Public Outreach in Astronomy

This is the website for Astronomy 270, Spring 2024 edition. This year we will be teaching the Planetarium, and focusing on online media (such as videos and podcasts).

Resources

• Syllabus
• Storytelling Fellows from the UW Libraries, especially the Podcasting course materials
• Media Skills from the Crash Course on Media Literacy
• UW Student Technology Loan Program, useful for optionally borrowing equipment.
• Odegaard Learning Commons Sound Studio, available for space reservation, with optional equipment

Schedule

• Week 1
  • Tues: Lights, Camera, Action!
  • Thur: Intro to Sci-Comm & Planetrium Tour
• Week 2
  • Tues: Storytelling
  • Thur: Know and Respect your Audience
• Week 3
  • Tues: Questions
  • Thur: Analogies and Metaphors
• Week 4
  • Tues: Science Demos and Interactive Activities
  • Thur: Solar Telescope Viewing
• Week 5
  • Tues: Public Talks and Stage Fright
  • Thur: Social Media, TJO tour
• Week 6
  • Tues: Presentation 1, Day 1
  • Thur: Presentation 1, Day 2
• Week 7
  • Tues: Sci-Fi, science in media and entertainment
  • Thur: Science Journalism vs Science Communication
• Week 8
  • Tues: Data Visualization
  • Thur: AI, Ethics, and Responsibility in Sci-Comm
• Week 9
  • Tues:
  • Thur: Careers in Sci-Comm
• Week 10
  • Tues: Presentation 2, Day 1
  • Thur: Presentation 2, Day 2

Assignments

This course is project based, with major science outreach presentations. Components of these projects are due throughout the course to keep students on track.

• Homework 1: Sending an email
• Homework 2: Podcast analysis
• Homework 3: Solar eclipse outreach
• Homework 4: Article analysis
• Homework 5: Video analysis
• Projects