JWST Thermal Photobooth
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sussex
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Abstract
The overall goal of this proposal is to raise awareness of the JWST while enthusing both the public and schools alike with the science that JWST will carry out, and the UK involvement in that science.
The specific aims are to:
- Develop an engaging and interactive outreach stand - the "JWST thermal photobooth" - based on our pre-existing Flir E60 thermal camera, the JWST and the STFC supported infrared astronomy that we carry out here at the University of Sussex.
- Develop a "JWST thermal photobooth" website from where the general public will collect infrared photographs of themselves and learn more about our research.
- Disseminate the construction details of the photobooth, allowing others (e.g. schools, Guide & Scout groups) to replicate the build.
- Take the "JWST Thermal Photobooth" exhibit to reach the coastal communities along the South-East coast, where there are pockets of high levels of deprivation (e.g. Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Brighton, Eastbourne & Hastings; see the online "Indices of Deprivation explorer" tool)
The photobooth will be a fun, interactive way to inspire people of all ages about the JWST and its science. Our research strengths, together with our extremely successful outreach programme, puts us in an ideal position to develop and deliver this public engagement project, and inspire the low science capital coastal regions of the South-East with the excitement of JWST science.
The specific aims are to:
- Develop an engaging and interactive outreach stand - the "JWST thermal photobooth" - based on our pre-existing Flir E60 thermal camera, the JWST and the STFC supported infrared astronomy that we carry out here at the University of Sussex.
- Develop a "JWST thermal photobooth" website from where the general public will collect infrared photographs of themselves and learn more about our research.
- Disseminate the construction details of the photobooth, allowing others (e.g. schools, Guide & Scout groups) to replicate the build.
- Take the "JWST Thermal Photobooth" exhibit to reach the coastal communities along the South-East coast, where there are pockets of high levels of deprivation (e.g. Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Brighton, Eastbourne & Hastings; see the online "Indices of Deprivation explorer" tool)
The photobooth will be a fun, interactive way to inspire people of all ages about the JWST and its science. Our research strengths, together with our extremely successful outreach programme, puts us in an ideal position to develop and deliver this public engagement project, and inspire the low science capital coastal regions of the South-East with the excitement of JWST science.
Planned Impact
Once built, full details of the project will be made available online and we will publish the results in the Royal Astronomical Society's A&G publication to encourage others to build their own JWST thermal photobooth. The model and guidelines will be circulated to teachers via our annual teacher open evening, our biennial CPD day for physics teachers and our internal email list of ~200 science teachers in and around Sussex. We will also present the results at an Institute of Physics Outreach & Public Engagement Network meeting. Within SEPnet, the photobooth will be shared amongst our 8 university partners and 4 associate partners, as is already commonplace with our activities (all the SEPnet outreach officers meet 3-4 times each year, and regularly support each other's events).
Organisations
| Description | Astronomy Festival at the Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux: 31st August & 1st September, 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors, placed outside & surround by banners about the JWST & infrared astronomy. The stand was run through the weekend by our undergraduates & staff at the Observatory Science Centre at Herstmonceux. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | BHASVIC Careers Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Our Webb Telescope Thermal photobooth stand had been seen at a previous public event by an organiser of the BHASVIC careers fair, and so we were invited to attend their careers fair. BHASVIC (Brighton, Hove And Sussex 6th-form College) currently have ~400 students studying A-level physics. The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors, placed outside & surround by banners about the JWST & infrared astronomy. The stand was run through the day by our undergraduates, alumni & staff at the college. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | Big Bang Fair South East: 26/27 June 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors with a thermal camera hidden behind, attached to a large screen TV. The Big Bang Fair was attended by 13,500 school pupils (aged 9-19) from 215 different schools across the South East, and the stand was staff with undergraduates, postgraduates and staff from the University of Sussex. A summary video of the day can be seen at: https://youtu.be/so5Gnipv2t8?t=38 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | Blue Dot: 19-21 July, 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors with a thermal camera hidden behind, attached to a large screen TV surround by banners about the JWST & infrared astronomy. 15,000 people attend each day of the Blue Dot festival which takes place in the shadow of the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire. The University of Sussex ran a JWST stand throughout the event, using the thermal photobooth stand at the festival. Our team, consisting of mainly astronomy PhD students, chatted to over 1000 people (including many families) over the course of the three days. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | Brighton's Jubilee Library: 21st August, 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors with a thermal camera hidden behind, attached to a large screen TV surround by banners about the JWST & infrared astronomy. The stand was run by our undergraduates at the main Jubilee City Library in the centre of Brighton. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | Girlguiding jamboree at Blackland Farm, 30 July 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The annual jamboree at Blackland Farm attracts up to 3,000 Girlguides from across the region. The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors with a thermal camera hidden behind, attached to a large screen TV surround by banners about the JWST & infrared astronomy. The stand was run by our undergraduates & alumni, one of whom is an experienced Guide Leader. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | Lewes STEMfair, February, 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Thermal Photobooth was one of the stands at the Lewes STEM festival. 400 attended, including 250 children (mostly primary). Lots of interaction from children watching themselves in front of the thermal camera, while discussions were had with older children and parents about the Webb Space Telescope. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | Lewes STEMfair: 27 April 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors with a thermal camera hidden behind, attached to a large screen TV surround by banners about the JWST & infrared astronomy. The stand was run by our undergraduates, postgraduates and research astronomers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |
| Description | Wonderfest, 26 October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The event was held at the Brighton Racecourse, a venue deliberately chosen as it is sited in an area with the lowest Indices of Multiple Deprivation in Brighton. The centrepiece of our stand was our JWST model, consisting of a 2m high array of hexagonal golden mirrors with a thermal camera hidden behind, attached to a large screen TV surround by banners about the JWST & infrared astronomy. The stand was run by our undergraduates & research astronomers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/outreach/public/jwst |