Outreach with an Astrovan 2009/09/17

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Outreach with an Astrovan

In 2009 June HartRAO acquired a VW Caddy panel van to use for outreach by the Science Awareness Programme. It was immediately put to use in a series of projects:

2009 June 8 - 12: Sam Rametse and Anacletta Koloko held educator workshops on astronomy and visited a school in the Matatiele area of the Eastern Cape, as part of the the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). Seventy one educators participated in the workshops, and about two hundred learners were reached in the school visit.
2009 June 29 to July 03: Sam and Anacletta participated in Namibia's National Science Week in Windhoek. This reached about 100 educators and 520 learners.
2009 July 30: Sam Rametse and Marion West participated in the offical launch of National Science Week at the Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley in the North-West Cape by Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor. 2009 August 3 - August 7: Marion West exhibited on behalf of HartRAO and the South African SKA project with SAAO as 'Astronomy South Africa' at the Mayibuye Centre in Kimberley. They reached about 1850 learners, 40 educators and 110 adult members of the public.
Anacletta and Sam exhibited at Sasol Techno-X in Sasolburg for HartRAO and SA-SKA, together with a team from SAAO at Cape Town, under the banner "Astronomy-SA". This reached about 800 learners and 100 educators.
2009 August 31 - September 3: Anacletta and Sam travelled to Mpumalanga to carry out teacher workshops and school visits, in an IYA2009 project organised by Helene Botes of Protec in Nelspruit. They conducted workshops in Bushbuck Ridge, Nelspruit, Ermelo and Middelburg. About 180 educators took part in the workshops.

Educators taking part in the workshops were able to comment on the programme on evaluation forms:

"The workshop was a real eye opener and it brought a lot of understanding of concepts and things that we find challenging to present to the learners."
- Kwa Mhlanga District - Kome Primary School.

"The workshop was so interesting because I had a negative attitude towards earth and beyond but now I'm so interested about the part in such a way I like to further my studies with it."
- Maluti District - Mpharane Junior Secondary School

"Thank you very much it was a really eye opening, and confident enough to approach the theme of Natural Sciences Earth and Beyond. Lastly I wish I can do this study and become a graduate on this.
- Ehlanzeni Region- Sibusisiwe Secondary School

"Thank you very much for the effort that you put into your presentation. It is really great to attend a workshop where the presenters are well prepared and know their subject. I really knew very little, because I have not taught this before. During this time my knowledge grew immensely and you have now sparked my interest."
- Focused School

The pictures below illustrate some of the outreach activities.

International Year of Astronomy IYA2009, Matatiele, Eastern Cape - 2009/06/08-12

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Anacletta Koloko, back in her home town of Matatiele, starts off the educator workshops.

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Any naked-eye sunspots on the Sun? Eclipse viewers are stil useful, long after the last solar eclipse.

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The large Earth globe engages the educators - Sam Rametse is on the left.

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What do you weigh on the Sun, the Moon and Jupiter? The educators are intrigued.

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Learners listen closely to Anacletta at a Matatiele school.

Namibia National Science Week, Windhoek - 2009/06/29-07/03

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What would you weigh on the Sun?

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Anacletta Koloko has a facinated audience as she explains the SA-SKA poster "Your Place in the Universe".

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Sam Rametse has an equally attentive audience as he describes an SA-SKA poster.

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Sam checks out the pieces of iron meteorite on display in the Windhoek city centre.

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The SA outreach team also found time to visit the H.E.S.S. Gamma-ray telescope near the Gamsberg southwest of Windhoek. Here Anacletta stands in front of the optical collectors.

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Anacletta talks about the Big Bang to learners in Windhoek.

National Science Week, Kimberley, Northern Cape - 2009/07/30 - 08/07

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At the "Astronomy-SA" display at the official launch of National Science Week, Kevin Govender describes the stand to Northern Cape Premier Hazel Jenkins and Minister for Science and Techology Naledi Pandor.

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At the "Astronomy-SA" display Director General of Science and Technology Dr. Phil Mjwara and another visitor chats with Marion West from HartRAO.

International Year of Astronomy IYA2009 - Mpumalanga - 2009/08/31-09/03

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Making planispheres - starfinders - supplied by the SA-SKA project .

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How much would a cooldrink can weigh on another planet?

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HartRAO educator Sam Rametse at right discusses how the Earth is oriented in space. The HartRAO panelvan can be seen over his right shoulder.

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The HartRAO team brought a Dobsonian telescope along for night sky viewing by guests at the opening event in Nelspruit.

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One of the VIP's at the opening event was Mrs Yvonne (Pinky) Nkwenkwezi Phosa, MEC for Finance of Mpumalanga.

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HartRAO educator Anacletta Koloko introduces the topics in the workbooks supplied to the participating educators.

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Anacletta discussing astronomy basics with the educators.

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Sam Rametse with the Earth globe; the HartRAO panelvan can be seen beyond the educators.