ATNF outreach

Wildflowers in the Sky: astronomy for Mid West schools

The ATNF-led Wildflowers in the Sky project is part of the Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics (ASISTM) program. The project involves schools in the Mid West region of Western Australia working with astronomers and educators from the ATNF and partner oganisations, to expand students' understanding of astronomy.

The project commenced in June with a teacher training day held at Cue Primary School. Rob Hollow, the Project Coordinator and ATNF's Education Officer, led the day with support by Pete Wheeler, Manager of the Horizon Planetarium, part of Scitech in Perth.

Two students from Cue Primary School using their new Sunspotter telescope.
Photo: Robert Hollow (click on photo for a larger version)

In August, together with astronomers Naomi McClure-Griffiths and Ilana Klamer, Rob spent a week in the Mid West region visiting each of the five partner schools. Students used their new Sunspotter solar telescopes to observe sunspots safely and modelled the scale of the Earth and Moon. They also had the opportunity to ask the astronomers questions. Viewing nights were held at Meekatharra, with over a hundred people turning up on the sports field at Pia Wadjarri and at John Willcock College in Geraldton. The schools used their new telescopes, funded as part of the project, to view the stunning night skies. Unfortunately a rare thunderstorm at Cue prevented the students there from holding their viewing night, but at least they were able to enjoy the postponed barbecue for lunch the following day.

Students from Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School using their new school telescope.
Photo: Robert Hollow (click on photo for a larger version)

As the students of Meekatharra School of the Air were out on their stations and not in town Ilana, Naomi and Rob held an "on air" question and answer session for an hour. The students asked many excellent questions and now have their own astronomy club web blog.

The week-long tour was extremely interesting and rewarding for all involved. In particular, responses from the viewing night participants were really encouraging and positive. We travelled over 2,100 km during the week and enjoyed the chance to meet everyone at the schools and the communities.

Ilana Klamer showing girls from John Willcock College how to observe sunspots safely.
Photo: Robert Hollow (click on photo for a larger version)

The project web pages are now online at outreach.atnf.csiro.au/education/wildflowers/ and new material will be added frequently. An extensive range of project resources, student contributions and teacher professional development material will be made available for project partners and the wider educational community.

The second school tour is planned for March 2007.

Science teacher workshops in regional NSW

The School of Physics at the University of Sydney runs a science teacher workshop for physics teachers every two years. Rob Hollow ran sessions on spectroscopy and concepts for "The Cosmic Engine" at the Sydney workshop in June. This year the workshop was also taken out to regional NSW with two-day events held in Wagga Wagga and Armidale, and Rob repeated his sessions at each of these. It was a valuable opportunity to discuss the work of ATNF with country teachers and make them aware of the resources and support available.

Robert Hollow
(Robert.Hollow@csiro.au)
 

ATNF Narrabri Open Day and Visitors Centre ceremony

On Saturday 31 July an Open Day was held at the ATNF Narrabri. Several Compact Array antennas were opened to the public for guided tours and visitors were also shown around the Control Building where they saw the correlator room, observing area and control room. Astronomy talks were scheduled throughout the day at the Visitors Centre including: "Radio astronomy in Australia" by Rob Hollow; "Science and results from the Compact Array" by Phil Edwards; "The next generation of radio telescopes in Australia" by Tim Cornwell; and "Seeking the first structure in the Universe" by Aaron Chippendale.

Other attractions were displays on amateur radio astronomy, ask an expert, the xNTD, viewing the sun through a solar filtered telescope, and the new outdoor information panels and sculptures. The Apex club ran a barbecue and a jumping castle for the youngest in the crowd. Due to technical difficulties a helicopter that was to provide joy flights failed to arrive, but although this was disappointing the overwhelming interest was in the activities surrounding the Compact Array.

A stream of people waiting for antenna tours at the Narrabri Open Day. The solar telescope and amateur radio astronomy displays are set up in the background.
Photo: Michael Dahlem (click on photo for a larger version)

All of the talks and displays were well attended; the antenna tours were particularly popular with people lining up throughout the day and an extra antenna opened to meet the demand. Approximately 600 people visited and feedback received was very positive, with requests for another Open Day next year. People from Narrabri and the wider surrounding districts of NSW attended, as well as visitors from as far away as Newcastle, Sydney and Brisbane. It was a great opportunity to promote awareness of the telescope within the local community.

Climbing antenna 4 of the Compact Array at Narrabri.
Photo: Michael Dahlem (click on photo for a larger version)

Earlier in the morning an opening ceremony was held for the new outdoor displays at the Visitors Centre, featured in earlier editions of the ATNF News.

Narrabri Shire Mayor, Councillor George Sevil, officially opens the new Visitors Centre displays, with assistance from Dr Phil Edwards, ATNF Narrabri Officer-in-Charge.
Photo: Bruce Tough (click on photo for a larger version)

The opening ceremony and morning tea afterwards were very enjoyable with Phil Edwards acting as Master of Ceremonies and speeches by Vikram Ravi, who lived on the site with his parents Ravi Subrahmanyan and Lakshmi Saripalli before attending university, and the Narrabri Shire Mayor, Councillor George Sevil, who cut the ribbon.

Vikram Ravi giving a thought provoking speech during the Opening Ceremony.
Photo: Bruce Tough (click on photo for a larger version)

Members of the tourism community, media, education providers, ATNF staff and people involved in the development of the displays were invited. This was an excellent opportunity for networking amongst these groups and the ATNF and for the new displays to be widely promoted.

Many volunteers from across the ATNF gave up their valuable time to assist and provide support ranging from scientific expertise to general preparations and even traffic control!

We thank everyone for their help in making this day a great success.

ATNF Mopra Open Day

On Sunday 22 October the Mopra Observatory was also made available to the public for tours, presenting an Open Day in conjunction with the Coonabarabran Spring Festival. It was held on the same day as the annual Siding Springs Observatory Open Day.

Around 40-50 people visited, with Phil Edwards being the astronomer on hand to explain all about radio astronomy and how the telescope works. Observing continued throughout so the visitors were on site while current projects were underway.

Although a smaller event it was well attended and the guests were very interested, with some amateur radio astronomy buffs present. The Mopra Open Day is a good means of keeping in touch with the local Coonabarabran community and astronomical institutions, while at the same time promoting the ATNF.

Joanne Houldsworth
(Joanne.Houldsworth@csiro.au)