Greetings!

By Reshama Damle, IVCLA Intern

 

Dr. Priya Shah, an Indian astrophysicist focusing on star clusters, their formation, dynamics and evolution, visited the Los Angeles area as a participant in the International Visitor Leadership Program last month. Dr. Shah is passionate about promoting astronomy education to the youth in India through workshops and night-show observations. She is a positive role model for her female students, promoting their equal role in science and technology. Her recent visit to Los Angeles not only expounded on her interest in stellar research, it allowed the opportunity to speak with specialists in experiential learning education specifically in astronomy.

While in Los Angeles, Dr. Shah met with astronomers at the Historic Mount Wilson Observatory and the Griffith Observatory as well as scientists with Caltech and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. While at the Griffith Observatory, she learned about astronomy educational programs geared toward 5^th and 8^th graders in Southern California. As part of her visit she attended a youth science presentation on comet mass formation. The opportunity to share ideas and observe a well planned program inspired further conversation with the director of the Griffith Observatory. The experience encourages creativity and motivation to design better educational programs using unconventional teaching methodologies in India.  

Dr. Shah's visit to these centers of astronomy science represents a larger purpose and value to international exchange. Her presence and participation alone promotes information sharing, camaraderie and openness in the international scientific education community. Without the opportunities to observe and share experiences with professional colleagues, international friendships cannot form. IVCLA is pleased to be a part of bridging the gap to further understanding and communication of like minds.

Chad - Following recent government reshuffling, four IVLP alumni became part of the new cabinet:  

• Moussa Faki Mahamat (IVLP 1997): Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Mahamat Ali Hassan (IVLP 1994): Minister of Planning, Economy, and International Cooperation
• Khayar Oumar Defallah (IVLP 2000): Minister of Culture
• Adam Annour Samir (IVLP 2001): Minister-Secretary General of the Government   

Mali - 8 IVLP alumni took offices in the new government following the reshuffle in April:

• Sidiki N'Fa Konate (IVLP 1994), Minister of Communication and Government Spokesman
• Dr. Konaré Mariam Kalapo (IVLP 2003), Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family
• Djiguiba Keita (IVLP 1996), Minister of the Youth and Sports
• Sangare Niamoto Ba (IVLP 1998), Minister of the Industry, Investments and Commerce
• Dr. Siby Ginette Bellegarde (IVLP 2000), Minister of Higher Education and of Scientific Research
• Dr. Salikou Sanogo (IVLP 1994), Minister of Education, Literacy and National Languages
• Dr. Tiémoko Sangaré (IVLP 1996), Minister of Environment and Sanitation
• Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga (IVLP 1987), Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.   

Macedonia - On June 5, a new government was formed that included four IVLP alumni:

• Nikola Gruveski (IVLP 2000), Prime Minister
• Gordana Jankuloska (IVLP 2006), Minister of Interior
• Nedzdet Mustafa (IVLP 2003), Minister without Portfolio
• Nevzat Bejta (IVLP 2007), Minister for Local Self-Government.  

Peru - Under the newly elected President Ollanta Humala, two IVLP alumni took cabinet offices:

• Francisco Eguiguren (IVLP, 1990): Minister of Labor
• Rudecindo Vega Carreazo (IVLP, 1999): Minister of Justice 

• Mevlut Cavusoglu (IVLP 2004) representing ANTALYA.
• Adem Tatli (IVLP 2006) representing GIRESUN.
• Selahattin Demirtas (IVLP 2005) representing HAKKARI.
• Huseyin Tanriverdi (IVLP 2006) representing MANISA.
• Faik Oztrak (IVLP 1991) representing TEKIRDAG.
• Huseyin Aygun (IVLP 2007) representing TUNCELI.