[AstroNet] "Essential Astronomy" Outreach Workshop

[Kevin Govender]

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Kevin Govender wrote:
> Greetings to the astronet email list
> As mentioned before we are preparing for a set of training workshops 
> for astronomy education and outreach during June 2008.
> Please find below the first call that has also been published on 
> www.astronomy2009.org.za
> Places for this workshop will be allocated on a first come first 
> served basis.
> All details below.
> We hope to see many of you there.
>
> Spread the word.
> Regards
> Kevin
>
>
> *"Essential Astronomy" Outreach Workshop
>
> *
>
> 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, we launch the first *"Essential Astronomy" Outreach 
> Workshop* aimed at training and sharing experiences related to 
> astronomy outreach. This will take 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
>
> There will be two such workshops held in June 2008 - one in *Cape Town 
> (19-20 June at the SAAO)* and one in *Johannesburg (26-27 June at the 
> Jhb Observatory)*.
>
> *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 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.
>
> *Cape Town Workshop: *
>
> Date: 19th - 20th June 2008
>
> Venue: South African Astronomical Observatory, Observatory, Cape Town
>
> *Johannesburg Workshop:*
>
> Date: 26th and 27th June 2008
>
> Venue: Johannesburg Observatory, Observatory, Johannesburg
>
> *Programme*:
>
> *Day 1:*
> 8:30 Arrival, registration and tea
> 9:00 Welcome and Introductions / Ice breaker / Purpose / Relevance / 
> Audience knowledge of astronomy
> 9:30 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)
> 12:00 South African Astronomy Resources (from the consolidation 
> efforts on www.astronomy2009.org.za)
> 13:00 Lunch
> 14:00 Continue previous session
> 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:*
> 9:30 arrival and tea (late start for the late risers)
> 10:00 Outdoor exhibits/activities and daytime astronomy
> 11:00 Tea
> 11:30 Indigenous astronomy
> 12:00 Astronomy and the media (press release, phone call, radio 
> interview, tv interview, print story, PHOTOGRAPHS, YouTube, Flickr, 
> Wikipedia, Facebook, positive stories)
> 12:30 Lunch
> 13:30 The "Essential Astronomy Quick Reference Guide to Outreach" (a 
> pocket resource for astronomy education and outreach)
> 14:30 Planning for IYA and astronomy outreach: Open session
> 16:00 Closure
>
> *Call for contributions*: Patricipants 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)
>
> *Registration:*
>
> To register please send the following details to 
> info at astronomy2009.org.za <mailto:info at astronomy2009.org.za>
>
> /In the subject line/ type the word “Register” followed by the city of 
> the workshop you would like to attend (Cape Town or Johannesburg) 
> followed by your surname e.g. “Register Cape Town Govender”
>
> /In the body/ include the following:
>
>    * Full name
>    * Employer / affiliation
>    * Email address
>    * Postal address
>    * Telephone (land line and cellphone)
>    * Which days you will be attending (everyone's advised to attend both)
>    * Will you be attending the night sky session? (highly recommended)
>
> Once you register you will be given a reference number. If you do not 
> have a reference number at the workshop, you may miss out on the food 
> and materials!
>
> *Registration Deadline*: 31 May 2008 (register soon as space is 
> limited)* *
>
> *Cost*: There will be no registration fees 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 announced at the workshop.
>
> *Side Events*: Depending on the interest expressed, the weekends 
> immediately after the workshop can be used for a trip to nearby 
> astronomical or tourist sites (at own cost). After the Cape Town 
> workshop we could organise a special trip to the observatory 
> Sutherland (home to the Southern African Large Telescope) and after 
> the Johannesburg workshop we could organise a trip to Hartebeesthoek 
> Radio Observatory. This will depend on the interest expressed in these 
> side events. Costs for such trips will be kept as low as possible and 
> will depend on the number of people.
>
> *If you would like any more information regarding 
> travel/accommodation/logistics/side events or if you would like a 
> letter of invitation please contact kg(at)saao.ac.za 
> <javascript:linkTo_UnCryptMailto('ocknvq,miBuccq0ce0bc');>.*
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
*** If you are at all interested in Astronomy Education and Outreach, please join the AstroNet email list - details on SA International Year of Astronomy website: www.astronomy2009.org.za ***

Kevin Govender
Manager: SALT Collateral Benefits Programme
South African Astronomical Observatory
Office: +27 21 460 9350
Mobile: +27 82 487 8466
Fax: +27 21 447 3639
Email: kg at saao.ac.za
Skype: kevindran
Website: www.saao.ac.za / www.salt.ac.za
Postal: P.O. Box 9, Observatory, Cape Town, 7935, South Africa
Street: SAAO, Observatory Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa