This post outlines some ideas that the Cork Astronomy Club is considering, on how to contribute to, and benefit from, 2009 International Year of Astronomy. Maybe other clubs will find some of these ideas useful, and we look forward to comments and further suggestions.
We are researching astronomical connections to Cork. Material we are working on includes the Crawford Observatory, George Boole (first professor of maths at UCC and a keen amateur astronomer), Drombeg stone circle, Agnes Mary Clerke, and Ireland’s earliest observatory which seems to have been in Cork City. Many thanks to Terry Mosley for contributing much information.
We are thinking of producing a brochure for schools based on this research.
An idea we are considering is to write to the head of science at all schools in Cork (hopefully through the Department of Education and Science, so without incurring postage costs), drawing attention to 2009 International Year of Astronomy, mentioning that we are considering a brochure, and asking if they would be interested in attending a meeting to discuss how the Year can be used to encourage interest in science, and seeking any ideas they may have. (If any teacher reads this, I should be grateful for advice on the best way of implementing this idea.)
It seems advisable to begin now to invite high profile speakers to deliver lectures to our Club in 2009. Perhaps IFAS could arrange speaking tours in Ireland, to enable clubs to share costs?
Our Club membership profile suggests that there is barrier to women becoming interested in astronomy. We wonder, is this a general problem? Can the IYA be used to address this? How?
We have made contact with some possible partners and sources of information in the city:-
· Dr Paul Callanan, UCC Physics dept, is interested in our brochure idea and has sent us some historical information about the Crawford Observatory.
· Blackrock Castle Observatory will undoubtedly wish to make a contribution
· UCC has a collection of scientific instruments and the curator appears keen to contribute ideas
· We hope to encourage the city library to hold an exhibition of astronomy books during the year. There is a local historian on the staff who may be able to help with research on Cork connections.
· The Crawford Art Gallery plans an exhibition on a science theme which may or may not take place in 2009. It will include the Whirlpool sketches from Birr, but will not focus specifically on astronomy. The Curator has said that he would “facilitate the Astronomy Club in terms of education programmes and so onâ€.
· UCC has a student Physics and Astronomy Society and they are to consider 2009 International Year of Astronomy at a committee meeting soon.
· Cork has a Literary and Scientific Society and we might contact them, with a view to encouraging them to include astronomy as a theme for their lectures during the spring or autumn of 2009.
