public outreach

Jessica Santascoy, Marni Berendsen, Kenneth Frank, & Vivian White, Astronomical Society of the Pacific; and Victor Yocco, Institute for Learning Innovation, USA

Abstract

Amateur astronomy clubs and their members serve as a key resource for educating the public on astronomical concepts. These include informal education opportunities offered through science centers, planetariums, and museums. In response to amateur astronomers expressing the need for more time and resources to engage in education and public outreach, Sharing the Universe, a project funded by the National Science Foundation, was developed. The project also has a strong research and evaluation component, with research examining the broader issues surrounding amateur astronomers' engagement in education and public outreach, and evaluation looking closely at clubs' adoption of the tools created by the project. The following paper examines the levels of outreach amateur astronomers had been found to engage in prior to the implementation of Sharing the Universe; examines variables that have been identified as possible predictors of amateurs engaging in education in public outreach; discusses the purpose and development of Web-based tools under Sharing the Universe; and concludes with findings from studies examining the barriers and challenges clubs have faced in adopting the Web-based tools.

Preliminary findings suggest varying levels of adoption of these tools by astronomy clubs, with club leaders expressing a desire for increased training on how to use these tools as a means to increase clubs' adoption of the tools.

NSN clubs benefit museums and science centers by providing outreach activities that enhance museum programming. We also hope that museums can use the research on predictors of outreach in order to spur volunteerism.

Keywords: amateur astronomers, Sharing the Universe, public outreach