Additional AGP funding, Durham Consolidated Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
We will enhance the impact of the Durham Consolidated grant by expanding the work of three high-profile projects.
Planned Impact
We are proud of our track record at Durham of public communication. The outreach initiative we started a decade ago has developed into a University-wide activity, which has, in turn, spawned an annual science festival in Durham (the most recent attended by 6,000 people). Our current programme uses a range of activities and techniques to engage with three key groups: a) the general public; b) school children and c) national and international audiences. These activities include science festivals, public lectures, summer schools, master classes and school visits, which together reach 10-15,000 people a year across the region and nationally.
To enhance the impact of our outreach we are developing demonstrations based on the science funded in our programme. These include a "Table Top" demonstrator of the principles of adaptive optics and its application to both astronomy and microscopy. We are also continuing to develop our "Cosmic Universe" application for iPad and iPhone. This free app, which has been downloaded 3,000 times from iTunes, allows the public to interact with the simulations of the Universe undertaken at Durham, providing a striking and effective way to visualise the size and structure of our Universe.
To enhance the impact of our outreach we are developing demonstrations based on the science funded in our programme. These include a "Table Top" demonstrator of the principles of adaptive optics and its application to both astronomy and microscopy. We are also continuing to develop our "Cosmic Universe" application for iPad and iPhone. This free app, which has been downloaded 3,000 times from iTunes, allows the public to interact with the simulations of the Universe undertaken at Durham, providing a striking and effective way to visualise the size and structure of our Universe.
Organisations
| Description | See ST/L00075X/1 for which this was additional funding |
| Exploitation Route | See ST/L00075X/1 for which this was additional funding. |
| Sectors | Education,Other |
| Description | See ST/L00075X/1 - for which this was additional funding |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Education,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | 10 Planetarium shows |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Enrichment event including quizzes and interaction for schools and colleges and the general public to learn about our planet system |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
| Description | 16 public lectures/talks at primary and secondary schools and astronomical societies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Demonstrated weak lensing, plus talk and EAGLE fly through to six classes of L9 pupils at Ferryhill BEC or STEM activities- rockets and projectile or talks about stellar evolution plus experimental session for secondary school students (and some rather younger) are just a few examples. All of these activities have been received well and sparked interest in Astronomy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
| Description | BBC radio Newcastle - Prof Tom Theuns |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Tom Theuns was interviewed about research, and about the SciBar (Science in a Bar) event in Newcastle the next day |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Bishop Aukland Astronomical Society Talk about intergalactic medium by Stephanie Bartle |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Stephanie Bartle gave a public talk to Bishop Aukland Astronomical Society on 10th March 2016. Talk and discussion about intergalactic medium reported an increase in understanding |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://baastro.nstars.org |
| Description | Cafe Scientific - the destructive power of black holes by Chris Harrison |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Cafe Scientific - the destructive power of black holes Empty Shop - Durham DH1 4SJ 12th March 2016 General public Talk and discussion about black hole research Audience reported increase in understanding |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://community.dur.ac.uk/nat.sci.soc/cafesci/ |
| Description | Celebrate Science Palace Green, Durham Exhibition |
| 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 | Celebrate Science Palace Green, Durham DH1 2016-10-25 Exhibition - We took the Galaxy Makers exhibit from the Royal Society and the Planetarium. Event aimed at the public during half term, so lots of younger children attending several tweets by visitors with pictures of our stand. Comments left on comment boards according to Pete Edwards 30 staff from across physics, inc Mech workshop |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.galaxymakers.org |
| Description | New Eyes on the Universe National Maritime Museum (London) public lecture by Ray Sharples |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | New Eyes on the Universe lecture by Ray Sharpled at National Maritime Museum (London) SE10 9NF 2016-12-12 Public Lecture Public astronomy lecture organised by Flamsteed Astronomical Society http://flamsteed.info/event/new-eyes-on-the-universe-astronomical-technology-for-the-21st-century-by-professor-ray-sharples/ Very positive feedback and 30 mins questions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://flamsteed.info/event/new-eyes-on-the-universe-astronomical-technology-for-the-21st-century-by... |
| Description | Royal Society Summer Science exhibition 2016 - Astronomy exhibit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Over 14,000 members of the public, including 2000 school students, visit the Summer Science Exhibition. Many more are reached through coverage on TV, in the media and online. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to raise the profile of our research and institution with key influencers, including potential funders, government and the public. We estimate that we had direct contact with over 3000 visitors looking at our exhibits. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/summer-science-exhibition/exhibits/galaxy-maker... |
| Description | School Science Festival Multiwavelength demonstration by Stephanie Bartle, Helen Johnson |
| 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 | Schools |
| Results and Impact | School Science Festival Biomed Dept. Durham University DH1 3LE 12-14th April 2016 Demo Year 9/10 Multiwavelength demonstration Great Feedback |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.dur.ac.uk/science.outreach/sciencefestival/ |
| Description | Talk Active Galaxies and Supermassive Black Holes |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk given as outreach to the Astronomy in Teesdale group based in Barnard Castle by Dr David Rosario |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Talk at Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society by Alastair Edge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Talk at Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society Bishop Auckland Community Fire Station, Bishop Auckland DL14 6RS 2016-10-06 General Publiclecture: I gave a version of my Inaugural Lecture "Astronomical Surveys: the Progress in Three Lifetimes". "I talked for 50 minutes and then had 35 minutes of questions so I definitely provoked some interest! I got this email the day after which was very positive: Hi Alastair, On behalf of Bishop Auckland Astronomical Society i would like to say a huge Thank You for your presentation last night. I had some great feedback,and everyone thoroughly enjoyed what was a fantastic night. Stay by the phone Professor we'll definately have you back at a later date. Again Alastair Thank You again. Kind Regards Duane. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Twitter account ICC https://twitter.com/DarkerMatters?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Twitter account with currently over 1400 followers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/DarkerMatters?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor |