Imagine spending 3 weeks of your summer in beautiful countryside scenery working with other students from all over the world on an astronomical project of your choice. The International Astronomical Youth Camp (IAYC) is a three-week long summer camp aiming to promote knowledge on astronomy and related sciences in a unique international atmosphere. Each year it takes place in a different European location, this year near the small town of Klingenthal in the region of Vogtland, situated in the East of Germany.
The IAYC is different from most astronomical camps for two reasons: the international character and the fact that you carry out your own small research project. You will not just accept facts, but you will discover them yourself or working together with other people. The IAYC is therefore not like staying in a hotel and following a summer school or an astronomy course. We are proud that award winning projects were carried out during the camp and many of the IAYC alumni chose science as their profession and work in leading astronomical centers.
As a participant you will explore astronomy related projects in one of the 7 working groups – together with other young people. These projects are done in a working group of your choice and depend on your own interest. The working groups themselves will be led by young scientists and focus on a specific field in astronomy. The IAYC2013 will offer a wide range of working groups and topics: practical astronomy and photography, psychology, poetry and arts, theoretical astronomy and physics, astrobiochemistry, computation and programming, X-Ray astronomy, electronics, history of astronomy… There will be something for everyone, from the complete beginner to the ambitious student. This year the working groups are:
ATAC – Astrophotography: Technique? Art? Create!
CAT – Culture and Astronomy in Tradition
POND – Pondering On iNnovation & Discovery
PSST – Photometry, Sky Surveys and Theory
STARS – Satellite Technology And Remote Sensing
TARDIS – Troublesome Aliens and Rational Data In Space
xXx – Extreme X-ray Extravaganza
Besides the above mentioned working groups, a darkroom will also be available for the participants interested in analog photography. As well as the astronomical programme, there are many non-astronomical activities such as group games, sporting events, singing evenings, hiking tours and an excursion. Since it is an international camp, the camp language is English.
Anyone from 16 to 24 years old and able to communicate in English may participate in the IAYC 2013. The fee for accommodation, full board and the whole programme, including the excursion, will be 700 EUR. However, early applications arriving before April 5th 2013 (post stamp) receive a 50 EUR reduction, making the camp fee 650 EUR. For people interested in participating in the camp that are not able to pay the camp fee themselves, a limited number of grants is available.
For more details, application form, outlines of projects and pictures from previous camps please check out www.iayc.org or write to our info service: info@iayc.org