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Education and Public Outreach
In addition to its primary research role, the Armagh Observatory has an
important secondary responsibility (a) to maintain and preserve the fabric
of the historic buildings, the library, historic books and archives, and
the collection of scientific instruments and other artefacts built up over
more than two hundred years of continuous astronomical activity in Armagh,
and (b) to advance public understanding of science, and of astronomy in
particular.
Not only is the scientific, cultural and built heritage provided by
astronomy at Armagh a highly significant asset for the region, but the
Observatory's collection of scientific artefacts, instruments and historic
telescopes spans virtually every aspect of modern astronomy. In many
cases, the underlying motivation and reasons for the developments of
astronomy at a particular time can be explained with reference to
discoveries at Armagh, or to material held within the Library and
Archives. This gives astronomers at Armagh a unique opportunity to
explain the development of their subject over more than two hundred years
and the context in which modern scientific research is supported and
carried out.
For these reasons, the Observatory has an important secondary objective
to contribute to lifelong learning and to promote amongst the general
public a deeper understanding of astronomy and related sciences. This is
achieved in a variety of ways, for example by:
- attracting visitors to Armagh, primarily to the Armagh Observatory
Grounds and Astropark, and to the Human Orrery and Phenology Garden;
- providing wider knowledge of the Observatory's unique meteorological
record, the longest in the UK and Ireland from a single site, and to
maintain it in the long term;
- widening knowledge of the Observatory's cultural heritage,
for example its listed buildings, library, archives and historic
scientific instruments, the telescopes and telescope domes, and the
historical development of the Observatory's landscaped grounds and
Astropark;
- providing talks and presentations to individuals and groups
encompassing people of all ages and from all backgrounds;
- providing opportunities for partnerships with other institutions and
organizations having similar public education objectives to those of the
Armagh Observatory, for example the Astronomical Science Group of Ireland,
the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society, the Armagh Visitors
Education Committee, the Irish Astronomical Association and other
astronomy organizations, and university research groups and research
institutes;
- ensuring that technical questions from members of the public about
astronomy can be answered, and the results of astronomical research
disseminated widely to the press, radio and television; and
- maintaining the development of the Observatory's web-site as a rich
educational resource with the facility to widen access to the latest
research findings on astronomy and related sciences and to the Armagh
Observatory's history and heritage;
As part of this programme of education and public outreach
the Observatory issues press information sheets on recent developments in
astronomy and on research carried out at Armagh. The list for 2004
numbers 37 separate press releases on various meteorological or
astronomical topics, slightly fewer than the previous year. However, it
is noteworthy that a remarkably high fraction (35/37) of these were
published in one form or another, underlining the very high level of
public and media interest in astronomy and demonstrating an exceptionally
high `hit' rate for stories about astronomy and related sciences. There
were 282 identified media citations referring to the Observatory, its
staff or its work, well above the target of 200 set at the beginning of
the year.
The Librarian, together with other staff, frequently answers queries from
members of the public on different aspects of astronomy and what is
visible or has been seen in the night sky. He also writes a monthly
column for the Belfast Telegraph. The recorded list of public
enquiries for 2004, which is undoubtedly incomplete, covers more than 130
separate responses. Many such requests (especially those that are answered
by students or other research staff) are received during weekends or
outside normal working hours.
Subsections
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Up: annrep2004
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