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28 October 2015
White House Astronomy Night: The Video
Richard Fienberg Running Hare Observatory
Monday evening, 19 October, was White House Astronomy Night. The event — similar to one held in 2009 during the International Year of Astronomy — brought together scientists, engineers, and visionaries from astronomy and the space industry to share their experiences with students and teachers while stargazing from the South Lawn. Among the guests of honor were AAS President Meg Urry of Yale University (pictured with Yale undergraduate Lauren Chambers) and her former student, Jedidah Isler, now of Vanderbilt University.
The White House has posted a video of the event on YouTube. It runs nearly 3 hours and includes a 15-minute speech by President Obama during which he declares, "I love astronomy night!" The footage also features interviews by Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, Discovery Channel's Mythbusters, with Bill Nye the Science Guy, NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden, and several astronauts.
AAS member James Lowenthal of Smith College reports, "President Obama made a good case for science support and education. Girls, women, and people of color feature prominently throughout the video."
The principal organizer of White House Astronomy Night was Meredith Drosback, Assistant Director for Education and Physical Sciences at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).