PARI 2017 - Workshop on Public Awareness of Research Infrastructures

Thinking outside of the campus - reaching geographically remote audiences

30 May 2017, 11:45

20m

Telescopium (European Southern Observatory)

Talk Parallel session 4

Speakers

Ms Laura Holland (Diamond Light Source)Ms Sara Fletcher (STFC)

Description

Bringing visitors in to facilities can be an easy win, with large, impressive machines and the availability of the scientists and engineers who use and build them. But what can we do for audiences who can't or won't come to us? ISIS neutron and muon source and Diamond light source have created resources that can be distributed or accessed online and resource packs that can be sent out to schools that are geographically remote. This includes simulations showing how the machine works, linked to the school curriculum, and beamlines made of Lego and flatpack instruments that can be posted and constructed at the school. Diamond is currently running Project M, an innovative citizen science project where schools produce samples which will be measured at the facility. This summer ISIS will take on a student to help us create a portable VR environment, and we are producing a 3D printed model that can be deconstructed to show the target, moderators and instruments. We'll be discussing how these and other resources can be developed to reach broader and more diverse audiences than just those who can visit in person.