Global Astronomy Survey : Slovenia

First Submission : Uros Kostic and Andreja Gomboc [see human resources section] 14 April 2009

 1. Professional (Research) Astronomy:

 (i) Number of universities offering Astronomy (and their names)

One: University of Ljubljana.

 (ii) Number of universities offering Physics (and their names)

1. University of Ljubljana

2. University of Maribor

3. University of Nova Gorica

 (iii) Number of academics who have been trained in Astronomy (ideally

 with their names and levels of qualification)

PhD:

1. Andrej Cadez

2. Tomaz Zwitter

3. Mirjam Galicic

4. Andreja Gomboc

5. Simon Vidrih

6. Andrej Prsa

7. Uros Kostic

MSc:

Sonja Jejcic

BSc: approximately 50

 (iv) Number of astronomical facilities (observatories, telescopes,

 etc) and as much detail about each as possible (websites/contact

 details)

One:

Astronomical and Geophysical Observatory Golovec, which is operated by

Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana. It is

equipped with 70-cm telescope Vega. It mainly serves as a pedagogical

facility for students.

web-page: http://astro.ago.uni-lj.si/index.html/ ,

http://www.fiz.uni-lj.si/astro/index.html

Address: AGO, Pot na Golovec 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Phone: + 386 (0)1 2301704

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 (v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how

 would you rate your country in terms of Professional Astronomy? Please

 include any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)

Phase 2: We have existing astronomy research, however the number of

astronomy researchers is very low, and none of us have purely research

positions - we all have teaching positions.

 2. Public Understanding of Astronomy:

 (i) What governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the

 public take place (co-ordinated either by government departments or

 national facilities)

None.

 (ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science outreach programmes for the

 public take place (NGO activities or international programmes that your

 country is involved in)

A number (approx. 15) of amateur astronomical societies. Some of them own

observatories, which are funded completely by their members.

 (iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the media (TV, radio,

 newspapers). Is it very prominent? Are there specific programmes on

 astronomy? Is the media generally willing to publish news on astronomy?

The media are willing to publish astronomical news, however due to

journalists' lack of astronomical knowledge, the news tend to be

misinterpreted.

 (iv) Comment on the presence of astronomy/science in the general culture

 of the people. Are there any specific challenges or setbacks? Is

 astronomy a welcome subject of conversation?

The presence of astronomy in the general culture is very low. Very often

astronomy is mistaken for astrology, and/or astrology is taken as equal

to astronomy.

 (v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would

 you rate your country in terms of Public Understanding of Astronomy?

 Please include any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)

Phase 3.

 3. Astronomy in Schools:

 (i) What governmental astronomy/science education and outreach

 programmes for schools take place (co-ordinated either by government

 departments or national facilities)

None.

 (ii) What non-governmental astronomy/science education and outreach

 programmes for schools take place (NGO activities or international

 programmes that your country is involved in)

Non-obligatory astronomical camps and research assignments for schools.

 (iii) Comment on the presence of astronomy in the school curriculum. Is

 it part of the school curriculum? Is it very prominent? What age groups?

The presence of astronomy is not prominent. Students in primary schools

can choose astronomy as one of selective courses. There are also some

basics taught during physics and geography courses. Age group: 12-17.

 (iv) Comment on the status of astronomy/science in schools. Are there

 any specific challenges or setbacks? Sufficient number of students

 studying maths and science? General interest in maths/science/astronomy

 in schools?

The main problem is the lack of astronomical education of school

teachers. Also the students are less and less interested in science,

mathematics and astronomy.

 (v) Self evaluation (according to the different phases above, how would

 you rate your country in terms of Astronomy in Schools? Please include

 any other relevant information to motivate your choice.)

Phase 3: Physics and mathematics are present and obligatory in

primary schools. Astronomy (if present) mostly takes only a very small

part of other courses.