SunSpaceArt - 2021
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics
Abstract
The aim of this funding application is to build on and consolidate the past year's success with new 'on-line' material and 'virtual' activities, for home education, school workshops and CPD (Continued Professional Development) sessions. This level of virtual 'on-line' activity was never anticipated in our original SunSpaceArt project (which started five years ago). However, we have realised that it has the potential to extend our reach to a much wider group of teachers, children and families. The SunSpaceArt, SSA, project, led by Dr Helen Mason, has been a great success. The SSA team target schools with 'low science capital' and/or in regions of economic deprivation and high ethnicity. COVID-19 has dramatically changed the educational landscape and is likely to lead to further deprivation and inner-city poverty. The COVID-19 restrictions have forced the SSA team to be more creative in the delivery of their project, moving from 'in person' activities to 'virtual' on-line activities. They have successfully achieved this (see details in Case for Support). We shall continue to work closely with teachers and teacher networks to refine our STEAM (STEM + Arts) resources. Free at source and accessible to all participants across the country, we anticipate a high demand for SunSpaceArt resources and activities over the next year or so. The development of quality materials requires the support of people with professional IT and Design skills, so we are working closely with Art Matters Now. The work proposed in this funding application would provide a lasting legacy for the SunSpaceArt project. (see Case for Support for more details)
Planned Impact
Schools and teachers will be informed about the available workshops and CPD sessions through existing educational networks and SSA links. A new marketing strategy will deliver a termly newsletter to school and STEM contacts. All new material will be uploaded to the SunSpaceArt.org website and YouTube channel. The electronic book showcasing the SunSpaceArt project will be distributed to all UK libraries. Schools will be informed of the available resources via educational networks, articles in educational journals and social media. HEM and the SSA team will inform the wider research community, outreach communicators and the public through talks, articles, the media and social media. HEM will continue to explore avenues to collaborate with a range of scientists, outreach workers, teachers and artists to develop this project further and encourage more STEAM engagement in schools. The project will be showcased via teachers' conferences, ESERO, STEMLearning, TES, ASE, IoP, NAM and Cambridge University, with full acknowledgement to STFC. Other solar researchers, post-grad students and artists will be encouraged to participate. Partnerships will be explored and extended, building on networks, which have already been established. The SSA team aims to share their work with many networks of contacts (science and arts), through articles, lectures, social media, TV/radio activities which will ensure that the project reaches far and wide.
Organisations
- University of Cambridge (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Collaboration)
- Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) (Collaboration)
- Manchester University (Collaboration)
- University of Cambridge (Collaboration)
- Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) (Collaboration)
- Astronomical Institute Czech Republic (Collaboration)
- Harvard University (Collaboration)
- Physical Research Laboratory (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Helen Mason (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Athiray P. S.
(2022)
First light results from the Marshall Grazing Incidence X-ray Spectrometer (MaGIXS)
in AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
Athiray P. S.
(2023)
The third flight of the Marshall Grazing Incidence X-ray Spectrometer
in 54th Meeting of the Solar Physics Division
Del Zanna G
(2023)
Coronal Densities, Temperatures, and Abundances during the 2019 Total Solar Eclipse: The Role of Multiwavelength Observations in Coronal Plasma Characterization
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Del Zanna G
(2021)
High Resolution Soft X-ray Spectroscopy and the Quest for the Hot (5-10 MK) Plasma in Solar Active Regions
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
| Title | Artwork created by school children during the SunSpaceArt workshops |
| Description | The children who have participated in the SunSpaceArt workshops and schools and family activities at Science Festivals have produced some amazing, creative artwork, which has been shared on social media. The workshops are led by scientists and professional artists. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | The children have been able to express their knowledge about the Sun and Solar System in creative artwork. This has impressed the teachers, who have given excellent feedback. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRYSAwLVzdM |
| Title | SunSpaceArt -2023 |
| Description | Superb creatve artwork produced by hunderds of children in response to the SunSpaceArt workshops in schools and 'drop-in' activities at Science Festivals. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | The impact on schools and children is to develop their science knowledge and creativity. |
| Description | See the inependent evaluation report of the SunSpceArt project (2016-2023) published in 2024 : https://www.sunspaceart.org/sun-space-art-workshops-and-talks/sun-space-art-evaluation/. The report is very positive with some recommendations for future directions and evaluation, and also general lessons for STEAM (STEM + Arts) projects. Besides written information and evidence, the reports also contain visual examples of the outputs from the SunSpaceArt activities. The SunSpaceArt, SSA, team of scientists, educators and artists have inspired thousands of children (8-11 years old), families and teachers across the UK to engage more deeply with STFC science (space and astronomy), and to develop more creativity by producing artwork and writing expressing what they have learnt. In particular, they have targeted those schools, children and families most in need of science enrichment. The feedback from children and teachers has been universally positive. Their only complaint is that they would like to spend more time on these activities! They love the STEAM (STEM + Arts) activities, find them very valuable, learn a lot, and they really appreciated having 'real' scientists and artists in the classroom for the children to meet and talk to. Some children have never met a scientist. 'The children were very engaged with both the scientific and artistic parts of the workshop, asking good questions in both and having lots of enthusiasm.' (teacher feedback). Students with Educational Learning Difficulties or who do not have English as their first langauage have engaged particularly well, spending longer than they normally do engaging with these educational activities. |
| Exploitation Route | This grant led on to an STFC Legacy Grant, ST/X006166 'SunSpaceArt - Building on Success' for Professor Mason and her team (£30K). An independent evaluation of the SunSpaceArt project was commissioned (£20K) and published in 2024. It was launched at the INTERACT (STFC, IoP, Ogden Trust) meeting for Science Communicators (Northumberland, autumn 2024). The report and Executive Summary have been widely distributed and praised. The report acknowledges the success of the SunSpaceArt project and has suggestions for future developments and more widely for other STEAM (STEM + Arts) projects. https://www.sunspaceart.org/sun-space-art-workshops-and-talks/sun-space-art-evaluation/ |
| Sectors | Education |
| URL | https://www.sunspaceart.org/sun-space-art-workshops-and-talks/sun-space-art-evaluation/ |
| Description | The targets for reaching schools, children, teachers and families given in the application (ST/W001896) have been exceeded by a large margin, in part due to additional STFC funds awarded in spring 2022 (7.5K), and direct funding by STFC of SSA workshops in association with 'the Sun' project led by Prof Robert Walsh at the Festival of Tomorrow, Swindon, and the Natinal Astronomy Meeting (Warwick, 2022). The SSA team have worked directly with over 60 schools throughout the UK, over 2,500 children (ages 8-12), over 400 teachers, over 2000 families at festivals in Bloomsbury, Swindon, Warwick and Cambridge. The team have distributed over 2000 STFC brochures about the Sun, Moon and Solar System. The team have given talks and worked with over 600 science comunicators, STEM educators and amateur astronomers. They have written articles for teachers in the Association of Science Educators Primary Science magazine and Topical Science for primary school teachers. The SSA team have produced downloadable resources and videos on their dedicated website. Their activities have been promoted via social media. An independent evaluation of the SunSpaceArt project (2016-2023) can be found here: https://www.sunspaceart.org/sun-space-art-workshops-and-talks/sun-space-art-evaluation/ |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
| Description | RS international exchanges |
| Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | IES\R2\170199 |
| Organisation | The Royal Society |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2017 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | SunSpaceArt - Building on Success |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ST/X006166/1 |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2023 |
| End | 02/2026 |
| Description | Associate Scientist on NASA's IRIS project |
| Organisation | Harvard University |
| Department | Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration has resulted in several joint research papers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joint research papers. |
| Impact | Research papers |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Associated scientist with CfA on various missions/proposals |
| Organisation | Harvard University |
| Department | Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Contribute to various proposals for space missions (COSIE, MAGIXS), to the analysis of current missions (IRIS). Also contributed to AIRSPEC, an new infrared spectrometer, and DKIST, a ground-based solar telescope. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide access to data and resources. |
| Impact | Various research papers. |
| Start Year | 2010 |
| Description | Cambridge Science Festival |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Cambridge Festival hosts a wide range of activities and talks during March and April. We run SunSpaceArt activities at the Festival in 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cambridge Festival hosts and publicises activities via a dedicated website and other support. |
| Impact | Details are given in the submission to STFC. Hundreds of family members participated in SunSpaceArt science/art actvities. Young researchers also helped with the delivery of the SunSpaceArt workshops. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Co-I of MaGIXS |
| Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
| Department | Marshall Space Flight Center |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Co-I of MaGIXS, the first imaging spectrometer in the X-rays, it was flown on a sounding rocket in 2021. The team is led by MSFC (USA). A further flight was carried out in 2024 and another one in 2025. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The main hardware contribution is from MSFC (USA), led by Dr. A. Winebarger |
| Impact | One paper in ApJ with the first results and a paper on new calculations published in 2024. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Collaboration with Dr. Dudik on Non-Maxwellians |
| Organisation | Astronomical Institute Czech Republic |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have an ongoing collaboration with Dr J. Dudik (Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences), a former RS Newton International Fellow at DAMTP (2013--2015), on developing modelling to search for spectroscopic signatures of non-Maxwellian electrons in the solar corona. We have provided the atomic data, mostly from the results of the APAP grants, and knowledge of spectral observations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Dudik has contributed in coordinating new observations and writing scientific papers. |
| Impact | Several scientific papers have been published, and others are forthcoming. |
| Start Year | 2013 |
| Description | Collaboration with IUCAA, Pune |
| Organisation | Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | Collaboration with Prof Durgesh Tripathi, IUCAA, Pune has resulted in several joint publications on active regions and solar jets. Helen Mason visited IUCAA in November 2014 and November 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and February 2020. Helen Mason is working on a major outreach project with IUCAA SciPop called 'Surya: Here Comes the Sun'. Project resources for schools, teachers and students have been developed and delivered. She visited India in November 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023 and worked with school and university students. Post-covid, Prof Helen Mason visited Prof Durgesh Tripahi, IUCAA, Pune, in February and November 2023, to interact with researchers, give talks and seminars, and work with schools and universities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Join research papers. Collaborative educational projects and resources. Aditya-L1, ISRO's first dedicated solar mission was launched in September 2023. Prof Tripathi is the PI on one of the instruments, SUIT, used to study the chromosphere. |
| Impact | Workshops have been delivered to teachers and students in India, in November 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, 2020 and post-Covid in February and November 2023. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Collaboration with PRL, India |
| Organisation | Physical Research Laboratory |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The contributions will be on the analysis and atomic data for the upcoming Indian space X-ray spectrometer, to be launched in 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provide access to the observations. |
| Impact | not yet. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Collaboration with Prof. Vadawale, PRL, India |
| Organisation | Physical Research Laboratory |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Prof. Vadawale is the principal investigator of the Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) aboard the upcoming second Indian moon mission - Chandrayaan-2,. I have obtained an RS international exchanges grant to collaborate with the group. We have written several papers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner has build the instrument. |
| Impact | Several publications and presentations at conferences. The Indian team has received an award and has become a high-profile within the society. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Festival of Tomorrow, Swindon |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The Festival of Tomorrow is held in Swindon in February each year. We have given talks and run SunSpaceArt workshops at this event, both online and in person in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. |
| Collaborator Contribution | STFC fund the SunSpaceArt activities at the Festival of Tomorrow. We have worked with hundreds of families and children. The event is hosted and organised by the Festival of Tomorrow team in Swindon. |
| Impact | Hundreds of family members have participated in these science/art activities. Details are given in the report to STFC. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Great Science Share |
| Organisation | Manchester University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Great Science Share is an annual event involving hundreds of school children. We have participated in this event for several years in collaboration with Lynne Bianchi, Fascinate Science, University of Manchester. We have participated in the event in Manchester several times, and in 2018, joined schools and teachers in London. 2019, in collaboration with the National Botanical Gardens, Wales. In 2020 we joined the on-line sessions. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 we participated in Great Science Share celebrations in the SE and greater London, in collaboration with Kulvinder Johal from the Primary Science Teachers Trust. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Great Science Share is organised by Lynne Bianchi and colleagues, and has grown each year, until it is now a national event. They provide facilities. Talks and SunSpaceArt workshops in Wales, Greater Manchester and Greater London. |
| Impact | We have reached thousands of primary school students and teachers. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | ASE - the Art and Science of Creativity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An article written by Dr Helen Mason 'The Art and Science of Creativity' was published in the Association of Science Educators magazine for Primary school teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ase.org.uk/resources/primary-science/issue-171/art-and-science-of-creativity-mason |
| Description | Association of Science Educators - TeachMeet, 2020, 2021, 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Regular presentation and updates about the SunSpaceArt project at the Association of Science Educators TeachMeets |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.ase.org.uk/ |
| Description | Astronomy talks and participation in Astronomy Festivals |
| 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 | Members of the SunSpaceArt team (in particular Emma Wride, AstroCymru, and Helen Mason) have participated in several on-line Astronmy Festivals (Elan Dark Valley, SolarSphere, Cardiff Science Festival, ASE StarGazing) and also given talks to astronomy clubs (both in the UK and India). These events have involved workshops about the SunSpaceArt project, and also talks about the Sun and Solar Orbiter. These have have been very well received and have resulted in requests for more talks. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| URL | https://www.elanvalley.org.uk |
| Description | Cambridge Festival - SunSpaceArt workshops |
| 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 SunSpaceArt Team ran family activities at the Cambridge Festival - Institute of Astronomy, IoA, Open Day in April 2022. Several Young researchers from the IoA helped, together with Yamini Rao, PDRA at DAMTP. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Cambridge Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the Atomic Astrophysics Group, in particular Helen Mason and Giulio Del Zanna, with post-docs and graduate students, regularly participate in the Biennial Open Day at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge. They showcase their STFC funded solar research activities and handed out information about STFC science, including around 100 STFC leaflets. This event is always very popular and the number of people reached is thousands. The team engage individuals, both adults and children, with posters, discussions, videos and interactive activities. The people expressed their thanks and appreciation of this outreach activity. The public report an interest in the topic and an increase in their knowledge about solar space research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2017,2019 |
| Description | Continued Professional Development, CPD, for teachers - SunSpaceArt workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Several Continued Professional Development SunSpaceArt workshops have been run remotely in different regions (STEM NE, Bolton, Techniquest, Wales, ASE) for teachers and trainee teachers. The feedback has been excellent. the workshops involve scientific talks (the Sun, Mars, Moon) and some craft activities which the teacers can then use in the classroom. These have been led by Helen Mason, Helen Schell and Emma Wride (AstroCymru) SunSpaceArt team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | https://stemfest.org.uk/helen-schell-dr-helen-mason/ |
| Description | Festival of Tomorrow, 2021 and 2022 |
| 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 | Participation in the 'Festival of Tomorrow', online in February 2021 and 'in person' in February 2022. In 2021, we ran a SunSpaceArt workshop in a school, and I gave two lectures, one to the public and one to school children about the latest Solar Science. In 2022, the SunSpaceArt team ran family workshops, which around 400 people (adults and children) participated in. The outcomes were that the participants learnt about the Sun, in particular the UV radiation from the Sun. They also learnt art making techniques and produced some creative artwork. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.festivaloftomorrow.com/ |
| Description | HEM promoting solar science on social media - twitter and facebook |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | HEM has very active Twitter and Facebook sites reaching thousands. Posts about space science, astronomy, NASA, ESA, STFC, school activities, Women in STEM, science and art etc. People oftne share or retweet posts about solar science or SunSpaceArt workshops. They express interest and share with others. STFC often shares HEM's posts. Connections are made with teachers, who request more information or school workshops. People often express an increase in their knowledge about the Sun and space. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/helen_hm11 |
| Description | Indian National Science Week - online talk by Helen Mason, 1 March 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mason gave an online talk on 'Solar Spectroscopy in the UV and X-rays' during the Indian National Science Week. The reach was hundreds of students in India both undergraduates and postgraduates. It was streamed live and on YouTube. The audience was engaged and asked interesting questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | International Women's Day - Invited talk at the IAU Women in Astronomy meeting (online) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at the IAU, Enterprising Women in Astronomy, session as part of International Women's Day, 8 March 2022. Very good feedback about careers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNzYzFwropY |
| Description | Invited talk at a solar conference in Venice on 'SunSpaceArt'. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The participants at the international conference held in Venice on 'Sun in Science and Society' were keen to learn about the STFC outreach project SunSpaceArt which I lead. There was plenty of discussion about the project and other projects linking science and the arts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Loops10 - SunSpaceArt |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mason gave a talk about the STFC funded SunSpaceArt project at the Loops10 conference in Paris, June 2022. This stimulated a great deal of discussion and interest in how to engage audience in outreach projects relating to Solar Physics across Europe. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://loops10.sciencesconf.org/ |
| Description | National Astronomy Meeting - Warwick 2022 |
| 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 | The SunSpaceARt team ran workshops for school children at the National Astronomy Meeting in Warwick. This was in support of the 'Sun' installation led by Prof Robert Walsh and UCLan. Several young researchers from Warwick helped with the delivery of the activities. The feedback from teachers and children was excellent. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://nam2022.org/public-engagement-temp/sun |
| Description | Online talks to university and school students in India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited talks given to university and school students in India on 7 September 2020 and 1 March 2022, about Solar Research, reaching hundreds of students, and available on YouTube, with very good feedback. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2022 |
| Description | Our Place in Space - Cambridge, summer 2022 |
| 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 SunSpaceArt team ran family activities at the 'Our Place in Space' festival in July and August, 2022. This was a huge success with engagement from hundreds of families. Several artists and young researchers from the Institute of Astronomy, together with Yamini Rao, PDRA at DAMTP helped with these workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://ourplaceinspace.earth/trail/cambridge |
| Description | Public talk by Yamini Rao, post-doc |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Yamini Rao, PDRA at DAMTP, gave a public lecture about the Sun 'Unravelling the Sun's Mysteries' at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge University, on 30 November 2022. The feedback was very good, and she has been invited back to give another talk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | StoryTrails - Slough into Space |
| 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 | Dr Mason participated in 'StoryTrails - Slough goes to Space', an immersive experience funded by Unboxed. Workshops were held in the library. People expressed interest in the Sun and solar space studies. Children engaged in STEAM (STEM + Arts) activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://unboxed2022.uk/storytrails-slough |
| Description | Sun, Space and Art workshops in primary schools |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Sun, Space and Art workshops bring together scientists and artists to work in primary schools. The results have been impressive, beautiful art work and an enrichment of science in the schools, with lots of questions from the children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | SunSpaceArt Workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | SunSpaceArt workshops have been run in over 80 schools across the UK. Artists and scientists have been working together with the children and teachers to enhance scientific knowledge and creativity. The workshops have been very successful, with a high demand for more from many teachers and schools across the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | SunSpaceArt workshops at Schools and 'drop-in' events at Science Festivals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | SunSpaceArt workshops were run at 20 schools in England and Wales in 2023, around 15 schools in 2024, reaching over 1,000 children and 70 teachers. 'Drop in 'SunSpaceArt' activities were run at the Festival of Tomorrow, Swindon, 2023, 2024, RAL Open Day, 2024, Cambridge Festival, March 2023, 2024, Cheltenham Science Festival, 2023, Great Science Share, Queen Mary University of London, 2023, National Astronomy Meeting, Cardiff, 2023, STFC Daresbury Laboratory Open Week, 2023. The number of children and families reached is several hundred. At all events, the children asked questions about the Sun, solar science, the Solar System and astronomy. Hunderds of STFC leaflets were distributed together with information from ESA about Solar Orbiter. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | SunSpaceArt workshops at schools - 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The SunSpaceArt team, led by Dr Helem Mason have worksed directly with 34 schools in 2022, with a national reach. The number of children reached is over 1,500, mainly at primary schools (KS2). The team have also worked with over 150 teachers. Details are given in a separate report to STFC Public Engagement team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | http://sunspaceart.org |
| Description | SunSpaceArt workshops at the Festival of Tomorrow, Swindon, February 2022 |
| 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 SunSpaceArt team (led by Helen Mason) ran family workshops at the Festival of Science, Swindon, February 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.festivaloftomorrow.com/ |
| Description | SunSpaceArt workshops in schools (in person and remote) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | SunSpaceArt workshops have been run in over 10 primary schools per annum, 'in person' and 'on-line' (details given on STFC PE spreadsheet). The feedback has been exceptional. 'For the students, it was inspiring to speak with two female scientists (Geraldine Cox and Steph Yardley, SSA team) as role models for working in the scientific field. A wide range of knowledge was provided, but well balanced with questioning and interaction with the class.' the teachers reported an increased interest in science and the creative arts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | http://sunspaceart.org |
| Description | SunSpaceArt.org and associated resources (worksheets and videos) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The SunSpaceArt.org website was released in spring 2020 to assist schools and home learning. In addition, extra resources were provided on the website, including 'Make it..' worksheets and videos, led by Helen Schell in collaboration with Art Matters Now. These have been very successful, with the hit rate for the website averaging 50 hits per day, but sometimes exceeding 100 per day. The videos are held on the SunSpaceArt YouTube site and are also a getting significant number of views. The feedback from teachers has been very good. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021,2022 |
| URL | http://sunspaceart.org |
| Description | Talks to Astronomy Clubs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helen Mason has given talks to Astronomy Clubs in the UK and in India - India (ISSER), March 2023, Cambridge, Institute of Astronomy, 2023 an 2024. The audience are very interested and always ask lots of questions about solar science and space weather. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Talks to Astronomy clubs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Online talks were given by Dr Helen Mason to 3 stronomy clubs during 2022 'Reaching for the Sun', in Redditch, Somerset and Barry, Wales. The audience were engaged, gave feedback and asked lots of relevant questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Talks to sixth formers and university students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Prof Helen Mason has given many talks about the Sun and solar science to hundreds of older students (KS3 and sixth formers) and undergraduate students, India, Norwich, Whitby, Cambridge - Peterhouse Science Society, Mildenhall College Academy, India, Furgussen College, Isaac Newton Sixth Form College, Norwich, Kings School, Ely. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | The Spotty Sun |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Spotty Sun was an article written by Helen Mason and published in Topical Science Updates, an online magazine for primary school teachers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The Sun, our star, lecture to school children, IUCAA SciPop, Pune, India, February 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Helen Mason gave a lecture to several hundred school students about the Sun, our star, in Pune, India in February 2020. There were lots of questions from the students, and very good feedback. The talk was also repeated for another group of students by a colleague at IUCAA SciPop in the local dialect. Helen Mason was available to answer questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://scipop.iucaa.in/ |