22 October 2014

Deadline Extended for Astronomy Ambassadors Workshop

Richard Fienberg

Richard Fienberg American Astronomical Society

Our third annual AAS Astronomy Ambassadors workshop will be held in conjunction with the 225th AAS meeting in Seattle, Washington, on Saturday and Sunday, 3 & 4 January 2015. Applications are due on Monday, 27 October 2014 (extended 1 week beyond the original deadline of 20 October).

The Astronomy Ambassadors program is designed to support early-career AAS members with training in resources and techniques for effective outreach to K-12 students, families, and the public. Workshop participants will learn to communicate more effectively with public and school audiences; find outreach opportunities and establish ongoing partnerships with local schools, museums, parks, and/or community centers; reach audiences with personal stories, hands-on activities, and jargon-free language; identify strategies and techniques to improve their presentation skills; gain access to a menu of outreach resources that work in a variety of settings; and become part of an active community of astronomers who do outreach.

Participation in the program includes a few hours of pre-workshop online activities to help us get to know your needs; the two-day workshop, for which lunches and up to 2 nights' lodging will be provided; and certification as an AAS Astronomy Ambassador, once you have logged three successful outreach events. The workshop includes presenters from the American Astronomical Society, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and the Pacific Science Center. The number of participants is limited, and the application requires consent from your department chair.

We invite applications from graduate students, postdocs and new faculty in their first two years after receipt of their PhD, 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 encourage applications from members of groups that are presently underrepresented in science. Please complete the online application form by Monday, 27 October 2014.