Broadening Event Horizons through Astronomy on Tap Public Outreach
Abstract
Astronomy on Tap (AoT, http://astronomyontap.org) events are a form of public outreach that lowers the barrier to entry for both presenters and the audience by combining science presentations with trivia, games, music, and prizes in a social venue. More than 1000 AoT-affiliated events have been held in over 70 locations worldwide since 2013. AoT events feature one or more presentations given primarily by local professional scientists and graduate students, but also by visiting/international scientists, scientists from fields other than astrophysics, former astronomers working in industries like data science and visualization, humanities professionals with expertise in literature and history, astronauts and other aerospace professionals, undergraduate students, educators, amateur astronomers, writers, artists, musicians, comedians, actors, and other astronomy enthusiasts. The flexible format and content of a typical AoT event is ideal for involving presenters who are not necessarily active as researchers, thus broadening participation in science outreach and expanding networks beyond the astronomy & astrophysics research community. The variety of content, formats, and presenters could also appeal to a broader audience, thus capturing more of the general public into stable orbits within the sphere of influence of science outreach.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235
- Pub Date:
- January 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AAS...23522101R