Presentation at 11th Asian-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM2011) – Chiang Mai, Thailand. 26 – 29 July 2011

1. Astro Book Drive sharing materials to improve astronomy education in developing countries ThilinaHeenatigala Founder - Astro Book Drive Session 8: Astronomy Education and Popularization of Astronomy. 11th Asian-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting, Chiang Mai, Thailand. July 26-29, 2011

2. Pilot Project: Sri Lanka Book Drive 2006 – Boston University Astronomy Department. Founded in September 2009 by ThilinaHeenatigala and Prof. John Clarke (Boston University).

3. a global initiative to share astronomy materials with developing countries to improve astronomy education. materials are donated by astronomy related groups from wealthy countries. materials are used towards teaching and conducting programs for students, teachers and public. as a result of running book drives, groups build a special bridge between them which leads up to various other programs as well.

4. Old School method? VS.

5. Process Sources from developed world Groups from developing world Astro Book Drive

6. Book Drives Mozambique Book Drive: Mozambique Astro Club – Girl Scouts from CA, USA Jamaican Book Drive: Jamaica Astronomical Association – Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Rwanda Book Drive: Rwanda IYA2009 – Australia IYA2009

9. Book Drives Côte d’Ivoire Book Drive: Ivoir’Astro - EurAstro Afghanistan Book Drive: Afghanistan Astronomical Association – StarPals Organization Tanzania Book Drive: UNAWE-Tanzania – Greater Portland Astronomical Society. USA. Ghana Book Drive: Ghana Planetarium – Cornell University Astronomy Department

14. Book Drives Maldives Book Drive: Maldives Science Society – South Asian Physics Foundation Mali Book Drive: Faculty of Science and Technology University of Bamako – EurAstro Nepal Book Drive: Nepal Astronomical Society - Southern Maine Astronomers, Astronomical Society of Northern New England, St Anselm College in New Hampshire (USA)

16. Book Drives – on going Astro – Library for langitselatan (Southern Skies), Indonesia. Indonesian Book Drive: langitselatan – Various (NASA, European Southern Observatory, European Space Agency, University of Brussels and various other groups and individuals…)

17. Upcoming Book Drives Nigeria - Amateur Astronomical Club, University of Nigeria India - Gurudev Observatory Zambia - Space Generation Zambia Uganda - Mbarara University

18. Make a difference – Donate/ Share Make a difference – Request

19. Affiliations Astronomers Without Borders EurAstro Beyond IYA2009 – Special Project

20. Contact ThilinaHeenatigala. thilina.heenatigala@yahoo.com http://astrodrive.lakdiva.net/