Blasting Off Into GAM
When I left San Francisco for New York City, I knew I wanted to stay in astronomy communication. I wanted to work with people who were bold and unafraid to take strategic risks, while being inclusive and far-thinking. I'd fallen in love with amateur astronomy, and I am one of the few women of color working in astro communication. I feel strongly that more people of color need to participate in astronomy outreach and develop programs, if we want to attract minorities and underserved groups in the sciences, and in astronomy in particular. Mike Simmons, the founder and president of...
Give the Universe to a Blind Kid
Beautiful views of the Universe. Image credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and R. Gendler. The beauty of the Universe never fails to amaze us. From poets, artists to astronomers and public, we all have been fascinated by its beauty. But, take a step back and think! What about people with vision impairments? Many people around the world have some type of vision impairments that prevent them from enjoying the wonders in the night sky, specially in developing countries where there is a lack of educational tactile tools specifically designed for them. According to the World Health...
Why you should answer questions on Twitter
If your science centre is on Twitter and posting about its activity, that’s great! If not, check why you should be tweeting . Apart from talking about your activities, another way to engage with people on Twitter is to answer their questions. This is an efficient way to grow your online community and get closer to your friends. And there is even a study to back that affirmation. InboxQ has recently issued this diagram based on a study they did. There are a few things that should catch your attention: Those who are likely to ask more questions and to...
My Astronomy Awareness Journey
In February this year I got to travel to Matatiele in the province of the Eastern Cape in South Africa. There I visited a number of schools doing astronomy outreach- giving presentations and doing activities with the earth ball and also motivating the learners to study science. After one presentation, a lady from the Education Department District Office came to me and brought one of the girls that was in the presentation- the young lady, who is currently in grade 11 (second-last year of high school), told me that she had always wanted to be a Land Surveyor but after...
Fuelling the Fire: The Importance of Teaching Kids Astronomy
Imagination, humility, connection and curiosity : this is why we do astronomy. These are the sensations our ancestors felt when looking up at the sky centuries ago, and these are the feelings we still experience as we continue to work through the countless and ever-multiplying mysteries of our Universe. For the past nine months, I’ve travelled around the world with the sole purpose of speaking with children about astronomy. Why speak primarily with children, and not adults? I believe that kids are able to expose and articulate these pillars more clearly and with less fear than grown-ups. Children have the...
