NATURE AND SKY EDUCATION POTENTIAL IN PROTECTED AREAS UNDER DARK SKIES IN TURKEY

Transcription

1 NATURE AND SKY EDUCATION POTENTIAL IN PROTECTED AREAS UNDER DARK SKIES IN TURKEY 2nd International Symposium for Dark-sky Parks & 2nd Internatıonal Dark-sky Camp Lastovo Island, 2009 Gözde Saral Ankara University Astronomy and Space Sciences TURKEY

2 TOPICS INTRODUCTION PROTECTED AREAS PUBLIC EVENTS OF OBSERVATORIES *TUBITAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY *UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORIES CONCLUSIONS

3 INTRODUCTION Light Pollution Excess or obtrusive light created by humans. Effects on Astronomy obscures stars and interferes with astronomical observatories. It is necessary to constitute an efficient public! starrynightlights.com

4 INTRODUCTION Role of Protected Areas on Nature and Darksky Education Activities in Turkey for creating awareness... Conveying the science to the society with public events and projects

5 PROTECTED AREAS İdeal places for learning the language of the NATURE! 41 national parks in Turkey (The Ecology-Based Nature Training Projects) From 1999 to 2009 Science and Society Projects: Graduate students, research assistants, scoutmasters, NGO s

6 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project Around Kastamonu-Kure Mountains National Park

7 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project Around Kastamonu-Kure Mountains National Park

8 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project Around Kastamonu-Kure Mountains National Park Examples of land works

9 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project around the Bursa-Uludağ National Park The essential aim is to make the target group gained an ecological vision to make them able to understand the threats concerning the nature

10 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project around the Bursa-Uludağ National Park

11 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project around Balikesir-Kazdagi National Park

12 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project around the Lake Beyşehir National Park and Konya Beysehir Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Turkey. An important wetland site for many bird species

13 PROTECTED AREAS The Ecology-Based Nature Training Project around the Lake Beyşehir National Park and Konya

14 PROTECTED AREAS Astronomy School For Children around Uludağ National Park

15 PROTECTED AREAS

16 PROTECTED AREAS At the end of the nature trainings, participants grasp the difference between looking and seeing!! Formerly, they were not able to see though they look at the nature, they start to see the nature by learning the language of it

17 Public Events of Observatories The observatories take responsibility for informing the public about astronomy and creating an awareness about light pollution. TUBITAK National Observatory Antalya -located on the top of the hill in the West Taurus Mountain ranges m above the sea level

18 TUBITAK National Observatory Public Events Sky Festivals for 12 years... Volunteer astronomy students and academicians give some lectures... First day: -setting up the tents -first presentations -enjoy stargazing with naked eye

19 Public Events Sky Festival 2nd day: -seminars, displays, workshops, tours of observatories -observations until the first lights of the next day

20 Public Events Sky Festival

21 Public Events Sky Festival Participants from all over the country see the dark sky and the effects of light pollution on sky

22 Public Events of Observatories University Observatories 18 km away from the city center. Ankara University Observatory Exp. time: 15 s Exp. time: 30 s midnight after the sun set

23 Public Events of Observatories University Observatories Ankara University Observatory -We organise public observation nights once in every month. -We give some presentations on interesting topics of astronomy. -Night observations with naked eye and telescopes start with the sun set

24 Public Events of Observatories University Observatories Ankara University Observatory

25 Public Events of Observatories University Observatories Ulupınar Observatory Çanakkale 10 km from downtown Çanakkale near the village Ulupınar

26 Public Events of Observatories University Observatories Çanakkale is a visitation center for the nature projects which hold down near Çanakkale and Kazdaği National Park. Gallipoli sky away from the light pollution

27 PROTECTED AREAS DMSP (Defence Meteorological Satallite Program) datas on 9 February 1997 Cities Observed Value (10-8 Watts /µm) Light Energy Loss (10 6 kwh/year) Area (km 2 ) Light Energy Loss/Area (10 6 kwh/km 2 ) İstanbul 2.03x x10-3 Ankara 9.94x x10-3 Bursa 2.54x x10-3 Antalya 1.64x x10-3 Konya 1.95x x10-3 London 6.01x x10-2 New York 2.26x x10-2 Paris 8.08x x

28 Conclusion In the light of these infromation, we see the protected areas in Turkey have an important potential to be used for education and create a public awareness. Thus, in the near future it can be predicted that the ecologybased nature training projects will vary and increase. They should be popularized, the participation should be increased and the participation of various profession groups should be provided. The participants should be encouraged for developing new projects and provided economical support

29 CONCLUSION Protected Areas Universities & Observatories PUBLIC AWARENESS Nature and Science Camps, Educations, Festivals

30 Thanks for your attention!