluation in 2009, the IMPRS-HD was extended for
another period
The institute’s mission also includes educating and
informing the general public about astronomical research.
Members of the institute give talks at schools,
education centers and planetaria. They also appear at
press conferences or on radio and television programs,
in particular on the occasion of astronomical events
that attract major public attention. Numerous groups of
visitors come to the MPIA on the Königstuhl and the
Calar Alto Observatory.
Our initiative for the general public, a series of eight
“Public Lectures on Sunday Morning”, which was in
Fig. I.4.1: The HdA was finished in autumn 2011. The main
entrance is to the right.
Credit: MPIA