Think solar physics: imagining the sun

This initiative will bring together solar scientists, artists and engagement experts to inform and educate young people and members of the public around the STFC funded DKIST project. Funding is sought to allow a poet, a sound artist and a visual artist to work alongside scientists to engage school children to develop their understanding of arts and science in seven partner schools. The engagement activities will culminate in a series of public performances and exhibitions of visual and performance art work from the artists and school children on the theme 'Imagining the Sun'.

The Think Solar Physics initiative will utilise Northumbria expertise from the Think Physics initiative, with the exciting outreach opportunities provided by the STFC funding of DKIST. Think Solar Physics aims to:
i) SHOWCASE UK solar physics research to young people and their key influencers;
ii) BUILD science capital in the North East through the linking of science and art, leading to a greater understanding of aspects of physics by young people, particularly girls;
iii) ENCOURAGE uptake of physics-related subjects at A-level and higher levels;
iv) SUPPORT teachers to use solar physics as a context for careers and curriculum teaching;
v) EDUCATE young people and the general public about DKIST, providing ongoing publicity and outreach for STFC as breakthrough solar science research is conducted.

This project will have a strong legacy. The poetry produced by the students will remain within their school in the form of attractive posters, and will be available to view on thinkphysics.org. Likewise, the artwork produced by the children will remain within their school and displayed during the academic year the work was created. A recording of the live piece with electronic soundtrack will be available on the Think Physics YouTube channel and also incorporated into Porteous' poetry performance repertoire and continue to be performed for a non-science general audience (estimated around 100 in 2017). The text will be considered for publication as part of Porteous' next poetry collection (within 2-3 year with a print run of approximately 1000). The artwork produced by Schell will be incorporated into her portfolio for exhibition.
In addition to the physical legacy, the project will also develop the confidence of the researchers in taking part in public engagement and will provide a model for collaborative art-science outreach linked to DKIST.

The main products of the Think Solar Physics (poetry performances and art work) will be publicised through the existing networks of the organisations involved.
Information about the project will be shared through posters and presentations at public engagement conference presentations such as BIG and Engage. The school collaboration will be disseminated through the ASE conference and publications. Researchers who have been involved with Think Solar Physics will be encouraged to include information about the work in presentations given at conferences, and through their interaction with researchers in other institutions.

The Northumbria University STFC research grant (ST/L006243/1) is part of a larger consortium led by Professor Mathioudakis at Queen's University of Belfast (ST/L0036308/1). This UK consortium consists of 7 universities and the Armagh Observatory. The evaluation of Think Solar Physics will identify good practice (and potential pitfalls) of art-science collaborations and these will be shared with the consortium members. This will also support the development of a larger public engagement and outreach project linked to first light of DKIST and beyond (2017 -2019).