Exploring the Societal Impacts of Timau National Observatory, Indonesia
Theofilus Hobba Pramono (a*), Pedro Russo (a)

a) Leiden Observatory and Department of Science Communication and Society, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
*thobbap[at]gmail.com

Abstract

We explored the societal impacts of the Timau National Observatory in Indonesia. The observatory, soon to be operational, is built in an underdeveloped region that, in return, grants pristine dark skies for astronomy observations. This situation highlights the need to understand how regional situation and the needs of the observatory affect each other. We explored and analyzed opinions from various stakeholders to comprehend perspectives and expectations on the observatory from multiple points of view.

We found respondents mainly perceive the observatory as positive development with better economy as the most anticipated direct societal impact. On the other side, we noted challenges on regulation, cultural values and education. Some challenges exemplify contradictions between societal anticipations and the observatory as a scientific institution. Based on our findings, we propose a strategic communication plan to guide the observatory set impact goals to address its societal impact challenges and aim for the widest impact possible.

Keywords: Communication- Timau National Observatory- Societal impacts

Topic: Public Outreach, Education, and Popularization of Astronomy