Next week, Karen Masters will be part of a House of Lords discussion about women in STEM subjects. Karen was invited to attend by Baroness Jolly and Dr Wanda Austin, president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, and joins as select group of 30 people from industry, academia, government and the military to take part in the “Dialogue on Women in STEM” on May 5. We wish her well and hope she tweets from the meeting (@KarenLMasters)
ICG joins LSST
We are pleased to announce that the ICG Portsmouth is now an institutional member of the LSST Corporation!
University of Portsmouth to host schools space conference
From the University Press Office:
Youngsters will have the chance to present their work to experts from the space industry at a conference hosted by the University of Portsmouth later this year.
British astronaut Tim Peake – pictured on board the International Space Station – will attend the conference in Portsmouth, subject to operational requirements. Credit: ESA/NASA.
The Principia Schools Conference, on Wednesday, 2 November, is being organised by the UK Space Agency in collaboration with the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG).
Selected pupils will exhibit their work linked to Tim Peake’s Principia space mission and meet experts from the space industry. British European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Tim Peake will attend the event, subject to his operational requirements. He is currently on the International Space Station, which orbits some 250 miles above Earth.
Director of ICG, Professor Bob Nichol, said: “We are so excited to have been chosen as a host institution for this conference. Tim is an alumnus of our University, having graduated in 2006, so it’s great there is a chance to have him back with us after such a successful decade away.
“While he was in training for his Principia mission, Tim kindly joined us via videoconferencing for the National Astronomy Meeting in 2014 in Portsmouth. It was amazing to see how much the children of Portsmouth enjoyed talking to Tim remotely from Russia, so I can only imagine their reaction if he is here in person.”
The competitive application process to attend the conference opens today. Individuals or groups of schoolchildren are required to submit a summary of their project or work before Thursday, 15 September. The judging panel will be made up of representatives from the UK Space Agency, ESA and the many Principia education projects.
Dr Jen Gupta, SEPnet/Ogden Outreach Officer from the University’s ICG, is helping to organise the event. She said: “Tim’s mission is hugely inspirational and it’s brilliant that schoolchildren in the UK can get involved with so many different aspects of the Principia mission, from monitoring radiation levels on the International Space Station to growing rocket from seeds taken into space.
“This conference is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the mission and the fantastic work being done by children across the country. We hope that lots of our local schools will get involved and submit applications to attend the event.”
A second conference will take place at the University of York on Saturday, 5 November. Click here for more information about taking part in the conferences.
Tim Peake, on left, ready for a spacewalk. Credit: ESA/NASA.
ICG Director work-shadows Vice-Chancellor
ICG Director Bob Nichol recently work-shadowed Graham Galbraith; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth.
ICG cosmologist featured on BBC Horizon
ICG cosmologist Bob Nichol will be part of a new BBC horizon show discussing the mystery of Dark Energy. The show will air on BBC2 on Wednesday March 30th (8pm) and feature a number of astronomers and cosmologists discussing the discovery and meaning of this strange substance that makes up 70% of the energy density in the present Universe.
For more information, see the main University of Portsmouth web story
If you can’t wait, then check out the BBC Horizon 2016 showreel and see if you can spot Bob!
Undergraduate Visits to the Clanfield Observatory
Undergraduate’s studying Physics or Maths at the University of Portsmouth have the opportunity to visit the Clanfield Observatory, and the South Downs Planetarium as part of two different Units, and also to work with volunteers from the Hampshire Astronomical Group to make use of the Clanfield 24″ Reflector for projects.
First year Applied Physics (AP) and Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology (PAC) students take a Unit called “Space Science and Applications of Physics” which includes several visits and external speakers. This year the Unit arranged for two visits to the Planetarium/Observatory (in Nov 2015 and Feb 2016).
On a rainy November evening the first year physics students (accompanied by Danny Atkins, Prof. Rob Crittenden and Dr. Karen Masters) learned about the latest from solar system missions in the planetarium, and had a tour of the facilities at Clanfield as well as a talk on imaging the planets.
Dr. Karen Masters with several of the first year physics students in the Clanfield 24″ Dome.
On 11th February 2016, the first years visited on a crisp and mostly clear evening (accompanied by Dr. Hooshyar Assadullahi and Dr. Karen Masters). Following a planetarium show about nearby galaxies, we were lucky to catch a visible pass of the International Space Station going right overhead from the playing fields at Chichester School for Boys (where UK astronaut, and UoP alumni Tim Peake went to school, and the location of the South Downs Planetarium).
Watching the ISS pass.
We went on to see amazing views of the constellations from the South Downs as well as observe the Pleiades and the Orion nebular through two of the Clanfield Observatory telescopes, and with the help of Hampshire Astronomical Group member Steve Futcher, we made the below CCD images of nearby galaxies M77, M82 and M81.
Images of M77, M82 and M81 from the Clanfield 24″ Reflector on 11th Feb 2016
Second year physics and maths students also visit the Planetarium and Observatory as part of the optional “Universe, Planetary Systems, Stars and Galaxies” Unit. They also had a recent trip (accompanied by Dr. Edd Edmondson) and were also lucky with the weather on their visit doing more CCD imaging of galaxies.
Gatcombe Park Primary School has a Visit from Space!
Pupils at Gatcombe Park Primary School had a Visit from Space last week, when Professor Claudia Maraston, Dr Jen Gupta and Dr Daniel Thomas visited their school for a morning of astronomy activities. The 30 Year 5 pupils found out more about the Universe that we live in, explored the scale of the solar system, learnt how astronomers see invisible light, and found out how they can contribute to ICG research by participating in Galaxy Zoo. At the end of the visit they got to put their questions to the team, and asked a fantastic range of questions about everything from the planets in our solar system to multiverse theory!
Gatcombe Park Primary School Year 5 pupils and teachers, with Professor Claudia Maraston and Dr Daniel Thomas, in infrared!
The event was the first in 2016 for ICG’s popular ‘UP for Space – A Visit from Space’ programme that visits a different local primary school each month. In the 2015/16 school year, it has also already been to St John’s Catholic Primary School, Newbridge Junior School, and ARK Ayrton Primary Academy, with future visits planned to Beacon View Primary Academy, Arundel Court Primary School, Isambard Brunel Junior School, Holbrook Primary School, and Fernhurst Junior School. The visits are run by ICG researchers and Physics undergraduate students, and organised through the UP for Juniors team of the University of Portsmouth’s Education Liaison and Outreach Team.
2015 ICG/SEPnet Postgraduate Student Outreach Award
We are delighted to announce that the 2015 ICG/SEPnet Postgraduate Student Outreach Award has been awarded to Claire Le Cras for her innovative public engagement work using dance to explain astrophysical concepts.
Claire has developed a novel way to explain the life cycle of stars through dance, first developing a routine for her entry to Famelab 2014 (in which she was the South East region runner-up) and then expanding this into a workshop for dance students as part of the SEPnet Public Engagement Course. In November 2014 this work was nationally-recognised when she won the Institute of Physics Early Career Physics Communicator Award.
In addition to developing her own public engagement activities, Claire has regularly contributed to the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation’s outreach and public engagement programme. Since joining the ICG in October 2012, she has participated in a range of activities, including Stargazing Live public events, primary school visits, and discussion workshops about women in STEM. She is now in the final year of her PhD studies, and currently writing up her thesis under the supervision of Professor Claudia Maraston and Dr Daniel Thomas.
Claire Le Cras explaining galaxy shapes at Think Bigger in 2013.
Portsmouth astrophysicist features in leading women portraits
From the University Press Office
A University of Portsmouth astrophysicist is featured in one of 21 commissioned portraits of leading women by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
Dr Jen Gupta, the SEPnet/Ogden Outreach Officer from the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG), appears alongside other prominent women in astronomy, space science and geophysics.
The portraits were commissioned to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of women finally winning the right to be elected to fellowship of the RAS.
Dr Gupta said: “It’s an absolute honour to be included in this portrait exhibition among so many leading women in modern-day astronomy. The portraits show a mix of female scientists at different stages of their careers, and it’s humbling to feature alongside some incredible scientists who I greatly admire.
“It’s staggering to think that early female astronomers had to fight so hard and for so long to gain recognition for their work, particularly as today’s RAS is so committed to improving the diversity of the astronomical community. I hope this important anniversary encourages even more girls and young women to study astronomy.”
The forerunner of the RAS, the Astronomical Society of London was set up in 1820 by a group of men meeting in a pub. From the outset, no thought was given to the idea that women could or should become members – ‘Fellows’ – of the new organisation.
It took the tumultuous social change of the First World War, and the essential movement of women into previously ‘male’ jobs, to overturn the restrictions of the first century of the RAS.
With an overwhelming vote at its 1915 AGM, the Society paid for and organised the approval by the Privy Council of a Supplemental Charter, which came into force in June that year and paved the way for women to finally be admitted to Fellowship.
Mary Adele Blagg, Ella K Church, A Grace Cook and Fiammetta Wilson became the first elected female Fellows of the RAS in January 1916. Six more followed that year, including solar physicist Annie Maunder, more than 24 years after her first attempt to join.
Professor Bob Nichol, Director of ICG, said: “I’m thrilled and proud that one of our outstanding female astronomers appears in this exhibition. We are committed to promoting women in science and Dr Gupta’s recognition is wonderful news for her and for the University.”
The full photographic exhibition can be found on the RAS website.
Hundreds turn out for a night of stargazing
Hundreds of people turned their eyes skywards earlier this month to explore the universe at a free stargazing event for the local public.
University of Portsmouth astronomers hosted the event with Action Stations and HMS Warrior 1860 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, to tie in with the BBC’s Stargazing Live TV programmes.
Local children take part in the activities. Image credit: Dario Scovacricchi.
Budding astronomers and amateur stargazers were given the opportunity to look through telescopes, learn how sailors navigate by the stars and find out more about the universe.
The event was organised by the University’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation in collaboration with Action Stations and HMS Warrior 1860.
Dr Jen Gupta, astrophysicist and outreach officer, said: “This was the fourth annual Stargazing Live event that we’ve held at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and we think it was the best one yet.
“There has been so much excitement about our alumnus and astronaut Tim Peake launching into space we wanted to build on this by inviting people to come along and learn about stargazing, navigation, cosmology and space.
“It was a bit overwhelming to see the event sell out so fast – we had over 1,100 booked on and 250 on the waiting list, with half of the tickets snapped up within a week of sales going live.
“The weather was fantastic all night – a first for us. It was brilliant to be able to show so many people their first glimpse through a telescope, and tell them about our world-class cosmology research.”
Dr Jen Gupta addresses an audience of budding astronomers. Image credit: Dario Scovacricchi.
University astrophysicists, cosmologists and physics students were joined by Hampshire Astronomical Group and Airbus Defence & Space to talk to attendees about the night sky, space exploration and cosmology, while staff and volunteers from HMS Warrior 1860 and Action Stations were on hand with activities on navigation and rockets.
Director of the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, Professor David Wands, said: “This year’s Stargazing Live event was a great fun community occasion and it was wonderful to see members of the public enthused and inspired by the activities on offer.
“It was also fantastic to see scientists in the department explaining their work and being reminded of the excitement and wonder which first attracted them to the study of cosmology.”
Professor David Wands talks to members of the public. Image credit: Dario Scovacricchi.
This story has been reproduced from the University of Portsmouth website. More photos from the event are available on the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation’s facebook page.
