Stargazers Gauteng Programme

HartRAO DRAFT PROGRAMME

July 16, 2009

Meet at frayintermedia offices for transport to HartRAO at 07h30 sharp

(half hour)

Registration and Tea

STARGAZERS AND SCRIBBLERS

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR STARGAZING SCRIBBLERS

(30 mins)

Welcome & Warm-Up

What do we know about astronomy? Why should we care?

Facilitator: Michael Schmidt (Training Director frayintermedia) with Dr Mike Gaylard  (Associate Director, HartRAO)

(one hour 30 mins)

Introduction to Astronomy in Southern Africa and its spin-offs:

Radio, Optical and Gamma-Ray Astronomy and Space Geodesy

Facilitator: Dr Mike Gaylard  (Associate Director, HartRAO) or Marion West (Astronomer, HartRAO) with Adrian Tiplady (scientist, Square Kilometre Array project), Chris Engelbrecht (UJ) & Roelf Botha (HartRAO)

Download this poster of HartRAO Radio Astronomy here. (507KB)

(15 mins)

TEA

SCRIBBLERS’ TRAINING

STARGAZERS’ TRAINING

(one hour)

A Deeper Look into Space Through the Eyes of MeerKAT and SKA

Facilitator: Dr Adrian Tiplady (SKA)

Download this poster from SKA about astronomy here. (515KB)

Unpacking Complex Stories to Get your Message Across

Facilitator: Rowan Philp (Chief Reporter Sunday Times & Knight Science Journalism Fellow)

Download an example astronomy paper about delays on GPS signals here.(929KB)

(45 mins)

LUNCH:

First Light: Getting to Know Each Other

JOINT SESSION:

Guided Tour of HartRAO facility

Guide: Michael Gaylard / Marion West  (Astronomers, HartRAO)

SCRIBBLERS’ TRAINING

STARGAZERS’ TRAINING

(one hour)

Getting Excited about Astronomy: Generating Story Ideas

Michael Schmidt (Training Director, frayintermedia and former science columnist)

Getting the Media and the Public Hooked on your Research

- How to Handle Interviews

Facilitator: Rowan Philp (Sunday Times) in conversation with Dr Adrian Tiplady (SKA), Okkie de Jager (NWU)  & Marion West (Astronomer, HartRAO)

(15 mins)

TEA

JOINT SESSION

Ask your questions

Facilitator: Michael Schmidt (Training Director, frayintermedia)