Ordinary Meeting with Rob Hollow (CSIRO) [Hybrid Meeting]

Guest Speaker: Rob Hollow, CSIRO

Title: Astronomy in Schools?

Abstract: Where does astronomy fit into the Australian curriculum? What are the challenges and opportunities for engaging our students through astronomy? The place of astronomy within the Australian Curriculum and specifically the NSW syllabi will be presented. The perceptions of difficulties in teaching astronomy are addressed. Despite the impression that astronomy lacks hands-on activities other than viewing nights, several examples of innovative programs are examined. These include Our Solar Siblings that gives access to LCO's suite of optical telescopes spanning the globe and CSIRO’s PULSE@Parkes where students use Murriyang, the Parkes radio telescope to observe pulsars.

Biography: Robert is the Education Manager at CSIRO’s Space & Astronomy unit. He leads the PULSE@Parkes program for high school students and coordinates Space & Astronomy’s undergraduate and postgraduate student programs. He taught physics and science in NSW schools for almost 20 years and is a Life Member of STANSW. He was one of the team that wrote the Stage 6 NSW Physics syllabus, introduced in 2000, and the Cosmology Distinction Course of the Board of Studies. His research focuses on student research projects in astronomy and astronomy in the curriculum. Robert is a committee member of the IAU’s Commission C1 Astronomy Education and Development. He is chair of the National Astronomy Education Coordinators for the IAU’s Office of Astronomy Education.