I believe that science should be accessible to everyone. I’ve been contributing to public outreach events for as long as I’ve been doing astronomy; nearly a decade. I am always happy to volunteer my time to connect people with science. For media requests, please see here. Below, I outline some of my science communication experience; feel free to reach out to me via my Contact page if you would be interested in me doing anything similar for you.
Above: demonstrating a solar telescope at Bluedot festival.
I started out with stargazing parties, for example ones associated with BBC Stargazing Live (see this York Press article for an example of me with my telescope at such an event). As soon as I’d started gaining astronomical knowledge of my own, I had wanted to share it with other people. This continued to university, where I was chair of the undergraduate astronomy society and led many stargazing events (including ones surrounding the 2015 partial solar and total lunar eclipses).
I’ve also enjoyed doing public engagement at festivals, where I have represented the Institute of Physics on Physics in the Field stalls, and more recently Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at Bluedot. I’ve also been involved with events like Science in the City and ScienceX.
Having started out at a local astronomical society, I am keen to maintain links to the amateur astronomy community. I have given talks at societies such as the York Astronomical Society and Derby and District Astronomical Society. Titles of such talks have included ‘Tour of the Radio Universe” and Cosmic Magnetism”.
I have worked with schools, from primary school age (e.g. delivering “Journey through the Solar System as part of British Science Week) to sixth form (e.g. INFUSE physics workshops for year 12 at UoM).
Most recently, I have taken up 3D printing as a science communication tool. See my Thingiverse profile for things I have made.
Above: My trusty telescope of over a decade! Pictured here on 20th March 2015 as I observed the partial solar eclipse (and lots of clouds) using a solar filter. Below: an image I took that day with my 'scope.