Presentation by Pedro Russo during the IAU GA 2012 in August 2012

1. identifying opportunities
for communicating astronomy with the public
Pedro Russo
Leiden University/ EU Universe Awareness
russo@strw.leidenuniv.nl
@pruss | @unawe

3. What is an opportunity?

4. Building
 create tools to enable people to discover astronomy
 make astronomy’ methods more familiar
 arouse people’s interest and give them a keen
appetite for knowledge
 train people how to raise questions and observe
 help people discover astronomy

5. Mobilizing
 encourage the public to watch astronomy as it progresses
 attract astronomers to come out from their laboratories
 organize meetings and other events with astronomers

6. Communicating
 enable people to get to know about the advances of
astronomy
 foster the general public’s access to astronomy
information
 bring astronomy into public debate

7. examples of astro communication “opportunities”

8. Articles about astronomy.
Hawaii Tribune Herald – 21 August 2008

9. (e)Books/apps about astronomy.

10. ESO Open Day
Open House Days.

11. Talks in local astronomy clubs, science centres, schools,
planetariums, cultural centres and astrocafés.

12. How you can contribute to IYA2009
New Media (blogs, twitter, FB)

13. How you can contribute to IYA2009
Documentaries/TV Shows

14. Astronomy themed activities in schools.

15. Observing Nights

16. Planetarium Shows

17. Wikipedia

18. Work experience for high school and undergrad
students in your institution.

19. How managers can contribute to IYA2009
• Encourage work experience placements for
science students.
• Encourage “artists in residence” programme in
the organisations or institutions.
Laurie Anderson - NASA's first Artist In Residence
“artists in residence” programmes in astronomical
organisations or institutions.
Michel Gondry – MIT’s Artist In Residence

20. Innovative art/science project

21. Music Concerts

22. Astronomy Exhibitions
From Earth to the Universe – 2008 - Liverpool, UK

23. Public Talks

24. Guerrilla Astronomy

25. Very creative approaches

26. Dinner inside a Planetarium

27. Camping inside a Planetarium

28. Clubbing inside a Planetarium

29. + more

30. International Year of Light 2015 (?)

31. survey

32. Astronomers’ Views on Education and Public Outreach
Survey (N= 48)
How much of your working time do you spend on EPO activities?
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0 hours <2 hours/week 3-5 hours/week 6-8 hours/week 2 days/week 3 days/week > 3 days/week

33. Astronomers’ Views on Education and Public Outreach
Survey (N= 42)
How much of your own free time do you spend on EPO activities?
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

34. Astronomers’ Views on Education and Public Outreach
Survey
Type of activities ( feel free to select more than one)
 Presenting at schools
 Bringing students into the lab/department
 Giving public lectures
 Writing popular articles
 Writing popular books
 Writing/contributing to a blog
 Supporting EPO activities in a planetarium
 Observing events
 Institution/Observatories Open days
 Supporting exhibitions development
 Others

35. Astronomers’ Views on Education and Public Outreach
Survey (N= 42)
How do you participate in EPO activities?
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

36. some tips

37. Science Public
Diversification of Products

38. It is not just a question of means.
You have to find the best approach
for the desired objective and the
intended audience, taking account
of that group’s level of knowledge
and centres of interest.

39. Planning
1. Map and define the stakeholder groups you are communicating
with
2. Analyse and determine their communicative predispositions
3. Define your key messages and key take home messages
4. Analyse what communication channels they use the most
5. Match the last points and you will find the right strategy for your
opportunity

40. prioritise opportunies

41. write down potential opportunities
(one per sitcky note)

42. Group 1: Implementation
Difficult to Implement
Easy to Implement
Normal Opportunities Innovative Opportunities

43. Group 2: Cost
High Cost
Low Cost
Normal Opportunities Innovative Opportunities

44. Group 3: Reach
High Reach (> 100 ppl)
Low Reach (<100 ppl)
Normal Opportunities Innovative Opportunities

45. Group 4: Engagement level
High Engagement
Low Engagement
Normal Opportunities Innovative Opportunities

46. Save the Date
Communicating Astronomy
with the Public
Conference 2013
14-18.10.2013: Warsaw (Poland)
www.communicatingastronomy.org/meetings/