Astronomy Education at the ASP Meeting September 10, 2009
Posted by astroed in Astronomy, Education.Tags: ASP, Astronomy, national science week, outreach
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I’m off to San Francisco tomorrow for a week of astronomy outreach, education and teacher workshops. The main event is the Annual Meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific with the theme: Science Education and Outreach; Forging a Path to the Future. Workshops and discussion will focus on building on the success of the International Year of Astronomy and planning for the future. Focus questions are:
- IYA: Can We Keep the Party Going?
- Year of Science: Will Science “Speciation” Endanger Science Learning or Enhance it?
- Refining our Practice: Can we Really Make an Impact?
- The Future is Here: Can EPO Navigate the Digital Age?
A variety of workshops and some great keynote speakers should provide plenty of stimulation. I hope to be able to post some updates during the meeting. I’m presenting a poster about IYA activities during National Science Week in Australia then an oral presentation: Building Education Programs for ASKAP.
Prior to the meeting itself I’ll be attending two days of teacher workshops. The bulk of this will be for the Galileo Teacher Training Program which I hope to implement here in Australia. The Sunday afternoon is a special session; “SETI Speaker Series featuring scientists and researchers from the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California. Speakers include Drs. Frank Drake, Seth Shostak, Margaret Race, and John Jenkins”. Should be interesting!
Big Aussie Star Hunt extended to 30 August. August 20, 2009
Posted by astroed in Astronomy.Tags: Astronomy, Big Aussie Star Hunt, national science week
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Due to cloudy weather over much of Western Australia this week the ABC has just announced an extension to the Big Aussie Star Hunt. You can now observe Scorpius and enter your results and competition form on the website before midday Monday 31 August. Every observation logged puts you in the draw for $2,000 of goodies from the ABC Shop.
Fortunately my viewing night in WA last night was clear of clouds and absolutely stunning. Hopefully I’ll have some pics to post soon.
Science Week in Geraldton August 17, 2009
Posted by astroed in Education.Tags: Astronomy, Big Aussie Star Hunt, galileo, Geraldton, national science week, schools, theatre
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I’ve got a busy week ahead of me. I’m flying over to Geraldton in Western Australia for a series of events as part of National Science Week. Tomorrow I’m giving several talks to students at Nagle Catholic College in the afternoon followed by some professional development for teachers in the region and, hopefully, a viewing night.
The following morning I’ll be up bright and early as I have an on-air lesson about telescopes with students from the Meekatharra School of the Air. After that I drive out a few hours to Yalgoo (the first town in the Outback) where I’ll be taking part in a viewing evening for students from three schools, Yalgoo, Pia Wadjarri and Sandstone, who have come together for a few days for their athletics carnival. I’ll be joined by Megan Argos from Curtin (AstroMeg). We plan on getting the students to take part in the Big Aussie Star Hunt, the national project for Science Week.
On Thursday I’m giving a public talk about the life and work of Galileo at 7.30pm in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre prior to Theatre Eight’s production of Brecht’s The Life of Galileo.
It should be a busy but fun and rewarding week. Hopefully I’ll get some photos and more information up about the various events later.
Brecht’s The Life of Galileo in Geraldton August 13, 2009
Posted by astroed in Astronomy, General.Tags: galileo, Geraldton, national science week, theatre
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Next week I am in the Mid West region of Western Australia for a series of events supporting National Science Week.
One of these is on Thursday, 20 August at the Queens Park Theatre in Geraldton. The Junior Players of Theatre Eight are presenting Bertolt Brecht’s The Life of Galileo at 8pm. Prior to this at 7.30pm I will be giving a public talk at the theatre about Galileo, discussing his contributions to science, especially physics and astronomy. The play itself runs for the following two nights at 7.30pm with a matinee on at 2pm on the Saturday. Tickets are available for $10 from Queens Park Theatre on 08 9956 6662.
Poster for Theatre Eight's production of The Life of Galileo
The great debate: does God Exist? August 6, 2008
Posted by astroed in General, Mathematics, Skepticism.Tags: atheism, national science week, religion, Skepticism
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National Science Week is rapidly approaching. One event in Sydney that I’ve been asked to publicise is a debate between renowned skeptic Michael Schermer and John Lennox, scientist and mathematician. Details follow:
When: 23 August 2008
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Where: The Wesley Conference Centre
220 Pitt Street, Sydney
Michael Shermer, renowned skeptic, and John Lennox, mathematician and scientist, debate the ultimate question: does God exist?
Facilitated by Paul Willis from ABC’s Catalyst, this debate is sure to be engaging and entertaining, as the two speakers delve into their pet topics of intellectual theism, the origins of religion and why people believe in God?
Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic Magazine and the Executive Director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, the host of the Skeptics Distinguished Science Lecture Series at Caltech, and Adjunct Professor of Economics at Claremont Graduate University.
John Lennox has three degrees in the fields of science and mathematics and is a Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green College Oxford. His most recent book is ‘God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?’.
John has recently debated the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, while Michael has recently debated William Dembski, an American proponent of ‘intelligent design.’ Brief biographical notes for John and Michael are below.
This event is free but there are limited seats. Please book your ‘tickets‘ at http://publicchristianity.org/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=26865 call 02 9955 0077 or email info@publicchristianity.org
The Great Debate is sponsored by Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia (APESMA)
Michael Shermer was brought to Australia by the Australian Government for National Science Week http://www.scienceweek.info.au/Pages/index.aspx
John Lennox was brought to Australia by the Centre for Public Christianity www.publicchristianity.org
