From August 25 - September 14, 2013, I was given a chance to become a delegate at the 35th International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA 2013) held in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The activity is organized by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in cooperation with the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) as well as the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). The activity is in line with commemorating the 50th anniversary of LAPAN.
The ISYA 2013 is a program of the IAU Commission 46 on Astronomy Education and Development. The program seeks to broaden the participants' perspective on astronomy through international lectures, seminars, practical exercises and observations, and exchange of experiences. The topics discussed in the ISYA include space weather, space science,
astrophysics, cosmology, galaxies, observation and instrumentation. The participants belong to a dynamic range from undergraduate to PhD students, including students from different disciplines and cultures.
The ISYA 2013 was a worthwhile learning experience. New things were learned, new friends were made, and new visions for the future of astronomy were instilled in our minds. We all go back to our respective countries carrying with us new insight that will help us educate and develop our local astronomy communities.
