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Meet the astronomers. See where they work. Know what they know.


The Project:

The Cosmic Diary is not just about astronomy. It's more about what it is like to be an astronomer.

The Cosmic Diary aims to put a human face on astronomy: professional scientists will blog in text and images about their lives, families, friends, hobbies and interests, as well as their work, their latest research findings and the challenges that face them. The bloggers represent a vibrant cross-section of female and male working astronomers from around the world, coming from five different continents. Outside the observatories, labs and offices they are musicians, mothers, photographers, athletes, amateur astronomers. At work, they are managers, observers, graduate students, grant proposers, instrument builders and data analysts.

Throughout this project, all the bloggers will be asked to explain one particular aspect of their work to the public. In a true exercise of science communication, these scientists will use easy-to-understand language to translate the nuts and bolts of their scientific research into a popular science article. This will be their challenge.

Task Group:

Mariana Barrosa (Portugal, ESO ePOD)
Nuno Marques (Portugal, Web Developer)
Lee Pullen (UK, Freelance Science Communicator)
André Roquette (Portugal, ESO ePOD)

Jack Oughton (UK, Freelance Science Communicator)
Alice Enevoldsen (USA, Pacific Science Center)
Alberto Krone Martins (Brazil, Uni. S. Paulo / Uni. Bordeaux)
Kevin Govender (South Africa, S. A. A. O.)
Avivah Yamani (Indonesia, Rigel Kentaurus)
Henri Boffin (Belgium, ESO ePOD)

And so ends the LiveBlog

As promised, here is the final LiveBlog post, with photos taken beyond UNESCO!

January 26th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in IYA2009 Opening Ceremony

Back in Blighty

I’m back in the UK, and had fish and chips for lunch to prove it.

January 19th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in IYA2009 Opening Ceremony

The final act (part 2)

Part two, with weird photos!

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in Uncategorized

The final act (part 1)

Well, the final time I take position in this seat at any rate. The Opening Ceremony is going to close with a musical extravaganza, “Sun Rings” by the Kronos Quartet, composed by Terry Riley.

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in IYA2009 Opening Ceremony

BREAKING NEWS!

Catherine Cesarsky, President of the International Astronomical Union, is a Cosmic Diary LiveBlog fan!

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in IYA2009 Opening Ceremony

What’s happening RIGHT NOW? (ten minutes ago)

The main events may be almost over, but it’s still all go on the exhibition floor. Shall we have a look? I promise the photo to word ratio will be in your favour.

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in Uncategorized

Group photos

Well that was rather a hectic shoot. Jose Francisco got the main photos, and I snapped away where I could. Here are my results, you lucky readers.

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in Uncategorized

IYA2009 Projects

Your intrepid blogger has just been running around UNESCO HQ as fast as his little legs will carry him, to bring you the people organising IYA2009 projects.

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in Uncategorized

Galileoscope EXCLUSIVE and the “coffee break room”

Good news, LiveBlog fans! A Galileoscope was on display just outside the auditorium, so Mariana pushed me out to take some photos.

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in IYA2009 Opening Ceremony

Journey around the auditorium

As promised, here’s a little photographic tour to the OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM!

January 16th, 2009 | posted by Lee Pullen in Uncategorized