As a followup (sort of) to the thread about the Sad State of Astronomy education, I wanted to post this link to a meeting I attended last week:

http://www.communicatingastronomy.org/cap2005/

It turned out to be an amazing experience and thoroughly enjoyable. If you browse around the "Programme" you'll find videos of each talk, plus everybody's powerpoint presentation.

One of the most interesting parts was the number of "hallway" discussions where various of us would share anecdotal experiences about talking to the public about astronomy. The attendees were scientists, public information officers for observatories, animators, writers, and so on -- a very cool group of folks. I think we pretty much decided that while there is a LOT that's good about astronomy outreach, there is still MUCH work to be done to make our science much more approachable to the public.

In a similar vein, if there are any educators in the Quebec City region in early August, the Canadian Space Agency is holding an "Educator Training Event."

Registration here.

Sorry to butt in like that, Spacewriter, but you reminded me of this. Plus it kind of fits.

I wish I was an educator.

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Quaeso quousque humi defixa tua mens erit? Nonne aspicis, quae in templa veneris?

Well, yea, it's related. Actually this meeting in Germany was more about press and public-information techniques, but certainly education was discussed in some of the sessions.

So, uh, maybe I'm missing something obvious, but where can I find those videos? You've interested me.

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Quaeso quousque humi defixa tua mens erit? Nonne aspicis, quae in templa veneris?

At the top of each day's session there's a live link called "videos." Click on those and an WMV file should come up...although you may have to be patient, since the site is a bit slow sometimes.

Got it! Thanks.

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Quaeso quousque humi defixa tua mens erit? Nonne aspicis, quae in templa veneris?