Aims and Scope

Europlanet 2020 Research Infrastructure (RI) offers a series of Outreach Experts Workshops, best practice meetings for a broad range of outreach providers and science communicators working both professionally and voluntarily to engage the public with planetary science. The workshops aim to build networks, share resources and best practice, brainstorm in order to develop new ideas for effective communication, and to keep in touch with the latest scientific achievements through contact with the broader scientific community.

The next workshop, "Touching the Planets, Evaluating Excellence", will be held in Athens on July 2-3, 2018. This year, the workshop will target primarily (but not exclusively) an audience of amateur astronomers and will focus on evaluation of outreach activities.

Kostis Palamas building

Venue

The workshop will take place in the Kostis Palamas building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, located in downtown Athens. Suggestions for hotels can be found here.

Programme

During the first half of the day, we will present a dedicated evaluation toolkit developed by Europlanet to empower outreach providers and educators in measuring and appraising the impact of their activities. On the second half of the day participants will present the outreach activities they have been engaging with, discussing empirical evidence and best practices. The day will be concluded with a stargazing experience open to participants and the public at the nearby Hill of Nymphs, opposite to Acropolis, where the National Observatory of Athens headquarters are located. On the second day, the experience of the participants will join the expertise of the Europlanet team, to perform practical exercises using the evaluation tools, to do group work on specific themes and focused discussions.

A limited number of participants (30) will be accepted. The workshop is free to attend. Priority in selecting applicants will be widening participation. We will be able to provide financial support for travel and 2 nights accommodation to a limited number of participants, according to specific criteria and budget availability. For further information, contact: europlanet.workshop2018@gmail.com or call +30-6972-236655.

The deadline for registraitons is 4th June 2018.

Preliminary Programme*

Monday July 2

Morning
9:30-10:00: Welcoming the participants. Overview of Europlanet RI 2020 & OEP Activities
10:00-11:00 Jennifer DeWitt: The need for dedicated evaluation tools
11:00-11:30 Coffee Break - Networking
11:30-13:00 Participant presentations
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break - Networking
Afternoon
14:00-15:30 Participant Presentations
15:30-16:00 Coffee Break - Networking
16:30-18:00 Participant Presentations
Evening
Social Event
21:00-23:00 Stargazing night at the Hill of the Nymphs, Athens

Tuesday July 3

Morning
09:30-11:00 Evaluation Tools Practice
11:00-11:30 Coffee Break - Networking
11:30-13:00 Evaluation Tools Practice
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break - Networking
Afternoon
14:00-15:30 Focused Group Work
15:30-16:00 Coffee Break - Networking
16:00-17:30 Plenary Discussion- Concluding Points

*Timings may change

Download flyer with full details

Scientific Organisers
I. Daglis, E. Chatzichristou, A. Heward

Local Organising Committee
N. Moutsouroufi, E. Chatzichristou, I. Daglis

Touching the Planets, Evaluating Excellence - Europlanet Outreach Workshop