Astronomy magazine selected the Cincinnati Observatory Center (COC) as the winner of the 2008 Out-of-this-World Award for outstanding programming.
COC separated itself from the pack with its “40 Telescopes” program. They intend to present forty 8-inch Dobsonian telescopes to local science teachers and high-school students. To receive a telescope, a teacher or student must submit an essay of how the telescope will be used, go through at least two training sessions with COC staff, and participate in at least two star parties. This program reminds me of the Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll eat for a lifetime.”
"Winning this award," COC Outreach Astronomer Dean Regas said, "puts us well on the road to achieving our goal — getting telescopes to those that will not only use them, but will also conduct outreach themselves."
"Astronomy magazine will have helped place 10 superb telescopes with deserving and budding astronomers."
Astronomy's Out-of-this-world Award focuses on ongoing programs — not one specific event — by an educational or civic organization, according to Editor David J. Eicher. The award recognizes a group's sustained efforts to involve its local community in the science and hobby of astronomy. COC is the third winner since the award debuted in 2006. The 2007 award went to the Aldrich Astronomical Society in Winchendon, Massachusetts. In 2006, Astronomy's editors selected Celestial North, Inc., an astronomy club in Freeland, Washington, to win the inaugural award. The winner receives $2,500 from Astronomy magazine.
COC’s 40 Telescopes program is just one example of the center’s commitment to outreach. The observatory employs one teacher who gives up to 35 presentations a month to students and teachers. More than 125 active volunteers conduct an additional 40 presentations per month. As Dean Regas, the observatory’s Outreach Astronomer, explained in the submission, “Volunteers, professional, and amateur astronomers contributed 5,446 hours of service in 2007.” Let’s see that’s 5,446 divided by 365...that’s nearly 15 hours of outreach a day!!
Here are a few other highlights from COC’s list of outreach programs:
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Teacher workshops, including Starry Night training
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Observatory University is an eight-session continuing-education course for adults
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“Student astronomers” lets local students e-mail the observatory with questions
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For-credit summer workshops for teachers through Xavier University
"As is the case every year, it was a difficult decision," says Eicher. "There's so much fantastic outreach going on throughout the country. Congratulations to all who entered, and thanks to everyone who dedicates time and energy to promote the hobby and science of astronomy."As is the case every year, it was a difficult decision.
We want to make sure we mention a few other clubs that finished near the top and highlight their unique approaches to outreach:
Riverside Astronomical Society
“Our outreach team has more than a dozen regular members. ... Our end of the year report for 2007 listed 60 outreach star parties, including 23 at local schools, and others at air shows, scout meetings and camporees, nature centers, and libraries.”
“During the last few years, one member has brought an older electronic eyepiece and connected it to a small television. Although limited, this has been a popular and useful tool. A video display has magical magnetism. People are drawn to it. Also, with a video display an astronomer can easily point things out to the group, and entertain questions. Observing becomes a group activity.” — Alex McConahay
Astronomical Society of Toms River Area (ASTRA), New Jersey
“The NASA Night Sky Network awarded us 15 certificates and pins for our efforts in 2006 and 30 in 2007. We accept every invitation from every organization that contacts us, we never charge a fee and are asked back year after year. This is our fifth year with the Lighthouse Encampment in Waretown, New Jersey, a research facility where graduate students study Terrapin turtles. ... We go to private and public schools, various scout troops, churches of many denominations, a camp for kids with cancer and it’s our third year with the air cadets.” — Bob Salvatore
Baton Rouge Astronomical Society, Louisiana
“During a recent year, there was a van donated to the observatory that has been outfitted for carrying telescopes and related gear to events. The interior of the van includes a completed floor, various tie-downs, air conditioning, and two entrances. The exterior is painted to show the planet Mars so it is affectionately referred to as the MARS van. MARS is an acronym for Mobile Astronomy Resource System.
“We have made presentations using the van at the Earth Day event, the National Hot Air Balloon Championships, and numerous school presentations. The MARS van is referenced on the NASA web site.” — Marvin E. Owen
Lake Metroparks at Penitentiary Glen Nature Center in Kirtland, Ohio
“Super Stars, an award-winning program; age 3 to 5, uses Commander Melvin, a monkey puppet, to engage the children in astronomy topics. Crafts, games and songs are used to explore each subject. Space Cadets, age 6 to 10, demonstrates how the universe affects everyday life. Each program uses experiments games, and projects. Sun, Moon and Stars, Orbit Odyssey and Lewis and Clark are all school programs that teach and reinforce astronomical principles such as rotation and revolution, the apparent movement of the star, sun and moon phases, constellations, mythology of the night sky and the solar system while also using the Star Lab. ... Out of this World, age 7 to 12, a week long astronomy camp, invites campers to become astronomers s they learn about the solar system, constellations, mythology and the space race through field trips to a planetarium, experiments, crafts and a sleep over for late night stargazing.” — Becky Parkin
Clayton Astronomy Club in Clayton, New Mexico
“Over the past year, we have reached out to the schools in our area, working with the Union County School District and the State Parks Dept., in a program called ‘No Child Left Inside.’ We have hosted star parties for all the grade levels in the Clayton schools, as well as even smaller communities like Desmoines New Mexico. The children from the Jicarilla Apache Reservation School have come twice now. We are working with the school districts within a 200 mile radius of Clayton, and districts as far away as Albuquerque, to schedule star parties during the upcoming school year.” — Arthur Griñe