Question answerer and website developer, Curious? Ask an Astronomer, (a service of the Astronomy Department at Cornell University), 2000-present. The Ask an Astronomer program, (started and run mainly by Graduate Students at Cornell on a completely voluntary basis) maintains a website and answers questions sent in by the public on all areas of astronomy.
We completed a drastic up-date of our website and launched the new version in May 2002.
Expanding your Horizons is a one day conference on the Cornell Campus for middle school age girls. The aim is to encourage them in their interest in science, maths and engineering. I have been involved since 2002, first as a workshop leader of the Galaxies Galore workshop, then also as one of the organizational committee chairs in 2003 (T-shirt chair). In 2004 I was one of the three Conference Co-chairs responsible for the over-all management (also to be in 2005). EYH at Cornell has grown into a large program in the last few years. We have many sponsors responsible for providing us with a budget of over $20,000 and invite up to 200 girls (and their chaperones) for the day. Over 300 volunteers from the Cornell community make this one day event possible.
GSSOP
GSSOP (Graduate Student Schools Outreach Program) is designed to help Cornell graduate students teach a mini-course in a local school. In the Spring semester of 2004 I taught a course 'Understanding the Sky' to Ms. Snow's 2nd grade class at R.C. Buckeley Elementary School in Lansing, NY. MSWord Documentation (hosted at the GSSOP site).
Focus for Teens
Focus For Teens Astronomy Program, Cornell University, Summer 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004.
In 2001 I ran the galaxies workshop with Kristine Spekkens. We played with Chris Mihos's Java Applet on merging galaxies (GalCrash). I also ran the workshop on Life in the Universe with Timothy McConnochie. In 2002 Kristine and me did the Galaxies workshop again. I also did the Planet Walk with Wynn Ho. In 2003 I did Galaxies with Amelie and the Planet Walk with Wynn. In 2004 I did the Planet Walk with Matija Cuk.
Cornell Adult University
Summer 2002, 2003, 2004. In 2002 and 2003 I helped Wynn Ho run the observing nights at the Fuertes Observatory on campus for the CAU participants and their famillies. In 2004 Brian Kent and myself took on the running of this program.
CONTOUR Comet Challenge
CONTOUR Comet Challenge. 2002. I was part of the panel doing the preliminary judging of the entries, and also one of three graduate students to accompany the winners on their trip to see the launch from Florida on July 3rd 2002.
Oxford Space and Astronomical Society
President,
Oxford Space and Astronomical Society, Oxford, UK, 1999-2000. The year term ran from April-April. Duties included organising the speaker schedule and introducing and entertaining the speakers.
Publicity Officer, Oxford Space and Astronomical Society, Oxford, UK, 1998-1999. Produced term-card and kept members informed of events via mailing list. The Publicity Officer was also incharge of recruiting new members.
Davis Planetarium at the Maryland Science Center
Console Operator at
Davis Planetarium
in the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore,USA, June-September 1998. My main job was to help run the planetarium show every 20 minutes during the summer season. I got the chance to participate in some live star shows and also helped out with the opening of the Crosby Ramsy Memorial Observatory which is located on the roof of the Science Center. I was also involved in the yearly projector maintenance at the end of the summer.