UK-Germany National Astronomy Meeting NAM2012
Schools programme
There are several ways in which schools can get involved with NAM 2012. Booking details are included for each activity listed below - please note that spaces are limited so early booking is advised. You may also be interested in our wider public programme.
Researcher visits to schools and student poster competition
We are offering school students in the Manchester region a free visit from one of our researchers and the opportunity to take part in a competition to produce a poster on an exciting topic in astronomy. This programme is aimed primarily at Years 8/9 but will also be appropriate for broader-based science clubs. Example topics for the poster might include Galaxies, Black Holes, Exploding Stars, Searching for Planets and Extraterrestrial Life.
One of our researchers will visit the school during the course of the project to talk to students about their research, offering them inspiration and guidance. We envisage that the visit would likely take place during February, but the date is by negotiation. Your group will produce the poster(s) and these will be put on display during the National Astronomy Meeting in the week beginning 26th March.
The school group will be invited to come on an optional visit to the University on the morning of Thursday 29th March. They will view the posters in the conference venue and attend a talk/Q&A about astronomy and being a scientist.
A team of astronomers will judge the posters and the winning group will be invited for a special behind the scenes tour of Jodrell Bank Observatory and a planetarium show from the education team at the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre. The date for this visit will be negotiated between the school and the Discovery Centre.
A’ Level Talks
On each of Mon 26th,Tue 27th and Wed 28th March, we are organising the 'One Day Schools' in Physics at the University of Manchester. This is a full-day programme of talks aimed at A’ Level students giving them an insight into our research and university life at Manchester. One of these talks is specially themed to tie in with the National Astronomy Meeting and students will have an opportunity to visit the conference at lunchtime.
This year the speakers in the 'One Day Schools' include: Dr Tim O’Brien speaking on 'Exploring the Universe with Giant Telescopes'; Prof. Phil Dawson and Dr David Binks on 'Nano-technology for Energy Conservation'; Prof. Helen Gleeson on 'Liquid Crystals in Technology and Biology'; Dr Ben Stappers on 'Testing Einstein with Pulsars'; and Dr Andrew Pilkington on 'Understanding the Universe by Smashing Protons at the Large Hadron Collider'.
Public Lectures
During the conference there will also be some evening lectures and other events aimed at a general public audience and also suitable for older school students - click here for further information.
Plenary Lectures
We are also reserving some tickets for the plenary lectures taking place during the conference itself on the days of 27-30 March. These must be booked in advance and are only available to teachers (not school students) and members of local astronomical societies - click here for further information
