This is a past event
An opportunity for public and educational engagement in astronomy at amateur, school, and university levels. We will exhibit the University's new 16"-aperture telescope alongside its existing 10"-aperture telescope. Weather permitting, stargazing will be possible in the University's beautiful Cruickshank Botanic Garden.
Please note: This event is now fully booked!
Event overview
Organised by the University of Aberdeen and supported by the Aberdeen Astronomical Society, Friends of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden and STEM Learning (UK), this event provides an opportunity for public and educational engagement in astronomy and astrophysics at amateur, school, and university levels. A new advanced 16"-aperture University telescope will be exhibited with another 10"-aperture University telescope to be made available for stargazing by the participants in the University's beautiful Cruickshank Botanic Garden, weather permitting.
During the event, tea, coffee and snacks will be provided in the foyer of the Zoology Building, with ten short talks (approx. 15 min each) to be given in the Zoology Lecture Theatre with roughly 5 minutes in between each talk. This allows for time for conversation and discussions, and movement of people between the Botanic Garden, the foyer of the Zoology Building, and the Zoology Lecture Theatre.
The date of the event, the 21st of October, is the birthday of Anne Cruickshank, who set up a trust fund in 1898 to purchase land presented to the University of Aberdeen and to support a garden built on it, which has developed into today's Cruickshank Botanic Garden. Later, Anne Cruickshank bequeathed her whole estate to a fund from which an institution of a Cruickshank Lectureship in Astronomy was set up. This year is the centenary of this historic role since the first Cruickshank Lecturer was appointed in 1924 at the University of Aberdeen.
Venues
- Zoology Building, Foyer: Reception, Exhibition of New University Telescope, Tea/Coffee and Snacks, First Aid Station.
- Zoology Lecture Theatre: Ten short talks given by the event speakers, approximately 15 minutes each with 5 minutes in between.
- Cruickshank Botanic Garden, Designated lawn area: Stargazing, weather permitting. Map
Participants
- Members of the Public of age 16+ and children with age 11-15 to be accompanied by at least an adult.
- Academy/School Teachers and High/Advanced Higher pupils studying science subjects.
- Staff and students at the University of Aberdeen.
Notes
- Participants are welcome to bring portable astronomical telescopes and binoculars to the event.
- Please dress appropriately for cold and changeable weather conditions when stargazing.
Speakers
- Dr Martin Barker
Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences (Biological Sciences), University of Aberdeen
President, Friends of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden
- Dr Neil Curtis
Head, Museums and Special Collections, University of Aberdeen
- Prof. Dr Karin Friedrich
Chair in Early Modern History
School of Divinity, History and Philosophy (History), University of Aberdeen
- Ms Eilidh Morrison
Physics Student, University of Aberdeen
Member of Scottish Youth Parliament (Representing Haggeye)
- Mr Mark Paterson
Curator, Cruickshank Botanic Garden
University of Aberdeen
- Mr Oleksii Sokoliuk
Physics Student, University of Aberdeen
Member, Main Astronomical Observatory NAS of Ukraine
- Dr Charles Wang
Reader and Cruickshank Lecturer in Astronomy
School of Natural and Computing Sciences (Physics), University of Aberdeen
- Mr Neal Weston
Secretary, Aberdeen Astronomical Society
- Mr Christopher Willett
Physics Student, University of Aberdeen
The Sutherland Trust/Foundation Scotland Grant holder (2023-24)
- Dr Roland Young
Senior Lecturer
School of Natural and Computing Sciences (Physics), University of Aberdeen
- Speaker
- Talks given by staff and students from the Department of Physics
- Hosted by
- Dr Charles Wang
- Venue
- Cruickshank Botanic Garden
- Contact
-
Dr Charles Wang c.wang@abdn.ac.uk