The Faulkes Telescopes Universe Challenge will be launched today (Thursday, 8 January) at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in the RDS, as part of the Irish celebrations of the International Year of Astronomy 2009. Transition Year students, and their equivalents in Northern Ireland, will be asked to take part in scientific research projects involving the Faulkes Telescopes. The state-of-the-art, 2m diameter telescopes are situated on mountain-top sites in Australia and Hawaii, and can be remotely operated by school groups.
Members of the professional astronomy community in universities and institutes throughout the island of Ireland will suggest research projects and assist school students in their delivery. On the basis of their results, to be presented at the Galway Science and Technology Festival in October 2009, the best group, including their teacher and professional mentor, will be invited to visit the Chilean Observatories of the European Southern Observatory. There they will see one of the world s best telescopes and try out one of the smaller telescopes for their own research.
The International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) is a global celebration of astronomy and its contribution to society and culture. 2009 is the 400th anniversary of the first use of an astronomical telescope by Galileo, in reality the beginning of the modern age in astronomy. The aim of IYA2009 is to stimulate a worldwide interest and encourage participation in astronomy and in science amongst students at all levels, and among the general public. In Ireland, a programme of events is being organised by the Irish Node of IYA2009, headed by Professor Michael Redfern, Centre for Astronomy, NUI Galway.
According to Professor Michael Redfern: "The Faulkes Telescopes Universe Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for school students to experience original scientific research, and for them to meet and work with real scientists. There can be immense satisfaction from achievements that take time and effort - which I think can sometimes be missed in school curricula, and in the scramble for points. The research these students will undertake is original, no one can tell them in advance what the results are supposed to be - I think that this is a very exciting opportunity. The prize is very generously sponsored by the European Southern Observatory, even though Ireland is not a member".
The Faulkes Telescopes Universe Challenge is sponsored by Discover Science & Engineering, NUI Galway, Northern Ireland Space Office and Armagh Observatory. Further information can be found at www.astronomy2009.ie.