During 2009, the International Year of Astronomy, ten of Canada's most active and articulate leading researchers will be available for high-impact public lectures on topics of forefront astrophysics. Two goals for the GLS are to introduce the excitement and reach of modern astrophysics to non-traditional audiences and to provide a legacy for the host and the greater community.

Applications for a Galileo Lecturer will be ranked, in part, on the degree to which the planned event can be woven into a broader cultural setting. To ensure that the lecture itself can reach an even greater audience, a host must commit to audio recording the event for later distribution in a podcast.

Applicants may include any organization which submits a credible proposal, including (but not limited to) universities, science centres, non-profits and astronomy groups. We encourage the leveraging of existing funds such as those associated with established (possibly named) lecture series. We also actively encourage smaller venues to combine resources with other potential partners in their vicinities to jointly submit an application for a Galileo Lecturer.

The list of Galileo Lecturers, lecture titles and abstracts, may be found here.

Application Checklist

• Please address the following points in your application for a Galileo Lecturer:
• Your team and its strengths for hosting such an event.
• Your past successes in organizing events of a similar nature.
• Your proposed venue and expected attendance.
• Your plans for marketing the lecture.
• Your plans for calling attention to and making the event attractive to non-traditional audiences (children, youth, families, ...)
• Your plans for attracting sponsorship to recover local costs for the lecture and lecturer. (Not absolutely required, but desirable.)
• Any ideas you have to involve other local groups (amateur astronomers, musicians, artists, educators, ...) to broaden the appeal and make the event more memorable.
• Your first three choices for lecturers.
• Your preferred dates for the lecture.

Submitting your application

Applications for Galileo Lecture Series speakers for which the host is intending to pay all costs (including travel) may be submitted for consideration at any time. Speaker availability will be confirmed and notification will follow within two weeks.

First consideration will be given to complete applications received by Friday, March 20, 2009. (Later applications may be considered depending on the availability of resources.) Please submit application materials by mail or FAX to:

Galileo Lecture Series
Attn: Doug Welch
Department of Physics and Astronomy
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON L8S 4M1

FAX: (905) 546-1252

Notification

Applicants will receive notification of the decision of the selection committee in mid-April.

Additional Information

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions may be found here.

Contact Information

The following people may be contacted to provide answers to additional questions you may have:

Kim Breland (416) 533-8262 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Doug Welch (905) 525-9140 x23186 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it