Teaching science is a privilege and a responsibility. Science is about exploring and understanding the world. Aside from providing the next generation of academics the skills required for their future career, one can argue a case for increased scientific literacy for everyone. If society is equipped with the skills needed to make intelligent, informed decisions they can begin to dissect the information they will be bombarded with in the future. Also Science is fun!! If you don’t believe me, take a look at one of the best blogs around, Orbiting Frog and see if you don’t chuckle and wonder in awe at the Universe.
Outreach for astronomy is arguably easy since we have great pictures and exciting stories every day. What am I doing to spread the astronomy love? I have helped with posters about astronomy and/or giving presentations for open days, UCAS days and the Sixth Form Conference. For the public, I have presented to astronomical societies, helped out with local museum events, discussed astronomical news on the radio, and organised an astronomy club in a local school for a year. As part of a fellowship with the Faulkes Telescope project, I have provided training for teachers in the use of robotic telescopes and entry-level astronomy including the design of astronomy-based resources to use in the classroom both in the UK and internationally (as part of European Hands on Universe). I am part of the Sense About Science group (a charity promoting good science and evidence for the public), helping to write a publication for young/new scientists on how to work positively with the media (Standing up for Science, 2005) which was sent to every graduate school in the UK. I am also involved with promoting women in Science through WISE (Women into Science, Engineering and Construction) as a committee member on the Wise in Wales board and as a role model, through this I was able to take part in the Superstars series as a Superstar (with infrared vision) which promotes Science and Engineering as a career for primary school children currently touring across Wales and will be seen in the rest of the UK soon.
Public talks will be uploaded soon.
Some food for thought..
“Any scientist who cannot explain what he is doing to a reasonably intelligent 14-year old is either incompetent or a charlatan” Einstein?
“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not a hard duty” Einstein?
“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten” B.F. Skinner
“Now what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life” Charles Dickens
“The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursuing [their] own education. We think of the mind as a storehouse to be filled when we should be thinking of it as an instrument to be used”J.W.Gardener
(Quotes courtesy of Geoff Petty in “Teaching Today”)
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