235th meeting

Register

235
Honolulu, Hawai‘i
235th meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Honolulu, Hawai‘i
4 – 8 January 2020
AAS 235 Astronomy Ambassadors Workshop Banner

 

Application deadline has passed; applications are now closed.

AAS Astronomy Ambassadors Workshop:
Techniques & Resources for Effective Public Engagement

3 & 4 January 2020, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Room 303A, Hawaii Convention Center

"It's nice to be in touch with a regular group of people who are dedicated to bringing astronomy into the lives of the public."

"It was really helpful to see things demonstrated during the workshop, not just written on a page."

"The workshop showed me the difference between having your audience participate and having them just sit and listen."

— Comments from past AAS Astronomy Ambassadors workshop participants

We invite graduate students, recent PhD’s, and even advanced undergraduates who are sure they will be pursuing an astronomy career to join the AAS Astronomy Ambassadors program, established to support early-career AAS members interested in doing outreach to K-12 students, families, and the public.

The AAS Astronomy Ambassadors Program is offering a two-day workshop at the 235th AAS meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, during which you will:

  • Learn strategies and techniques to improve your public engagement skills;
  • Learn to communicate science more effectively, with personal stories, hands-on activities, and jargon-free language;
  • Learn to find outreach opportunities and establish ongoing partnerships with schools, museums, parks, and/or community centers in your area;
  • Gain access to a menu of outreach resources that work in a variety of settings;
  • Become part of an active community of astronomers who do outreach (with mentorship available);
  • Have up to two nights' lodging and two days' lunches provided.

The workshop includes presenters from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and the Portal to the Public/Institute for Learning Innovation. Participants will include graduate students, postdocs, new faculty or researchers in their first few years, and advanced undergraduates doing research and committed to continuing in astronomy. Early career astronomers who are interested in doing outreach, but who haven’t done much yet, are encouraged to apply; we will have sessions appropriate for both those who have done some outreach already and those just starting their outreach adventures. We especially want to encourage the participation of members of groups that are underrepresented in science. If you’re interested and are not yet a member of the AAS, you may submit a membership application at the same time you apply for the workshop and register for the meeting. Application deadline has passed; applications are now closed.

This workshop is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL AISL 1811022 and by the American Astronomical Society.

Meeting Sponsors

Bronze

Contributor

Society Partners