Astro-Bubble
As part of my role as the Outreach Coordinator at the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics, I oversee our Astro-Bubble programme. This involves taking our portable planetarium to local schools, summer camps, Guides/Scouts groups, as well as designing other astronomy-related activities to support the planetarium, focused on relevant topics such as the April 2024 total solar eclipse.
Astronomy on Tap
Astronomy on Tap is a series of monthly events that take place worldwide in bars and pubs, designed to share astronomy in a fun, relaxed, informal environment. I run the Kitchener-Waterloo branch of Astronomy on Tap, organising regular public astronomy nights with guest speakers.
WCA-KPL Astronomy talks
I also founded and oversee the monthly WCA-KPL seminar series, organised by the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics and hosted at Kitchener Public Library. These public talks aim to share the world-leading research taking place in Waterloo with the local community, in a free and accessible way.
Astrobites
From Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2023 I was a regular contributing author for Astrobites, an online journal that publishes short articles summarising contemporary astronomy research in intelligible, accessible language. In July 2021 I also represented Astrobites at the National Astronomy Meeting (which took place online), where I presented a poster promoting the work of Astrobites.
You can find a full list of my articles here.
Inflativerse
For three years during my PhD I co-managed the University of Nottingham's Inflativerse project, an inflatable planetarium that we took to local schools, with a particular focus on those in underprivileged areas and with a high fraction of children from backgrounds underrepresented in astronomy. During this time I also helped to develop a new range of astronomy-based activities when in-person planetarium shows were not possible -- these were very successful, and allowed us to permanently expand our outreach programme, and build better relationships with schools.
I'm a Scientist
I'm a Scientist is an online outreach activity that runs several times a year, and puts school students in contact with scientists, giving them the opportunity to ask questions about science, university, or about being a scientist. I have participated in the scheme on multiple occasions over the past few years.
Public talks
I frequently give talks on various areas of astronomy at public events, to local astronomy clubs, and groups of young people. A list of my public talks is given below:
| Apr. 2024 | Kitchener-Waterloo Astronomical Society, Waterloo, ON, Canada The Universe in a computer, public talk |
| Mar. 2024 | WCA-KPL Astronomy Talk Series, Kitchener, ON, Canada The science of solar eclipses, public event |
| Aug. 2023 | Quantum School for Young Students, Waterloo, ON, Canada Galaxies: From the largest scales to the smallest, keynote astrophysics lecture |
| Aug. 2023 | University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada Meet the cosmic neighbours: Planets, comets, and aliens?, public talk at Perseids event |
| May. 2023 | Lord Byng Astronomy Club, Vancouver, BC, Canada (virtual talk) Galaxy evolution: An environmental issue, talk for school astronomy club |
| May. 2023 | Astronomy on Tap, Kitchener, ON, Canada A brief tour of the Universe, public event |
| Mar. 2023 | iTelescope Webinar Series, online talk The Universe in a computer, public talk (recording) |
| May. 2022 | Nottingham Astronomical Society, Nottingham, UK The turbulent lives of galaxy groups, public talk |
| Jul. 2021 | Wollaton Science & Technology Club, Nottingham, UK (virtual talk) The lives and deaths of galaxies: nature vs nurture, public talk |
| Mar. 2021 | The Skinners' School, Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK (virtual talk) Galaxy evolution: Environment, or fate?, talk for school astronomy club |
| Feb. 2020 | Nottingham Astronomical Society, Nottingham, UK Galaxy clusters and backsplash galaxies, public talk |
| Jul. 2019 | Sutton Trust Summer School, Nottingham, UK How to make (and break) a galaxy, hosted session for A-level students |
Media Appearances
Below is a list of public (astronomy-related!) media appearances I have made:
| Jun. 2024 | Quirks & Quarks, CBC Radio One, June 22nd 2024 Radio interview discussing orbits in the Solar System |
| Jun. 2024 | CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, June 3rd 2024 Radio interview about the "parade of planets" |
| May. 2024 | CBC Toronto, May 29th 2024 Radio interview about the "parade of planets" |
| Mar. 2024 | CTV Kitchener, March 19th 2024 TV appearance discussing solar eclipses |
| Sep. 2023 | CTV Kitchener, September 19th 2023 TV interview about the aurora borealis |
| Aug. 2023 | CBC Toronto, August 12th 2023 TV appearance discussing the Perseids meteor shower |
| Aug. 2023 | CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, August 11th 2023 Radio interview about the Perseids meteor shower |
Text articles & interviews:
| May. 2024 | Waterloo News, May 28th 2024 Interviewed for article on the "parade of planets" |
| Apr. 2024 | Waterloo News, April 4th 2024 Interviewed for article on upcoming solar eclipse |
| Apr. 2024 | Woolwich Observer, April 4th 2024 Interview on the safety of solar eclipses |
| Apr. 2024 | Waterloo Region Record, April 2nd 2024 Quote on upcoming solar eclipse |
| Mar. 2024 | The Entangler, March 20th 2024 Interviewed for article on upcoming solar eclipse |
| Feb. 2024 | Cambridge Today, February 21st 2024 Interview on the safety of solar eclipses |
| Dec. 2023 | Waterloo News, December 6th 2023 Interview about the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics |
| Sep. 2023 | CTV Toronto, September 25th 2023 Quote on the aurora borealis |
