National Central University's (NCU's) Asia-Pacific Youth Astronomy Camp officially kicked off Monday in Sitou in central Nantou County, with some 120 university and graduate students from Asia-Pacific countries taking part in the activity that is aimed at increasing interest in the field in the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009. Chou Yi, a professor at NCU's Institute of Astronomy, told selfnews that the five-day summer camp is part of the university's efforts to promote astronomy in Taiwan and to provide a platform allowing the country's graduate and undergraduate students to interact with other enthusiasts in the Asia-Pacific region. 'I hope that every participant will bring back with them knowledge, friendship and wonderful memories,' Chou said. According to Chou, IYA 2009 marks not only the 400th anniversary of the first observation of space through a telescope by Galileo but also the 200th anniversary of the birth of evolutionist Charles Darwin. For these reasons, the summer camp is themed 'Evolution' and will feature astronomy professors from Japan, South Korea, China and Israel who will give lectures on the latest in astronomical developments and will introduce the formation of planets, the solar system, galaxies and the universe. While similar summer astronomy camps have been held in the past by NCU, National Taiwan University and National Tsing Hua University, Chou said this is the first international summer astronomy camp on such a large scale to be held in Taiwan. Funded by the Cabinet-level National Science Council and sponsored by the Astronomical Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the local chapter of the IYA activity planning panel, the Asia-Pacific Youth Astronomy Camp is hosting 120 graduates and undergraduate students from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Ukraine and Costa Rica. 