Category: Education and Public Outreach

Reconstructing an Artemis II Solar Eclipse with SunPy

In a new post on the SunPy blog, we work through the reconstruction of the solar eclipse observed by the Artemis II crew on 7 April 2026, starting from a single photograph taken from the Orion spacecraft.

Using SunPy together with JPL Horizons, we retrieve the Artemis II trajectory, fit the lunar limb and the planets visible in the frame to solve for the camera orientation and lens distortion, and build a coordinate-aware SunPy Map tied to the astronaut’s viewpoint. We then reproject SOHO/LASCO C2 and C3 coronagraph data into the same frame, allowing a direct comparison of the corona from two very different vantage points.

The full write-up, along with the corresponding gallery examples, is available here:
https://sunpy.org/posts/2026/artemis_2_eclipse/

With the total solar eclipse crossing Europe on 12 August 2026, the same approach can be applied to observations taken by the community.… continue to the full article

Read more

“Growing Science from the Ground Up: Family Science Discussion Club” seeks speakers & partners

Dear colleagues,

We are excited to introduce the Family Science Discussion Club, a community outreach project based in Coventry with a simple but ambitious idea: to grow interest in science from an early age, by using families as an effective vehicle for engagement. The Club offers informal, thought-provoking science evenings every few months at Hearsall Community Academy Primary School in Coventry. We invite whole families, children and adults, to enjoy accessible talks by real scientists and communicators, to ask questions, and to take part in related hands-on, fun science activities. The aim is to spark curiosity, build scientific dialogue in the home and community, and make science part of everyday conversation. We have already had a series of fascinating evenings spanning topics from the Sun and astrophysics to paleoclimate, literature translation and human brain:

https://sites.google.com/view/hearsall-family-science-club/home

Call for Speakers:

If you are a researcher, science communicator at any career stage, whether in solar physics or beyond, and you would enjoy presenting about your work for a family audience, we’d love to hear from you. We have a “Suggest a Speaker” tab on our website (above) where interested colleagues can register their willingness to speak in future events. This is intended to build a pool of potential speakers so that we can draw on diverse voices over time. No talk needs to be ultra technical – we value clarity, curiosity, and enthusiasm!

Towards a Franchise: Spreading the Model

We believe the Hearsall model has potential beyond Coventry. Our hope is to support or seed similar “family science discussion” groups in other cities, regions, or centres of research across the UK. If your department, research group, outreach centre, or institution would be interested in partnering, adopting or adapting this model (e.g. scheduling similar regular family-science events, sharing speaker networks, coordinating themes), then please do get in touch. Together we can build up a more distributed network of family-oriented public science discussions, increasing reach, diversity, and impact.

With best regards,

Dmitrii Kolotkov (D.Kolotkov.1@warwick.ac.uk) on behalf of the organising team… continue to the full article

Read more

Outreach and Public Engagement Leadership Programme – Deadline for Applications 17:00 (GMT) 24th June 2022

The Ogden Trust and STFC have partnered up again to offer an Outreach and Public Engagement leadership programme- offered specifically as a CPD opportunity to develop a more strategic approach to your engagement work.

The programme has been developed specifically for academic/teaching staff with an interest in taking a more strategic approach to outreach and public engagement. This may include those championing outreach and public engagement within their research group, those with a leadership component at a department level or in an STFC facility, or those taking more formal responsibilities for leading and developing outreach and public engagement.

The programme will run between the 15th September 2022 to July 2023. The deadline for applications is 17:00, 24th June 2022. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in early July.

Full details on the programme, eligibility and requirements can be found on the Ogden Trust website:

https://www.ogdentrust.com/university-support/leadership-for-outreach-and-public-engagement/

Please can you share this with your networks… continue to the full article

Read more

Public Engagement Opportunities at NAM

Alongside this year’s National Astronomy Meeting (University of Warwick, 11-15th July) we will be running an exciting programme of Public Engagement events. Central to these events will be Prof. Robert Walsh and Alex Rinsler’s SUN installation (https://seethesun.org/). We are currently seeking expressions of interest from members of the UKSP community who would be willing to participate in PE events that will run alongside this installation – this could be anything from a stand alone display or a talk to a hands on activity for schools or families. If you are potentially interested please e-mail Rebecca Nealon (Rebecca.Nealon@warwick.ac.uk) or Anne-Marie Broomhall (a-m.broomhall@warwick.ac.uk) for more information.

https://nam2022.org/… continue to the full article

Read more

Public Engagement Officer at Dunsink Observatory

We are delighted to accept applications for the position of Public Engagement Officer in Data and Space Science at Dunsink Observatory, part of Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. We are seeking an enthusiastic and creative person to run public-facing events including Ireland’s first space-themed escape room, and to develop and deliver new content around the themes of Data Science and Space Science, reflecting the modern, cutting edge work of the DIAS Astronomy and Astrophysics Section. This will include new space weather themed content linked to the Magnetometer Network of Ireland.

Interested candidates should submit an application on our online recruitment system by 5pm on January 20th 2022. For more information visit https://dias.ie/public-engagement-officer… continue to the full article

Read more

Interact 2019 – An Engagement Symposium for the Physical and Life Sciences is back – Workshop closing date reminder

Dear All,

Interact 2019 – An Engagement Symposium for the Physical and Life Sciences is back – Workshop closing date reminder

Thank you to everyone who has registered and put forward suggestions on workshops for Interact, we have had some fantastic proposals already. The closing date for Workshop submissions is Tuesday 30th April, we will then ask registered delegates to vote on these. The day promises to be lively and full of interest with something for everyone and an excellent networking opportunity too. There is also plenty of space for exhibitions in the market place and if you have something you would like to show, then let us know!

Spanning the physical and life sciences this event offers something for everyone with an interest in improving their public engagement capabilities. It will provide a fantastic opportunity to learn new ways to engage with your audience, explore the barriers to engagement and discuss how the engagement landscape is changing. But above all, it will be a chance to share your experiences with like-minded people in a fun and friendly environment.

The STFC, IOP, SEPnet, RSC, RAS Ogden Trust and UCLAN are partnering together to develop an inspiring, challenging and refreshing programme on the following key themes:

• Evaluation & Impact and REF2021
• Reaching under-served audiences
• Schools outreach
• Sharing best and worst practice in a safe space

UCLAN is a fantastic location with state-of-the-art facilities, including a fully-functioning laboratory for experimental demonstrations and activities, and a completely kitted-out performing arts facility including a dance stage.

We all look forward to seeing you there.

For more details and workshop ideas, please register here –
https://stfc.ukri.org/public-engagement/training-and-support/the-interact-symposium-2019/

To see what happened at Interact 2017 please have a look here –
http://www.sepnet.ac.uk/launch-interact-2017-evaluation-report/

https://stfc.ukri.org/public-engagement/training-and-support/the-interact-symposium-2019/… continue to the full article

Read more

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here

Engage school students with your research from your desk!

I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here http://imascientist.org.uk/scientists is an online STEM engagement competition that gets people in science talking with curious school students. The STFC are funding Particles Zone and Space Zone https://imascientist.org.uk/2019/03/june-2019-zones/, both taking place 10-21 June  – and researchers funded by, or using data from, the STFC get priority in this oversubscribed event.

“After my first live chat I was hooked! The enthusiasm of the students was inspiring, and some of the questions were incredibly thought-provoking”

David, physicist https://about.imascientist.org.uk/2018/i-was-in-awe-at-the-intelligence-of-the-students-november-2018-winners-blog-posts/

Apply now for* I’m a Scientist* at imascientist.org.uk/scientist-apply

Make sure to select ‘Connected to STFC’ to receive priority for a place

Taking part is an enjoyable and easy way to get involved in STEM engagement. You’ll develop your communication skills and gain a fresh perspective on your work, through showing students what it’s really like to be a researcher.

Fill in your profile page, answer questions and use the text based chat system with UK school students. Everything happens online; you take part from your desk or smartphone. There’s no need to prepare activities or take time out of the office. Even better, students vote for their favourite scientist, who wins £500 to fund more STEM engagement activities.

Find out more and apply by Tuesday 23rd April at imascientist.org.uk/scientists

Any questions, contact antony@mangorol.la or call 01225 326 892… continue to the full article

Read more

STFC Public Engagement Early-Career Researcher Forum

STFC Public Engagement Early-Career Researcher Forum
https://stfc.ukri.org/public-engagement/training-and-support/peer-forum/
Call for Applications
Closing date: 16:00, Monday 3rd June 2019

The STFC Public Engagement Early-Career Researcher Forum (the ‘PEER Forum’) will support talented scientists and engineers in the early stages of their career to develop their public engagement and outreach goals, to ensure the next generation of STFC scientists and engineers continue to deliver the highest quality of purposeful, audience-driven public engagement.

PEER Forum aims

*   To foster peer learning and peer support between early career scientists and engineers with a passion for public engagement and outreach.

*   To improve understanding of the support STFC provides for public engagement and outreach (including funding mechanisms, evaluation, and reporting) and how to successfully utilise this support.

*   To stimulate discussions that help to develop and influence STFC’s approaches to public engagement.

What will participation in the Forum involve?
Participants in the PEER Forum will meet face-to-face at least twice per year to share learning and to participate in session that will strengthen the depth and breadth of their understanding of public engagement and outreach.

Who can apply to join the Forum?
The PEER Forum is for practising early-career scientists and engineers who have an ambition to carry out excellent public engagement alongside, and complimentary to, their career in science or engineering. We are seeking Forum members from across the breadth of STFC’s pure and applied science and technology remit.

The specific personal requirements of PEER Forum membership are that members:

*   Have completed their highest level of academic qualification within the last ten years (not including any career breaks)

*   Are employed at a Higher Education Institute, or a research-intensive Public Sector Research Organisation or Research Laboratory (including STFC’s own national laboratories)

*   Work within a science and technology field in STFC’s remit, or with a strong inter-disciplinary connection to STFC’s remit, or use an STFC facility to enable their own research

*   Demonstrate a highly credible track record of experience in their field, corresponding to the length of their career to date

*   Demonstrate a highly credible track record of leading and delivering public engagement or outreach

*   Are keen communicators with a willingness to contribute to the success of a UK-wide network

Further information
For details on how to apply please go to our website<https://stfc.ukri.org/public-engagement/training-and-support/peer-forum/> or contact Andy Thompson Andy.Thompson@stfc.ac.uk<mailto:andy.thompson@stfc.ac.uk>.… continue to the full article

Read more

Astronomy and Geophysics Demos and Presenter Training Day

We’re having a special public engagemnet training day for FELLOWS at the RAS on the 8th NOVEMBER: Astronomy and geophysics demos and presenter training day

Would you like to more confidently present science shows and astronomy and geophysics demonstrations in your science public engagement talks? If so then this training day is for you!

Run by the wonderful team at www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk

Date: Thursday 8th November

Time: All day, 10am start.

Location: RAS offices at Burlington House

The training is free of charge for Fellows and includes lunch. We are unable to assist with travel and expenses for this training day due to it already being heavily subsidised by the RAS.

If you are interested in attending please email Sheila Kanani directly. There will only be a small cohort of trainees so that you get the best training, so please get in touch with me ASAP if you’re interested! There will be a waiting list.

To apply please email Sheila Kanani with a brief description of your experience and expertise in public outreach, your Fellowship number and a short description of why you would like to attend the training. I will get in touch with you directly if you are successful.

Kind regards,

Sheila… continue to the full article

Read more

“INTERACT” Symposium

Are you a physical scientist or do you engage with STFC or use STFC facilities and undertake outreach, public engagement and science communication? If so then the “INTERACT” Symposium is for you!
What it’s all about: The STFC, IOP and SEPnet are organising a one day conference in Birmingham that promises to be both useful and fun! We want to help you share your enthusiasm for science. This lively one day event offers you the opportunity to be inspired by experienced outreach/public engagement champions, share your experience and good practice, take part in hands-on interactive workshops and parallel sessions. In addition there will be a marketplace showcasing engagement in practice that offers you a chance to see what resources are out there to help you.

Themes of the day are:

• Evaluation and impact: How to do effective evaluation and demonstrate impact, sharing case studies, what worked for REF and what didn’t. Looking forward to REF 2021

• Reaching traditionally hard-to-engage and underserved audiences: Working with the right partners, raising your skills and working with STEM influencers to reach low science capital audiences

• Schools outreach: How to work with young audiences and inspire them

• Sharing both good practice and a safe space for “what not to do”s: Understanding your audience, reflective practice and what constitutes high-quality public engagement

Who can attend: The symposium is open to all Physical Science researchers including engineering and facility users. Attending can also contribute to your continuing professional development.

This event is free to attend but you will need to register in advance. Please register at https://www.iopconferences.org/iop/1102/home by Friday 30 June.

Registered delegates will be invited to submit ideas for running a session or workshop that address the key symposium themes and there will an opportunity to demonstrate your outreach activities. Registered delegates will also be asked to vote on the final conference programme.

We all look forward to seeing you there.

Dr Neville Hollingworth
Public Engagement Manager
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Polaris House
North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1SZ

E: Neville.hollingworth@stfc.ac.uk… continue to the full article

Read more