The Croatian Astronomical Society (Hrvatsko astronomsko drustvo, HAD) is a professional association whose goals and tasks are: developing scientific, educational and cultural activities in the field of astronomy, astrophysics and related fields of science in the sense of encouraging basic scientific research; developing international cooperation; initiating and implementing actions to improve teaching in primary, secondary, higher and higher schools in the Republic of Croatia; popularizing the results and applications of science.
The establishment of national professional associations in Croatia began after the independence of our country, although even before there was a large number of associations and unions that gathered Croatian scientists, teachers and promoters of science. For instance the Croatian Society of Natural Sciences was founded in 1885 (then called the Croatian Natural Society), which later founded the Zagreb Observatory in 1903, one of the oldest European institutions for the popularization of astronomy. In the period between the two world wars, when the era of space flights began, a large number of amateur associations were organized. School astronomy was then established as an extracurricular activity (competition programs, summer schools), and professional astronomy was institutionalized in the early 1970s with the establishment of the Hvar Observatory of the Geodetic Faculty of the University of Zagreb. The existence of personnel professionally involved in astronomical research and university teaching, as well as a large number of school teachers and professors who actively participated in the education and popularization of astronomy together with enthusiasts gathered in astronomical associations, created the necessary conditions for the establishment of a professional association of astronomers.
The founding General Assembly of the Croatian Astronomical Society (HAD), which was attended by 21 founders, was held on April 1, 1992 at the Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, where the Society’s headquarters are located. Academician Žarko Dadić was elected as the first president of the Society. After the expiration of the four-year term of the first president, the presidents of HAD were: academician Petar Krešimir Čolić (1996-2000), prof. dr. sc. Vladimir Ruždjak (2000-2004), prof. dr. sc. Mladen Martinis (2004-2008), prof. dr. sc. Slobodan Danko Bosanac (2008-2012), dr. sc. Roman Brajša (2012-2016), dr. sc. Dragan Roša (2016-2020) , dr. sc. Rajka Jurdana-Šepić (2020-2022), and the current president, dr. sc. Vibor Jelić.
In September 1992. the Teaching Section is established, and in October 1992, the Scientific Section of HAD. At the end of 1992, HAD already counts 54 members.
The period from 1992 to 1995 was marked by taking over and fulfilling the tasks for which the Society was founded: Croatia became a member of the European Astronomical Society (EAS) in 1993 and a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) ) in 1994. In the same year, financing by the appropriate ministry was established. Under the patronage of HAD, since 1995, national astronomy meetings and competitions have been held for primary and secondary school students , seminars for teachers, and summer astronomy schools (in early 2000’s in Prvić Luka and Brodarica near Šibenik; later on near Ogulin and Delnice). HAD also organises Scientific meetings starting with the “1. Croatian Astronomical Congress” on December 6, 1993 in Zagreb and a series of Hvar Astrophysical Colloquiums (Hvar Astrophysical Colloquium). HAD also participates in various regular activities such as Festival of science, the celebration of the Day of the Zagreb Observatory, etc.
THE FOUNDING MEMBERS:
1. Željko Andreić, 2. Robert Beuc, 3. Slobodan Bosanac, 4. Hrvoje Božić, 5. Roman Brajša, 6. Žarko Dadić, 7. Goran Ivanišević, 8. Jerko Kirigin, 9. Zdenko Marković, 10. Mladen Pavlović, 11. Krešimir Pavlovski, 12. Leo Randić, 13. Dragan Roša, 14. Vladimir Ruždjak, 15. Željko Ružić, 16. Nikola Solarić, 17. Drago Špoljarić, 18. Đurđica Vučičević, 19. Bojan Vršnak, 20 Velimir Vujnović, 21. Vladis Vujnović
MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES:
International Astronomical Union – IAU
European Astronomical Society – EAS
Hrvatsko prirodoslovno društvO – HPD
FORMER PRESIDENTS OF HAD (SINCE 1992):
Žarko Dadić 1992.-1996.
Petar Krešimir Ćolić 1996.-2000.
Vladimir Ruždjak 2000.-2004.
Mladen Martinis 2004.-2008.
Slobodan Bosanac 2008.-2012.
Roman Brajša 2012.-2016.
Dragan Roša 2016.-2020.
Rajka Jurdana-Šepić 2020.-2022.