16.03.2016, Armenian Institute of Tourism (AIT), Yerevan
The conference brought together the most active representatives of tourism and science communities. It was a kind of starting point for tight collaboration between science and tourism, i.e. research institutions and individual scientists on one hand, and travel agencies and experts in tourism on the other hand. Areg Mickaelian, Head of Scientific Tourism Chair at AIT, talked on the role of scientific tourism in strengthening of regional and international rating of Armenia. A number of other presentations were given. Sona Farmanyan, the Coordinator of the Project, represented the whole project, its tasks and future activities. An active discussion was held at the end of the Conference, which aimed at identifying and evaluating the demand for scientific tourism of foreign and local visitors, discovering the scientific tourism potential and resources of Armenia, finding key issues and problems of organization and realization of scientific tourism in the above mentioned sites and finding solutions to them. Scientific principles and directions of organizing tourism were discussed and new ideas were suggested for promoting the region through scientific tourism.
Webpage: http://www.aras.am/Meetings/SciTourism/index.html
20-23.06.2016, National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), Yerevan
The meeting contributed on Astronomical heritage of Armenia, Ancient astronomy, Astronomy in the Middle Ages, Astronomy in ancient cultures, Ethnoastronomy, Astronomical bases of Philosophy, Religion and Astronomy, The problem of Extraterrestrial Intelligence, Astronomy and Astrology, Astronomy in Folklore and Poetry, Astronomy in Arts, Astronomy in Fashion, Astrolinguistics, Astroheraldry, Scientific Tourism, Scientific Journalism, Amateur Astronomy, Astronomical Education, Popular Astronomy, and other fields, most of which have tight relation to Astro Tourism, one of the most important contributors to Scientific Tourism, as Cultural Astronomy plays an important role in the development of scientific tourism. NAS RA President, Vice-President, and other academicians, heads of the creative unions (unions of Artists, Composers, Architects, and Publishers) and many other guests were present. Some 30 talks were given by astronomers, historians, archaeologists, linguists, representatives of arts, tourism, journalists, and others. The Proceedings of the meeting will be published by NAS RA Publishing House.
Webpage: http://www.aras.am/Meetings/AAC/