The sky remains our biggest and most accessible teaching resource so there is always a need to increase the number of people who are able to use it effectively.

With this in mind, the "Essential Astronomy" Outreach Workshop is aimed at training and sharing experiences related to astronomy outreach. This takes the form of a packed 2 day experience which should leave all participants (a) fascinated by astronomy, and (b) better able to convey this fascination to others using the many tools and techniques that will be provided. 

If you are interested in such workshops please contact us to find out about organising one in your area. The programme is flexible and can be adapted to the time/space you have available.

Past workshops:
Cape Town (19-20 June at the SAAO)

Johannesburg (26-27 June at the Jhb Observatory)

Durban (11-12 September at the University of KZN, Westville campus)

SAASTEC conference (November 2008)

 

Workshop Objective: build the pool of people able to do astronomy outreach

Target audience: EPO (education and public outreach) staff from national facilities; science centre staff; Department of Education officials; university physics students; both professional and amateur astronomers; science journalists; astronomy enthusiasts from the public; basically anyone keen to be able to promote astronomy.

A special appeal is always made to those who have a lot of astronomy outreach experience to come share it with the attendees of the workshop and provide input into the contents presented.

Programme:

Day 1:    
08:30    Arrival, registration and tea
09:00    Welcome and Introductions / Ice breaker / Purpose / Relevance / Audience knowledge of astronomy
09:30    The International Year of Astronomy: Global and local scenes (presentation and discussion - to be continued on last day)
10:00    Astronomy in a nutshell: What everyone should know about astronomy
11:00    Tea
11:30    Useful Astronomy Software (participants will get CDs of the software)
12:30     Astronomy and the media (press release, phone call, radio interview, tv interview, print story, PHOTOGRAPHS, YouTube, Flickr, Wikipedia, Facebook, positive stories)
13:00    Lunch
14:00    South African Astronomy Resources (from the consolidation efforts on www.astronomy2009.org.za)
15:00    Relevant International Programmes and Resources (UNAWE, GHOU, NASA, ASP, etc)
16:00    tea
16:30    Round up discussions and preparations for night viewing
17:00    Break/supper/socialise
19:00    The night sky: telescope, binocular and naked eye observing (what to teach with what you have)
21:00    sleep at will

Day 2:  
09:30    arrival and tea (late start for the late risers)
10:00    Indigenous astronomy
10:30    The "Essential Astronomy Quick Reference Guide to Outreach" (a pocket resource for astronomy education and outreach)
12:00    Lunch
13:00    Continue previous session
14:00    Planning for IYA and astronomy outreach: Open session
16:00    Closure

Call for contributions: Participants are requested to contribute to the resource database and the various items on the programme by sending in astronomy materials that they are willing to share with the community. Suggestions to improve the impact of this workshop are most welcome. (With great appreciation to all those who have already contributed)

Cost: There is never a registration fee as we would like to encourage as many people as possible to attend. Transport and accommodation will of course be at your own expense. Sponsors of lunches and resource kits will be publicised at the workshop and on the website.

 

If you would like any more information regarding such workshops or if you would like a to host such a workshop in your area, please send an email to kg(at)saao.ac.za.