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AOGS Election of Office Bearers - 2010 to 2012

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Candidate of: Planetary Science (PS) Section President Junichi Watanabe (CV) Associate Professor Public Relations Center National Astronomical Observatory, Japan

Mission Statement

From the beginning of the AOGS, I have a high expectation on this society. This expectation made me attend the AOGS every time. During attending this meeting, I realized that two positive aspects. One great positive aspect I felt is that the AOGS was definitely stimulating many researchers in the Asian Pacific region. Especially in the planetary science I belong, I think that we have more potential to include many researchers by getting together at the AOGS annual meeting. In the community of astronomy, East Asia Core Observatories Association: EACOA has been established among four countries, and started to exchange young researchers. The direction of such cooperation is strongly recommended in Asia-Oceania region. As a start in the planetary science, I will spend my time to extend topics in the sessions of the planetary science, and try to include researchers who have not yet attended at the AOGS, as much as possible.

Another positive impression of the AOGS is to stimulate not only the researchers, but also the general public at the host city. Because I am now working as a division chief of the Public Relations Center of National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, I realize the importance of such outreach activities by the international organization like us. Such activities should be suitable that reels the seed of the interest to not only the geosciences but also general science especially for younger people.

As you may know, the world union of the astronomers, the IAU (International Astronomical Union), decided to make a new category; dwarf planets between the planets and the small bodies. I served as a member of the Planet Definition Committee, only one from Asian region in 2006. After fixing the definition, many people became interested in this topic. I hope to deal such timely topics, ex. Spacecraft, astronomical phenomena, or natural phenomena related to the geosciences, for lecture to the general public. For selecting such topics, my experience as a public relations officer will help to organize it.