Roles to be played by WAROAD officers

 

A. Regional Coordinator (RC)

  1. The RC shall report to the Director, Centre for Basic Space Science, Nsukka and to the OAD.
  2. The RC shall be responsible for fostering the goals of the IAU Strategic Plan in the West African region.
  3. The Regional Coordinator shall report annually in writing to the ROAD Oversight Committee on the program completed, future plans, and financial status of the ROAD.
  4. The RC shall coordinate all the country nodes of the network and shall nominate and supervise Country Coordinators and other volunteers of the ROAD.
  5. The RC shall assess the performance of the ROAD staff annually, setting objectives for the following year, and shall report in writing to the ROAD Oversight Committee.
  6. The budget of the ROAD shall be proposed to the ROAD Oversight Committee annually by the RC in such detail as may be decided from time to time by the ROAD Oversight Committee. The RC shall supervise the implementation of such budget and spearhead fundraising activities for the region.
  7. The Regional Coordinator shall perform all other tasks as prescribed in the IAU Strategic Plan 2010-2020 in Section 4.2 on pages 42 and 43.
  8. Provision of advice, guidance and information for astronomers in all countries in the West African region about IAU programs.

B. country Coordinator (CC)

  1. The Country Coordinator shall report to the Regional Coordinator on a regular basis on activities of the Country node.
  2. The CC shall be responsible for fostering the goals of the IAU Strategic Plan in the respective country node.
  3. The CC shall be responsible for recruiting and coordinating Program Officers for the three task forces (Task Force 1: Universities and Research, Task Force 2: Children and Schools, Task Force 3: Public Outreach)
  4. Provision of advice to the Regional Node about opportunities for astronomy development in the country.
  5. Country management, coordination and evaluation of IAU capacity building programs within the country.
  6. Coordination of contacts between the Regional Node and national authorities in the country.
  7. Provision of advice, guidance and information for astronomers in the country about IAU programs.
  8. Make efforts to promote astronomy in the country by means of electronic and print media in order to capture the minds of the public.
  9. Through collaboration with relevant Government Ministries, seek to integrate astronomy topics into secondary school physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics teaching to provide a link with technology and engineering studies

C. Universities and Research Program Officer (Task Force 1)

  1. The Program Officer shall report to the Country Coordinator on a regular basis on activities of the respective task force.
  2. Facilitate the Introduction of students to exciting scientific research through the use of robotic telescopes via the internet.
  3. Create opportunities to stimulate astronomical research and collaboration with international institutions and with countries that have a developed astronomy base.
  4. Facilitate country involvement in international consortium arrangements for capacity building.
  5. Utilize archived data to enable upcoming astronomers in the country to do worldclass astronomical research and studies in space-related science.
  6. Encourage introduction of astronomy courses and research topics in partner universities and some colleges in the country.

 

D. Schools and Children Program Officer (Task Force)

  1. The Program Officer shall report to the Country Coordinator on a regular basis on activities of the respective task force
  2. Engage young children and expose them to basic astronomy comprehensible to their age-group.
  3. Adopt the steps taken by the group Universe Awareness (UNAWE) in stimulating astronomy in young children
  4. Target school-going children and organize events to expose them to inspirational astronomical themes and by using astronomy to attract them into careers in science and engineering.
  5. Through collaboration with relevant Government Ministries, seek to introduce Astronomy topics into secondary school physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics.
  6. Organize Astronomy Olympiads and other competitions based on broadening pupils’ knowledge of astronomy and culture.
  7. Use astronomy to stimulate young people to choose sciences at university, and make the study of astronomy a good preparation for careers in technology and management.

E. Public Outreach Program Officer (Task Force 3)

  1. The Program Officer shall report to the Country Coordinator on a regular basis on activities of the respective task force
  2. Make efforts to promote astronomy by means of electronic and print media in order to capture the minds of the public.
  3. Arrange outdoor activities so that the public can have access to small telescopes and be able to appreciate the beauty of the sky.
  4. Make efforts to sensitize the public on the benefits of preserving dark skies.

F. Administrative Officer

  1. The Admin officer shall run all logistics, preparation of annual budgets.
  2. Be in charge of all WAROAD properties and records.

G. Information/Website Manager

  1. This officer will manage information by communicating events to the public through website updates and electronic mail.

H. Language Translator

  1. This officer will perform the duty of a language translator from English to French.