AstroIAPS is an event advanced by the Youth Scientific Society (Sociedad Científica Juvenil – SCJ), NC Mexico, that brings Astronomy to the focus of IAPS.
The first edition was organized in 2018 by NC Mexico and took place between the city of Ensenada and San Pedro Martír, Mexico.
From the 10th to the 14th of October, the 11 participants from 3 countries – Mexico, Costa Rica and Germany – took part in several activities planned by the organisers:
- touring the National Astronomical Observatory (OAN) in the mountain range of San Pedro Martír, associated to the Institute of Astronomy of the Mexico Autonomous National University (IAUNAM-E);
- visiting the research facilities of the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), the Centre of Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE), the Centre of Nanosciences and Nanotechnology (CNyN) and the Institute of Astronomy;
- attending lectures and workshops themed on Astronomy, particularly some specific topics such as Cosmology, with Dr. Miguel Aragon-Calvo, Astrobiology, with Dr. Roberto Vázquez Meza and Dr. Patricia Núñez and Astrophysics, with Dr. Luis Aguilar;
- sharing gastronomy culture in a Nations Evening;
- stargazing at night
The sharing of scientific knowledge by professors and researchers in the vast field of Astronomy, the exchange of cultural experiences, particularly of Mexico, and the friendly social environment among physics students makes AstroIAPS an important event that expands the horizons of IAPS events and facilitates the involvement of physics students outside of Europe, further internationalizing IAPS.
The importance of this event and the determination of the organisers to consolidate it as an early event are good indicators of the exciting possibility of a second edition in 2019, as a great opportunity to grow and get more students involved.