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The Aurora Borealis in Iceland

Image Credit: Photo via @saevarhb

UK and international guest public lecturers will engage with schools, teachers and the general public about space weather in July 2017 in an active parallel education program running alongside the IAU Symposium 335 in Exeter.

Space weather is an essential field of applied research in which to engage the interest of the general public, in particular due to the important influence it can have on our daily lives. As modern society becomes increasingly dependent on ground- and space-based technology, it also becomes increasingly vulnerable to the effects of space weather. Not only is it important for the public to better understand space weather but it is also an area of astronomy and space physics that inspires the public with beautiful phenomena such as auroras.

The IAU Symposium 335 "Space Weather of the Heliosphere: Processes and Forecasts" will take place at the University of Exeter, Devon, UK from 17th to 21st of July 2017. We believe it is important to use this rare opportunity to promote astronomy and space weather science among young people (students), teachers and the general public in the UK. Thus we plan an active education/public outreach program, in collaboration between SOC/LOC members and invited participants with outreach specialty and/or experience. The Symposium is ideally planned in the week prior to school summer vacation, which is typically used for end of year class trips and excursions.

The following events are taking place from Monday 17th to Wednesday 19th of July 2017:

• Monday of hands-on workshops and short talks for schools

• Tuesday Continuing Professional Development (CPD) session for teachers

• Tuesday Evening Public Lectures

• Wednesday Public Lecture in Sidmouth at a Joint Event with the Norman Lockyer Observatory

The list of provisional public lecturers can be found on the Symposium website.